Deep Purple Zinfandel, Cinnamon Brownie Bites

6 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons Deep Purple Zinfandel
1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa
6 ounces Good quality Semi-Sweet chocolate
1/4 Cup Hershey’s Syrup
3/4 Cup Unbleached Flour
1/4 Teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 Large Eggs
3 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract

1. Preheat oven to 340 degrees.  Line an 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper and spray with non stick spray.
2. Bring wine and butter to a low simmer over medium heat.  Remove from direct heat and add the semi sweet chocolate and cocoa powder.  Stir until mixture is melted.  Let cool slightly.
3. Put sugar, eggs and vanilla in the bowl of electric mixer and beat on medium speed until pale, about 4 minutes.  Add chocolate mixture.  Add flour, baking powder and cinnamon.  Beat, scraping sides of bowl until well incorporated – don’t over mix.  Fold in with a spatula the Hershey’s syrup.
4. Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake until a cake tester inserted into brownies comes out with a few crumbs but is not wet, about 25 minutes.  Let cool completely.  Yields about 9 large or 16 small brownies. 

We cut them into tiny mini bites…. Great for nibbling with a glass of Deep Purple Zinfandel!

Optional:  Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on the top before baking!

We’ve been pouring all day at the Boston Wine Expo and want to say thanks to all the great wine lovers who came by our table and tasted our wines. But now our thoughts turn toward football and the big game tomorrow between New Orleans and Minnesota. We’re not taking sides, you understand. But we did kind of like what our friends at Wrangler did to support our favorite old guy, Brett Favre. (Sure he loves that). Anyway, they turned their logo purple in honor of the Minnesota Vikings. Click on the link to read all about it.

You see, Wrangler and Brett have a long-time relationship, with Brett acting as spokesperson for Wrangler Jeans. Wrangler and our own Purple Cowboy work together to raise funds for breast cancer awareness through the Tough Enough To Wear Pink? organization. And the Favre family, especially Deanna, who is herself a breast cancer survivor, have done incredible work to fight this disease.  So maybe we do feel just a little bit of love toward the QB who’s wearing purple tomorrow.  Wrangler has asked their fans to post this logo to their walls during the playoffs (The Wrangler logo is usually red)

So until we make a Purple Viking wine, Purple Cowboy and a posted logo will have to do.  So go out and have a great game!

Our Thirsty Girl Friend Leslie Sbrocco praises Purple Cowboy in a segment this morning about the Boston Wine Expo and food and wine pairing. Check out the link to Fox Channel 25. Our wine looks fab and so does Leslie–especially considering she got into Boston at 2am and had to be at the studio by 6. She’s a rock star! If you’re coming to the tasting, be sure to stop by the Thirsty Girl booth and say howdy. We’ll be pouring the Cowboy Tenacious Red as well as Middle Sister Rebel Red and Middle Sister Drama Queen Pinot Grigio, PromisQuous Red and Monogamy Cab. We have a treat for you if you’re a Wine Sister or want to be one…just ask.

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