When we first moved into our own place {sans roommate(s)} -we had a great set of neighbours. They were an amazing, friendly couple from Nova Scotia, who -as an added bonus -brought us food on a regular basis.

To find nice people like that in the downtown core is pretty much impossible. So you can imagine how devastated I was when I found out that they were moving out only four months later. Little did I know then, it would get much worse.

At the beginning of the year our new neighbours moved in… with dog.

Now I should take a time out to say that I absolutely love dogs. I can’t make it through a day without thinking how much my life would be better if I had one. But I’m aware that my life can’t accommodate a dog. I live in an apartment downtown and that in itself means NO big animals.

I guess these neighbours find themselves exempt from this basic logic, because they have a HUGE dog which I have not seen, but have definitely heard on multiple occasions. This leads me to conclude that they neglect their dog. This thing barked all weekend. Unless the owners are deaf I think it’s safe to assume they were away for those two days.

During the weekend howl-fest going on one wall over, I made the best brownies of ever. I will forever call these “The Best Brownies of EVER” because that’s what they are. Some people like their brownies extra fudgey. I am not one of those people. A brownie purist knows that brownies are supposed to be somewhere between cake and fudge. I like mine 60% towards cake, and not too sweet. If your palette is anything like mine, I strongly suggest you make these. Trust. They are perfect. Even more so if you are living through trying times –auditory or otherwise.

The Best Brownies of EVER

Ingredients:
4 oz Unsweetened Chocolate Squares (4 Bakers Squares)
1/2 cup of Butter
1 and 1/2 cups of sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup of flour

No mixer allowed. This is easily done with a bowl & spatula.

Method:
1. Preheat Oven to 350 F (180 C)
2. Melt chocolate squares and butter over medium heat
3. Stir until completely melted
4. Transfer melted chocolate mixture to a bowl. Add sugar and mix.
5. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix again until incorporated.
6. Add flour. Mix only until the flour disappears completely.
7. Transfer to a greased glass dish (I used 9 x 9 lined with parchment paper).
8. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick test comes clean.

Let cool and dig in. Invite some friends over to do the same.