This week’s blog is not about beef because we know (this may shock you, so make sure you’re sitting down) it isn’t always about beef. Cathy Wilkinson, of BossCook – Comfort Food for an Uncomfortable Time, provided us with this special treat of a blog after a recent celebration took place for Lauren. Thank you to Cathy and Lauren for allowing us to share this special story. And delicious brownie recipe.
Sometimes it’s not about beef.
Sometimes it’s about sweetness, chocolate, bourbon, love, and the promise of a lifetime of commitment.
Sometimes it’s about waiting with faith, patience, and anticipation for your true, one and only love who will be at your side for the rest of your life.
Sometimes it’s about a lovely young woman who is kind, smart, generous, fun provoking, and wise who makes a batch of brownies for her true love and gets an engagement ring in return. Sounds like a fair exchange to me!
I only know Lauren through her work and leadership with the Arizona Beef Council, Facebook, and cooking or beef events. Many of you know her so well and so intimately that anything I write is merely confirmation of what you’ve known for a long time. I follow her adventures (in a race car with her Dad, on a horse, or speaking to the beef industry with passion and knowledge) with a smile because, well, Lauren is the kind of person who just makes people SMILE. I love that. A lot. Lauren has a gift for making people feel valued and she inspires people to be happy, to be productive, and to be better people.
When I shared my recipe for “Salted Butterscotch Bourbon Brownies” with her, we jokingly renamed them “Put a Ring on it Brownies” because they are the kind of brownie that makes a man go all weak at the knees. And, at the time, she had no idea how true that would turn out to be!
I’m thrilled Gregg loves the brownies, but, of course, it wasn’t the brownies that promted the proposal. It was Lauren. She’s one of my favorite people on the planet and I’m so honored she is a friend. I know she will become a wonderful wife, partner, and best friend to her brownie victim, Gregg. He’s one lucky, VERY lucky guy.
So in honor of their engagement and in hopes of making many more guys (or gals!) weak in the knees, here’s the recipe. But to be absolutely sure your strategy works, you should probably grill them a steak too.
“Put a Ring on It Brownies”
A box of Trader Joe’s Truffle Brownie Mix (and here you thought these were from scratch!)
2 eggs
1 stick of butter, melted
1 shot of bourbon (my choice is “Maker’s Mark”)
1/2 bag of butterscotch chips
Chunky sea salt (my choice is Maldon)
In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter, eggs, and bourbon. Stir in the brownie mix, until just combined. Pour batter into generously buttered 8” X 8” nonstick
pan. Sprinkle with the sea salt all over the top, to preference. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 30 minutes.
Let cool for several minutes, then flip pan over onto cutting board, give the bottom of the pan a good whack to release brownies then cut into desired size pieces.
Stand back and let the proposals fly!
Disclaimer: The groom-to-be would like to make mention that he did not ask just because of the brownies. But they did make for a delicious celebration treat.
Arizona Beef Blog 
Love this story, and LOVE Cat’s brownies!