The Basic Food Groups – Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookie Bars

When I was a little girl (a looooong time ago) in grade school, we learned the “four basic food groups”: fruits & veggies, meats & proteins, breads & starches, and dairy. As a kid it was a little confusing that a potato went in the bread category and eggs, which you buy in the dairy aisle, were actually proteins. But it all started to make a lot of sense when I took Home Economics and began to learn to cook a little more. (Moment of Truth – I failed the sewing portion – it was my first failing grade ever and I STILL can’t even put a button on my clothes!)

As I grew up and got married and started cooking less frequently, the “four basic food groups” became Caffeine, Nicotine, Pizza and Beer. No, I am not kidding. John and I decided that as long as we had those 4 things we’d never starve or be unhappy. Then along came pregnancy and the groups changed again. They now became Cookies, Cakes, Candies and Pies. And of course being a good parent, I reverted back to the ORIGINAL four groups when Jack was born.

Well then things got confusing! The USDA decided we needed to eat in a pyramid and all the stuff I liked was in a TINY triangle at the top and the things I eat because I am supposed to eat them were the biggest block at the bottom. I guess so many people complained that they made a NEW pyramid that was supposedly easier to understand and customize…..yeah right! Well, as we all know our government is fond of wasting money on BS, they further changed it to 5 groups and now it’s a PLATE! Confused yet? Ok, I am about to simplify things for you.

I have made a Food Rectangle. It is short across the top and longer top to bottom. On the left is “food that goes better with Garlic” and on the right is “food that goes better with Chocolate”. See how easy that is? Of course there are some foods that fit into both categories and I call them “super foods”. A short list would include the following:
• Popcorn
• Pretzels
• Sour cream (for chocolate – in baked goods)
• Mayo (see Sour Cream)
• Nuts
• Chicken (see Mole)
Now don’t you feel relieved that FINALLY there is a breakdown you can understand and implement in YOUR daily life? I know I am so much happier with my choices now. (Another Moment of Truth – on most days I won’t waste my time eating desserts that aren’t chocolate based. I figure, “Why bother?”). I’m only partially kidding.

On a more serious note, I am about to get on my soapbox. There are thousands of people every day that don’t know where their next meal is coming from and they frankly don’t care about a pyramid or a balanced plate. What they care about is, “Will I be able to eat today?” Many of you reading this are REALLY blessed to be able to feed yourselves and your families, regularly and on time. I encourage you to get active with your food bank. To find YOUR food bank, go to Feeding America, type in your zip code and voila! My local is Three Square and I volunteer with them as often as humanly possible, including this past week during Restaurant Week. The Culinary Community came together to help raise funds and awareness by creating special menus at special prices and part of the purchase price of each menu sold was donated to Three Square. I volunteered as an Ambassador to brief restaurant partners, and as a diner (tough duty for me). If you missed this first ever Spring Restaurant Week, don’t worry! You’ll have another opportunity to “help out – dine out” in the fall! Can’t afford to participate in that fashion? Don’t worry! Click HERE to sign up to be a volunteer. Your TIME is priceless and worth more than your weight in gold. They need all skill sets, so KNOW that you will find something to do of value for YOUR community! And FYI – even on my darkest day, knowing I am doing something to help someone else makes me feel better. It’s purely selfish on my part. I want to feel good, so I volunteer. Special mention for Sister Nancy who delivers for Meals on Wheels every Monday – another great way to help the food insecure!

This week’s Food Memories are dining out for a cause with The Posse and My Beloved. Places visited? Via Brazil, American Fish, Bar + Bistro, Fleur by Hubert Keller and rm Seafood (and yes they were all awesome and yes, I am still full!). Also, I finally made the PERFECT poached eggs (it’s the small victories people!).

Girl Scout Thin Mint Dessert at rm Seafood

Shrimp & Grits at American Fish

Mixed Grill at American Fish – it was so awesome I started eating before taking this pic. That little ramekin in the middle was filled with creamed mushrooms and those are reason to go back all on their own!

Mocha Pot au Creme at Fleur by Hubert Keller – the cookie was the star for me and the waiter kindly brought me extras!

Cheesecake at American Fish – this was John’s choice – mine was a Valrhona Chocolate dish of fabulous!

Until next week – go out and make your OWN Food Memories!

As promised, here is the recipe:

Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookie Bars

2-1/4 C All purpose flour
¼ C Dutch process cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

1 C + 2 T unsalted butter at room temp
1 C packed brown sugar
½ C granulated sugar
½ cup melted bittersweet chocolate
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs

2 C chocolate chips (semi-sweet, bittersweet or white)

Preheat oven to 350

Combine dry ingredients, whisk together and set aside.

On medium high speed, cream butter with the sugars until light and fluffy; add all remaining ingredients, in order, except the chocolate chips. Reduce speed on mixer and add flour mixture JUST until combined. Add chips.

Spread batter evenly into a bar pan or sheet cake pan (about 15 x 8 inches). Bake about 22 minutes until set.

Cool completely and cut into bars.

Makes about 36, depending on how you cut it.