A perfect brownie for a perfect birthday

You know how easy it is to be sucked into the "As seen on TV" ads. Especially 'long about 3 am, if you are up with a sick child you suddenly find the need for a memory foam mattress for your pet or a grill to make slider burgers.

I've seen the commercials for The Perfect Brownie Pan and I was a scoffer. Plus, it seemed to me that every piece would be crusty since there were so many sides -- and I'm a center brownie kind of gal.

Nevertheless, I found myself the recipient of The Perfect Brownie pan for a birthday present. Supposedly Sophie picked it out - after Andi ruled out a play kitchen and Barbies. Sophie wanted to give me a gift of something we can do together. Since we like to cook and I LOVE brownies, this seemed to be the best idea -- especially when coupled with Ghirardelli double chocolate brownie mix.

We (Sophie and I) opened the gift and soon we were baking those babies right up. I was suprised how small the pan was - I'm used to making brownies in a 10 X 13 pan. Just a little bit later, I was indeed looking at -- and tasting -- The Perfect Brownie.

There was not a crumb to be found -- no gobby stuff on a knife or coming off of a knife when you're cutting the next row - they were perfectly sliced squares, moist and delicious. You can decorate the brownies individually after they are in the pan but before they are baked. It's a really neat design.

Sure, it's not a play kitchen or a Barbie, but I think Sophie and I can have a lot of fun making stuff out of the Gooey Chewy Recipe booklet that came with the pan, including mini ice cream sandwiches and rice krispie treats.