Chocolate Stout Brownies

The NFL regular season kicks off tonight, and there's no better reason to bake up a batch of brownies--with beer! (Because I'm almost certain beer is the official beverage of football season.) I never would have guessed, but somehow beer enhances the flavor of chocolate; it makes it deeper, more intense. Besides the beer that's in the batter, a thick layer of stout-spiked ganache makes these the richest, fudgiest brownies I've ever tasted.  

Chocolate Stout Brownies
1 cup stout (such as Guinness)
16 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped and divided
1 cup plus 2 tbsp unsalted butter (about 2¼ sticks)
1½ cups sugar 
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1½ tsp kosher salt, divided

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9x9x2" metal baking pan with foil, leaving a 2" overhang. Spray foil with baking spray (Pam with flour or similar).

Bring stout to a boil in a medium saucepan; cook until reduced to ½ cup, about 12 minutes, then allow it to cool. Reserve ¼ cup stout. Stir 12 ounces of the chocolate and 1 cup butter in a medium metal bowl and set it over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth (make sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water). Whisk sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl to blend, then gradually whisk in chocolate mixture, then ¼ cup stout. Fold in flour and 1¼ teaspoons salt. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake brownies until surface begins to crack and a tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 35–40 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool for at least 20 minutes. In a microwave safe bowl, heat remaining 4 ounces of chocolate on HIGH setting in 30-second intervals until melted and smooth, then add reserved ¼ cup reduced stout, remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, and ¼ teaspoon salt; whisk until well blended.

Pour warm glaze over brownies and let set at room temperature for about 40 minutes. Using foil overhang, lift the brownies from pan and cut into small squares.

10 Ways to Help Out a New Mom

According to statistics, more women give birth in the month of September than any other month of the year. If you happen to know someone who is having a baby this month, or whenever, show her some love by lending a hand with the new baby and around the house. As a mommy of two little ones, I can assure you she will appreciate it. 

1. Mommy may not want to leave her tiny bundle right away, but she may not object to a nap or hot shower. Offer to come and sit with the baby while she catches up on some Zs. And if the baby is napping too, see if the dishwasher needs emptying or bottles need washing.

2. Cook or bake a dish that will keep in the fridge or freezer in case she doesn't get around to eating it right away. Give her a call first to find out if there are any dietary restrictions, especially if she's nursing, and find out a good time to drop it off.

3. When mom is ready, pick her up for a quick mani/pedi or to grab a cup of tea. She'll appreciate the break from her wee lamb, but won't be gone long enough to send her into a panic about leaving the baby.

4. After 40 weeks of anticipation, lots of mommies like to send a birth announcement. Show up at her place ready to stuff and seal envelopes and attach stamps. It's a little gesture that she'll no doubt appreciate. And if she's not sending birth announcements, she's likely sending thank you cards for all the gifts she's received for baby; take care of those for her.

5. Bring mom some reading material to peruse as she recovers from giving birth, especially if she's had a C-section. Nothing too long or intense, as she'll likely not have time for it; think fashion or gossip mags.

6. Offer to do baby's laundry for the first few weeks. It's a big commitment, but one that will be greatly appreciated by any new mommy. 

7. When you're out running errands, text mom to see if there are any errands you can take care of for her. 

8. If there are older siblings in the house, let mom know you can pick them up from school or get them on the weekend for some time at the park or somewhere else really fun. Mom will appreciate the bonding time with the baby, and the kids will have a chance to get out and run around--something they may not have had a chance to do since baby's arrival. 

9. Offer your assistance when baby is a few weeks old. During the first week or two, new moms get bombarded with help, but things die down shortly thereafter, so show up ready to help when the new momma may need it most.

10. Whether she's gushing over her sweet little lamb or ranting about sore nipples and lack of sleep, listen. And do so without judging or forcing your unsolicited opinion on her. New moms go through a ton of physical, emotional, and hormonal changes, so having a good friend to lean on is always a comfort.

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Must Have: Atelier Cologne Grand Néroli Cologne Absolue

Atelier Cologne Grand Néroli Cologne Absolue, $105

I'm always excited to discover a new fragrance, and I think it's especially appropriate to switch scents right as the seasons change. I'm a sucker for citrus scents, so I'm thinking this one may be a winner for fall. It has notes of orange blossom and herbs, which are clean and bright, warmed up with musk and vanilla. 

Make Your Manicure Last Longer

After paying good money to have your nails done, or taking the time to it yourself at home, there is nothing more frustrating than having your freshly-painted nails get messed up the next day. It's happened to me countless times, and I've learned that even the simplest tasks, like typing up a quick email or snapping my handbag shut, can ruin a good mani. Here are some tricks I've discovered to help keep my nails looking good, days after I've had them done.  

1. Apply a top coat.
This may seem unnecessary if the nail technician applied a top coat at the salon, but adding a layer at least every other day will seal in the color and prevent chipping.

2. Keep cuticles moisturized.
Use a cuticle oil or this DIY cuticle cream, or grab some olive or grapeseed oil from your kitchen and apply a drop to each nail every morning and every night before bed to minimize peeling or splitting. 

3.Polish the free edge.

Applying the base coat, polish, and top coat to the free edge (the part that's been clipped or filed) helps to seal the nail color and minimize chipping.

4. Don't blow on your nails.

Your breath is warm, and applying any kind of heat to your freshly-painted nails actually slows down the drying process, which takes about 12 hours. If you want to speed things along, set your hair dryer to a cool setting and run it over your nails for a few minutes, or plunge your hands in a bowl of icy water. Just keep in mind that while they may feel dry to the touch, your nail polish has not hardened.

5. Wear gloves.

Submerging your hands in water, like when you're washing dishes, can lead to peeling. Wear rubber gloves whenever your hands will be immersed in water, and keep showers brief so your nail polish lasts longer.

6. Bring your own polish to the salon.
Sure the nail salon has loads more color options, but chances are they've been diluted with polish remover, which extends the life of old nail lacquer. Watered down nail polish won't last as long as newly opened nail lacquer, so bringing your own ensures a better, longer lasting manicure.

7. Cut them down.
You may love the look of long nails, but they're more likely to split. Keeping your nails on the shorter side will actually help your mani last longer.

8. Skip the sanitizer.
Hand sanitizer contains alcohol, which can eat away the shiny top coat and make color look dull. Instead of sanitizer, wash hands with a mild antibacterial soap or wipes.

9. Get it done early.

Since it takes roughly 12 hours for nail polish to dry and harden, don't wait until evening to get your manicure. You'll wake up to unsightly nicks or even sheet marks because you will have gone to bed before the polish had a chance to harden.

10. Take care.

Just because they're there, doesn't mean your nails should be used as a screwdriver or to scratch the label off a bottle. Be gentle and avoid using your nails as tools.

The Power of Love

With all the racial tension, hatred, and intolerance that seems to be plaguing our world, we need to remember that love is the answer.

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