Gisborne, gourmet and chocolate brownies…
On Friday, Bopress Miniature books asked if I was interested in writing a short-story about Gisborne for the studio to create and bind a special book. I needed no urging because last year the studio did a beautiful version of The Masked Ball around the time that we were actually holding a ‘virtual’ masked ball on the blog.
So I sat and thought… and thought and thought. Trying so hard to conceive an idea that wasn’t just a repeat of the novel in progress, or that gave away any of my planned ending. Nothing seemed to be working so I thought I needed chocolate. Chocolate brownies to be exact… so out came the favourite recipe (see below) and I made a batch. 
It served its purpose and I sat last night with a cup of tea and a brownie and with the overload of sugar, began to write the short-story.
I finished it an hour or so ago, edited it, made sure references were correct and then emailed the end result to California. The journey through that story, whilst short in word count was phenomenal in terms of my novel-in-progress. I now have a firm ending in mind, which is nothing like I thought it would be AND gives me the chance to…
Ah, better not say. It would be classed as a spoiler. Anyway in this little story, Gisborne is still one of my favourite ever characters. I truly can’t wait to see what the miniature book is like!
Gisborne’s Gourmet Brownies:
150 g butter
200g dark eating chocolate
220 g castor sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs beaten lightly
75 g plain flour
75g self-raising flour
100g white chocbits
150g of raspberries (if frozen, thaw)
Preheat oven to moderate, Grease a slab pan and line bottom and sides. Melt choc and butter in bowl over simmering water, then cool.
Add vanilla and sugar to beaten eggs and pour in the slightly cooled chocolate, then beat again lightly. Add flours. Then add white chocs and raspberries and stir with spoon.
Spread mixture in pan and bake for approximately 35-40 mins. Take care not to overcook as brownies should be fudgy in the middle. Cool, cut into squares and refridgerate.
PS: I think Gisborne likes them too.
(Image from BBC/Tiger Aspect Productions)
‘One for the Sheriff, two for me!’
Perfect picture and caption! Will we get to know about the miniature books..or do they make them available for sale? It’s Guy, of course I’d ask! 😉
Yes, the books will be for sale. The way Bopress are describing the binding and covers sounds so perfectly Guy at this point. I can’t wait to see the end result.
I think you might approve of the short-story, Ann Marie. I’m loyal to Gisborne.
And Annie V, I just heard your voice! Such perfectly wonderful requests. Especially the one about laughing and the one about world peace. Well done, you!
Gisborne and chocolate — in the same post? A true embarrassment of riches.
I do like the sound of these little books.
I’ve had emails today and the font looks terrific and the binding, ah, the planned binding is so apt!
Thanks for the recipe. Difficult to think of the man without the description of chocolate. And I’m not even a chocoholic. But brownies and Gisborne!
Chocolate velvet voice by any chance?
* drool *
SJAT, I’m sure its the brownies you are drooling about and definitely not the man. Wifey on the other hand might just have the fascination?
I’m working on a binding model this afternoon: black leather (of course) with raised bands, maybe a little distressed (the kid leather I use is from antique leather gloves) and maybe metal clasps. With any luck, I’ll have copies for sale in a couple of weeks.
Can you imagine how I feel to be the only person on earth who knows what happens? Heee!
Pat, I want one! Think the raised bands and metal clasps will suit it perfectly.
I’m with SJAT: *salivating*
Ah Aimee, but salivating about what:
The man Gisborne? The miniature book creation? Or the delectable, the beautifully rich, the velvet smooth… brownies!
Perfect, perfect. Am going to try the recipe very soon.
You’ll love it, Nikalee.
I’d love to try this recipe sometime soon. The brownies make me drool!