Recipe: Rock Star Brownies with Old London Melba Toast and a Once-in-a-lifetime Trip to the Greek Islands!

These brownies are ah-mazing!  Do you know someone who loves chocolate?  *pointing at myself*  They are called “Mediterranean Cafe Mocha Bars” officially, but I’m calling them Rock Star Brownies.  Serve them with the suggested vanilla ice cream and your family will be calling YOU a Rock Star!

The recipe for the brownies was developed by Chef Johnny Iuzzini, an award winning pastry chef.  Chef Iuzzini is working with Old London and has created an array of delicious recipes.  Old London makes the delicious melba toast and melba snacks that we’ve been enjoying for years.  I’ve used them as a base for hors d’oeuvres but the Old London recipes and new flavors (like Sea Salt!) are inspiring me to use them for much more.  Anywhere you’d like to add a bit of crunch or texture, Old London melba products will do it splendidly.

Do you know the history of melba toast?  I was surprised to read that “it was 1897 when, concerned about her stylish figure, the talented opera singer Miss Nellie Melba sent the famed Parisian chef Auguste Escoffier back to the kitchen. Her complaint was that her bread was much too thick. Escoffier returned to Ms. Melba’s table with a thinly sliced piece of toasted bread, and promptly named it Melba toast in her honor. Nellie Melba’s name would go on forever, just like she always said it would.

The first Melba oven was built in 1932, leading to the development of the Melba Round. These improvements allowed Old London to introduce the first restaurant packs to the public, gaining widespread approval.”

London… Paris…  and one of the most beautiful places on earth, the Greek Islands, now have Old London Foods in common.  Old London Foods is running an amazing contest and the winner will be going to the Greek Islands!  OPA!  Old London wants to incorporate the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet and exercise into everyone’s life.  Hiking, water sports, and dancing are all a part of Greek coastal culture.  “OPA” is a Greek expression used to give voice to excitement and cheering.  If I win the  all-expense paid trip to Greece, you’ll be hearing me say OPA!

Are you cheering, OPA, and ready to enter to win the once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Greek Islands?  It’s easy, just go to the Old London Facebook page, click on OPA! Sweepstakes and follow the simple directions.  Good luck!  I hope a KLY reader wins!

I’m not sure how these chocolate bars fit into healthy eating, but everything in moderation, right?

Mediterranian Café Mocha Bars

By Chef Johnny Luzzini

Ingredients

1 box Old London Whole Wheat or Sesame Melba Toast

1 pkg. Mini marshmallows

2 oz. 100% baking chocolate, squares or chips

10 oz. Bittersweet baking chocolate, squares or chips

8 oz. Butter

1 tbsp. Instant ground espresso

1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour, sifted

1 tsp. Baking powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

4 Eggs

2 cups Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

3/4 cup Chocolate chips

Caramel sauce and vanilla Greek frozen yogurt (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325° F.

Melt together 100% bakingchocolate, bittersweet baking chocolate, squares or chips, butter and instant ground espresso in a bowl over a pot of gently simmering water.

Combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in a metal bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer and heat over simmering water until it is warm to the touch. Whip on high using an electric mixer with whisk attachment until pale (approximately 3-4 minutes). Add melted chocolate to the egg mixture. Fold in sifted flour, baking powder and salt. Finish with chocolate chips.

Place half the brownie mixture into a buttered, floured, and parchment lined 8″ cake pan. Lay a layer of Old London Melba Toast across the whole surface in one even layer. Next, scatter a layer of mini marshmallows evenly across the Melba Toast layer. Cover the marshmallows with the rest of the brownie mixture and bake at 325° F for approximately 20-25 minutes. Use a toothpick to check if done.

Once cool, cut into squares and add a scoop of vanilla Greek frozen yogurt or caramel sauce if desired.

Do you remember Chelsie Hightower from Dancing with the Stars?  She has teamed up with Old London to give us tips on healthy living.  Here are two of my favorites from Chelsie:

“1.  Reach for healthy snacks. I keep smart snack options on hand to keep my energy up
between meals like a handful of almonds, some Greek yogurt and honey or a few Old
London Melba Snacks with hummus.
2.  Go dancing. In Greece, dancing is a large part of any celebration or gathering. I love going
dancing with friends; not only do we have a great time but I also get a workout!”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Old London. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.