"Hot Mess" Brownies

I This is a "cheatin'" recipe, you know when everything is not homemade.

Hot Mess Brownies
40 small or 20 large brownies
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1 (2-pound) frozen pecan pie, thawed (please stop laughing)
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 3/4 cups semisweet chocolate chunks
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Vegetable cook spray
Smuckers Hot Fudge Sundae Topping ( not optional)
Ice Cream (optional)
1 teaspoon bourbon per brownie (not for children)

1. Cut pie into cubes

2. Microwave butter and chocolate chunks in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 minute. Stir and microwave 1 more minute. Stir until mixture is smooth.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat chocolate mixture, sugar, eggs, milk, and half of the pie cubes at low speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until blended. Add flour and baking powder, stirring with a wooden spoon until blended. Stir in remaining half of the pie cubes into batter. (batter will be thick.) Spoon batter into a 13 x 9-inch pan coated with cooking spray.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 50 minutes. Cool brownies completely on a wire rack. Cut into squares.

5. Serve with heated Smuckers Hot Fudge Sauce Topping. A scoop of vanilla ice cream is optional, but it sure doesn't hurt. A teaspoon of bourbon per brownie before adding the hot fudge is a delighful addition.

A few additional chopped and toasted pecans for garnish is a welcome thing. This could go on forever. Add whatever you like.

I took a few of these to Betty on Tuesday, to help her regain her strength. Chocolate is the next best thing after Chicken Soup to make you feel good you know. One of my Advisory Board members happened to be visiting at the same time. I will introduce you to all the members as we go on, but Mason has been such a help with a lot of recipes from soups to cookies, I do value his opinion.

Mason's comment: "good, good, more". Mason is 2 and Betty's great-grandson.

Have a wonderful week and a fabulous Mother's Day.