I’m not a star best baker and am borderline obsessed with The Great British Baking Show on PBS. There are four or five dessert I can make really well and that’s it. Over the years, I’ve had the great fortune of partnering with Chef Diane Hom an amazing pastry chef. Her surgical precision in executing recipes and tireless testing made our collaborations hilarious and terrifying. We were Felix and Oscar; I’m Oscar-like and she’s pure Felix. I’m very spontaneous and will change recipes and techniques mid-stream onsite which drove Chef Di nuts but always produced great results. Good pastry chefs are like scientists and they’re not to be treated lightly. Her favorite response was “oh Dorothy, I don’t think that’s gonna work” and mine was always cavalier and confidently “trust me, it will be fine!” Always producing hair-raising moments for Chef Di but tasty results for clients.
Baking takes a lot of time and creating recipes requires meticulous testing. That’s why I have a few favorite sources for dessert recipes. I adore America’s Test Kitchen but I’m also a huge fan of David Lebovitz. When I was searching for a delicious rich brownie recipe I found David’s which is swirled with gooey dulce de leche (cajeta) which can be purchased in most grocery stores. Use this the next time you want a blow-your-mind Dulce de Leche Brownie!
Chef’s tip: I tested glass and nonstick baking pans and the best results came from the glass pan. Nonstick coating tends to over brown the edges and corners.
Storage: These brownies will keep well for up to 3 days at room temperature. They can be frozen for up to two months