Simply Divine Brownies

Our Third Build a Brownie Contest Winner!!!

2010-05-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

It's not every day that you have the opportunity (the joy, really!) to pair two beloved desserts and create a single, mouth-watering treat. But, thanks to Holly and her delectable Build a Brownie Contest submission, we now get to experience the bliss of cheesecake and brownies in a single bite. Here's Holly's submission (and her picture to the left):

"I would love a cheesecake brownie! An almond flavored cheesecake batter swirled into your delicious brownie batter, and dotted with mini chocolate chips would be incredible!!!"

We asked Holly a few questions and here are her responses:

How did you come up with the idea for your brownie?
I just love the combination of brownies and cheesecake. I have a recipe for cheesecake-topped brownies that I haven't made in probably 10 years. Every now and then I might see a cheesecake brownie in a bakery and I am reminded how much I enjoy them. When this contest began, a cheesecake brownie immediately came to mind because it was a flavor of brownie that Simply Divine Brownies didn't already make. I chose the almond flavor simply because I love the flavor, especially in cheesecake.

Why do you plan to do with your brownies?
I plan to share my brownies with some friends and family. I am currently a culinary arts student, and I love to cook and bake and try to create recipes. I am lucky enough to have many people in my life who are very supportive of my passion and excited that I was one of the winners in this contest.

Why do you love brownies?
To me, brownies are pretty much the perfect treat. They are moist and rich and chocolatey. They can be made so many different ways, which is what I love about Simply Divine Brownies! But no matter what kind of brownie I choose, it always tastes best with a glass of cold milk.

Thanks again for your submission Holly. We couldn't stop "sampling" these brownies at the shop - and they left the most wonderful aroma in the air!

Enjoy!!!

April Kitchen Conundrum Winner!

2010-05-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

So, what is that odd, self-rigged tool that we featured in the April Kitchen Conundrum Contest? It's a whisk (which we modified by cutting the end off), and in the Simply Divine kitchen we use it to drizzle dark chocolate over our frosted and topped brownies. We started with a fork, moved to a bamboo skewer and finally settled on this contraption, as it gives even coverage and leaves wispy threads of delicious chocolate without the “extreme” clumping that results from other tools.

The lucky winner, who correctly guessed the tool and it's use, is Margot. Margot received a dozen brownies and a new whisk! We also sent her our two new brownie flavors: smoked sea salt and caramel and strawberry cheesecake, along with our turtle brownie, our crème de menthe and peppermint brownies, our cappuccino brownie, and our macaroon brownie.

When we passed the good news on to Margot, we asked her to tell us why she loves brownies - this is what she had to say:

"Why do I love brownies? Mainly because I LOVE chocolate. They're the perfect vehicle to transport one of my favorite ingredients to my stomach. Soft, a bit chewy, warm, moist... They're incredibly comforting. I like to sit down with a warm brownie and a tall glass of milk to forget all the things that are stressing me out at any given point in time. What I love about Simply Divine is not only are your brownies incredibly delicious, but they give me inspiration in my own kitchen for flavor combinations. It's exciting to see what creative ways you jazz up a simple crowd pleaser like a brownie. I hope to visit the store again when I'm back in Maine this summer!"

Congratulations, Margo! We can't wait to see you this summer!

Ciao, Brownie Lovers!

2010-05-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! As you've probably noticed, there has been a slow down in blog posts since April. The reason? I recently took a dream vacation to Italy, and between the preparations, the packing and planning, and squaring things away at the Brownie Shop in anticipation of my absence, I'm afraid I wasn't able to spend as much time the blog as I would have liked. But to reward you for your patience, I promise lots of pictures, treats, and fabulous chocolate news in the coming weeks!

For now, here is a picture of the town in Tuscany where I stayed. I was lucky enough to take a series of cooking classes while I was here and I learned to make the most delicious food - including three different types of homemade pasta. I think I'll be dreaming of Italian cuisine for weeks to come! More details (and delicious recipes) will be posted soon!

I hope you're all well and enjoying the beautiful first days of summer.

Mother's Day

2010-04-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

All of us at the Brownie Shop are busy preparing special orders for Mother's Day. Some of you may already know this, but the Simply Divine Brownie Company was actually named in homage to my mother, who loved to exclaim "That's simply divine," when she came across something (a dessert, a dress, a novel) that particularly tickled her fancy. Although I lost my mother over a decade ago, I like to think that she's been a big part of my journey here at Simply Divine. Owning a small business is full of challenging hurdles, but I'm so proud of what I've been able to accomplishm in the 5 years since I started this company, and I'm sure my mom would be proud, too.

Life is sweet, every twist and turn. I'm thankful I was able to experience so much of the journey with my mom by my side. Even though she isn't here with me today, I like to think that if she was, she would take one look at the Brownie Shop, sample a bite of the Pink Lady Brownie, and exclaim, in her exuberant way, "Why isn't this just simply divine!"

As Mother's Day approaches, I hope you're all able to steal a moment of time to think about your mother and the special place she holds in your life.

Girls Night Out

2010-04-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

We all need to take a bit of time to pamper ourselves - that is exactly what our guests did when they gathered at Simply Divine Brownies for our "Girls Night Out," where they decorated brownies, indulged in chocolate covered strawberries and learned how to make (and enjoy) three new appetizers. And after a busy night of eating and sipping champagne, everyone was treated to a chair massage and a professional Tarot Card reading. Enjoy our photos of the evening and the recipe for one of the appetizers we whipped up - Curried Chicken in Endive.

Curried Chicken in Endive (appetizers for 8)
This is perfect for an appetizer, but I also use just the chicken salad for a luncheon or picnic. The medley of flavors is outstanding and will have people proclaiming it "this is the best chicken salad I have ever put in my mouth!" I promise.

Ingredients
18 ounces of Perdue’s Honey Roasted Carved Chicken Breast, cut in bite-sized pieces.
(available in deli section of grocery stores)
1 cup Hellman’s mayonnaise
2 tablespoons curry powder
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
3 scallions with dark green removed, chopped
1 cup of golden raisins
1 cup toasted slivered almonds
Belgian endive leaves, separated and washed

Mix all the ingredients, except for the endive, together in a bowl. Cover and chill for at least one hour. Just before serving, scoop into endive leaves.

We hope you join us for the next "Girls Night Out" at the Simply Divine Brownie shop - have a great day!

April Kitchen Conundrum

2010-04-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

Every baker knows that you occasionally have to improvise in the kitchen to get the job done when the proper baking utensil isn't at your disposal - or in this case, doesn't exist! If you missed the March Kitchen Conundrum, here's the assignment at hand: each month we feature a tool that is essential to the creation of one (or more) or our delectable brownies. If you correctly guess the tool, it's use, and the brownie flavor(s) it's used to create, you will be entered into a random drawing. The winner of the drawing will win the featured tool and a whole bunch of brownies. Goodness, that's wordy, but I think you get the point!

So take a look at the picture and answer the questions below in the comments section of this post. And pay attention, because this month's featured tool is actually used in the creation of 6 of our brownies - but you only have to identify three of the brownies correctly to be eligible for the prize. And since we're asking you to to identify more than one brownie, we're also giving the winner more than one brownie. That's right - the winner of the challenge receive the tool and a dozen brownies.

Here are the questions you need to answer in the comments section of this post:

1. What is the tool? (Remember, we've altered this tool to serve our purpose, so it may look a little funny in the picture - but that's part of the challenge!)
2. What is the tool used for?

3. What brownies is the tool used to create? (We use this tool to help create 6 brownies - you just need to correctly guess 3 of the 6)

4. What's your email address? (So that we can contact you if you win!)

We'll select a winner at random on April 26th. Click here to search our brownie varieties to sleuth out which brownies the tool is used to create. Good luck - this is a tough one!

Meet the Pink Lady

2010-04-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful morning here in Maine - and I hope it's equally as gorgeous wherever you are! To add to the joy of this sunny day, I'm pleased to announce the second winner of our Build a Brownie contest, which is....the Pink Lady brownie, submitted by chocolate lover Emily! Since all of us at the Brownie Shop wear pink every day (from our baker's hats to our aprons) this seems like a particularly fitting brownie to add to our roster of delectable creations:) Here's Emily's submission (and her picture below):

"How about a strawberry cheesecake brownie! Brownie base, a cream cheese second layer, swirled with strawberry preserves."

We asked Emily a few questions and here are her responses:

How did you come up with the idea for your brownie?
I looked at your existing brownie flavors and thought that neither cheesecake nor strawberries were represented yet. I would have suggested cherry cheesecake, but you already highlight cherries in three of your recipes, so strawberry it was! My friend, Patricia, loves cheesecake brownies and I have baked them for her several times. Without her, I doubt I would have tried them and discovered how delicious they are.

Why do you plan to do with your brownies?
My daughter, Victoria, is turning 1 on April 29. We're hosting a block party for family and friends to celebrate and now we have an extra goodie to give out in addition to birthday cake!

Why do you love brownies?
I've had a lifelong love of brownies. They are my ultimate comfort food. When I can't find time to bake the recipe my mom always uses (from an older edition of The Joy of Cooking), I order yours. Cocoa's IncrEdible Creations and Appily Ever After are my favorite varieties.

I have to admit, we were all blown away by the outcome of this brownie - it is absolutely delicious. I'm afraid I even asked our head baker, Shannon, to whip up a few extra batches because all of us at the shop can't stop indulging. I hope Emily enjoys her Pink Lady brownies as much as we did (and continue to do)!

March Kitchen Conundrum Winner!

2010-03-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

So, what is that strange looking tool that we featured in the March Kitchen Conundrum Contest? It's a ricer, and in the Simply Divine Kitchen we use it to rice mashed potatoes. Many of you are probably thinking - mashed potatoes and brownies - how do these two things go together?!?!?! Well, we use the mashed potatoes in the topping for our Need'Him or Her Brownie.

If you're a Mainer, you're probably familiar with Needhams, the delicious inspiration for this brownie. Needhams are a classic Maine staple (the "unofficial candy of Maine") which have been around for as long as I can remember. Needhams used to be sold in grocery stores here (in little orange candy sleeves - remember!) along side the likes of Snickers, Skittles and Milky Ways, but I think the heyday of Needhams has since passed. Not to worry, our Need'Him or Her Brownie pays homage to this classic candy in a sinfully decadent way. The brownie is comprised of our traditional brownie base, stacked high with Needham candy bar filling (that's where the potato comes into play), and then the whole brownie is dunked in dark chocolate...decadent, I know, but isn't that the point!

We use the potato in the Needham candy bar filling because it lends a creamy texture to this coconut-based concoction. And the ricer is a great tool for mashing potatoes because it never leaves them starchy, sticky or pasty like mixers tend to do…no lumps, either.

One person (Scott from Maine) correctly guessed the purpose of the ricer and the brownie for which it is used, so he'll receive a half dozen of Need'Him or Her Brownies plus the ricer! Congratulations Scott!

Stay tuned for April's Kitchen Conundrum...

Folks, We Have A Winner (3, Actually!)

2010-03-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to everyone who participated in our Build a Brownie Contest - reading your posts was like flipping through the pages of an innovative cookbook - fun and inspiring! Due to the great response, we decided to randomnly select three winners (instead of just one). Over the next three weeks, we will post an in-depth look at each of these winners. First up, we have Matt and his dream concoction - Opposites Attract. Here's Matt's contest entry (and his picture below!):

"Since smoke salt caramels are our President's favorite candy, he (well, everyone) would love a brownie base topped with a caramel layer and sprinkled with a little smoke salt. Delicious."

I have to admit, I have a real soft spot for the sweet/salty combo, so Matt's vision for this brownie had me excited from the word go! We asked Matt a few questions about brownies, and here's what he had to say:

How did you come up with the idea for your brownie?
I came up with the idea for these smoked salt caramel brownies while I was browsing the already long list of delicious suggestions on the content page. After seeing a few that used caramel and a few that called for some salty element, all I could think of was President Obama. I've made that random connection ever since a friend of mine got a box of salted caramels during last year's election season and shared both the caramels and the fun fact that smoked salt caramels are Obama's favorite candy. The combination of sweet and salty and the excitement of a historical election made for an extremely memorable flavor - one that would be perfect featured in a rich, chocolately brownie.

What do you plan to do with your brownies?
To celebrate the creation of Opposites Attract, I want to gather my friends here at college and share the flavors our President loves so much. My friend, a Maine native, who told me about Simply Divine's contest and my other friend who first shared those salted caramels and that factoid with me will both be there, of course. In the spirit of the brownies, maybe we'll all sit around with tall glasses of milk and debate the merits of conservative and liberal policy. Or maybe we'll just talk about how much we love brownies.

Why do you love brownies?
There are many reasons to love brownies. I like that brownies are all about their intense chocolate flavor that can also be used as a delicious canvas for other flavors - which is what Simply Divine's contest was all about.

To read more about Matt's thoughts on brownies, visit his very own baking blog: http://aepie.blogspot.com/.

And to get your tastebuds revved up, here are some pictures of Opposites Attract in it's initial stages of creation:

First comes the batter...

...then the caramel. This requires constant stirring, so that it doesn't sugar out...

...and here our head baker, Shannon, tests the fudgy brownie base...

...and last, but not least, a healthy sprinkle of gourmet sea salt.

Matt's brownies are in the mail and we can't wait to hear what he thinks of them! And don't forget to check in next week for a look at our second Build a Brownie Contest winner: Almond Cheesecake and White Chocolate Chip...this is going to be good!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

The March Kitchen Conundrum

2010-03-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed how silly looking some of the utensils we use in the kitchen are? At the Brownie Shop, we often find ourselves wielding strange looking contraptions to create our brownies and we thought it would be fun to share these tools with you...in an interesting way!

So here's the deal: every month we will be posting a photo of a kitchen tool that we simply cannot live without at Simply Divine Brownies. Each tool has a specific function related to creating just one of our heavenly brownies. We want you to answer the three questions below in the comments section of this posting, along with your email address, and on Friday, March 26, we will draw a lucky winner from the comments to receive the featured kitchen tool as well as half a dozen of the brownies the tool is used to make.

Here are the questions you need to answer in the comments section:
1. What is the tool?
2. What is it used for?
3. For which brownie is this tool an absolute necessity?
4. What's your email address?

Click here to search our brownie varieties to sleuth out the brownie created with the featured tool. Happy hunting and good luck!

Food for Thought

2010-03-09T08:18:00.000-08:00

Click here to enter our Build a Brownie CONTEST!!!
Wow, what can I say? You have truly inspired all of us at the Brownie Shop with your creative, delicious and innovative submissions for the Build a Brownie Contest. Mint chocolate chip cookie dough, marzipan, mexican cinnamon, banana chocolate chunk, chocolate covered potato chip, pumpkin cheesecake, pistachio...the list of wonderful flavor submissions goes on and on...

As you know, we'll be randomnly selecting a winner this Friday, March 12th, but I can't help but think that more than one of these flavors will end up in our test kitchen in the coming months. We'll keep you posted! And if you are in the mood to salivate, I encourage you to head over to the comments section of the Contest Blog Entry to see what other chocoholics across the country consider to be the brownie of their dreams.

And don't forget to forward the contest on to any friends who might be interested in devouring a pan of their very own brownies!

Have a delicious day everyone!

A Jig of Creme de Menthe

2010-03-09T07:09:00.000-08:00

Click here to enter our Build a Brownie CONTEST!
To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, I've thrown together a delicious recipe for Grasshopper Pie using our Not So Plane Jane Sweet Conclusions. It only takes about 10 minutes to prepare, but requires several hours of chilling time. It serves 8, so invite over 7 of your closest friends and enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 bag Not So Plane Jane Sweet Conclusions
1 bag large marshmallows (32 marshmallows total)
1/2 cup half & half
1/2 cup Creme de Menthe
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons white sugar
Dark chocolate for drizzling (optional)

Place 1 bag of Not So Plane Jane Sweet Conclusions in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 25 seconds or until soft. Place Sweet Conclusions in a food processor and process until crumbs are fine. Press crumbs into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate

In a saucepan over medium heat, add marshmallows and half & half. Stir constantly until marshmallows are melted. Add Creme de Menthe and transfer mixture to bowl. Chill mixture in the fridge until it has thickened.

In a separate bowl, beat heavy cream until stiff. Add sugar and continue to beat. Fold heavy cream into chilled marshmallow mixture. Fill pie crust with mixture!

Drizzle with melted sweet dark chocolate and chill for several hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Home State Pride

2010-02-10T11:45:00.000-08:00

Click here to enter our Build a Brownie CONTEST!!!

Where do you hail from? Although I was born in Brooklyn, New York, my family moved to Northern Maine when I was 6 and I've always considered the vacationland state my true home. There is so much I love about Maine; in fact, a big part of what makes Simply Divine Brownies so, well...simply divine....is that we try to craft our products with the unique qualities that we cull from our everyday environment.

Here are the traits of Maine that you can find baked into every Simply Divine Brownie.

Generous - Our brownies are big, thick and chock full of ingredients. Generous to the hilt, just like the people who populate the state our brownies hail from.

Rugged- Our brownies are far from flat! They're stacked with gooey and delicious toppings, chunks of gourmet chocolate, candy and other goodies. Our creations are rugged and crumbly, just like the Maine coastline.

Charming - Our brownies are definitely not mass produced by machine. They are made from scratch by hand, so each brownie is a little unique. Now that's what I call charming

I truly believe that baking our brownies from scratch in such a beautiful, generous, rugged and charming environment helps them taste delicious! Let's hear from you. What's your home state and why do you love it?

Whole Foods Tasting

2010-02-05T07:03:00.000-08:00

Click here to enter our Build a Brownie CONTEST!

I consider Whole Foods to be the mecca of all grocery stores, which is why I am so excited to announce that Simply Divine Brownies will now be carrried at the Portland, Maine location. That's right - if you're a Mainer, you can now add our all natural brownies to your everyday shopping list:) Whole Foods will be carrying our brownies in two new sizes - a 2x3 inch individual size and a 6x6 family size - in the following flavors: chocolate-peppermint, chocolate-peanut butter and chocolate frosted.

To kick off our heavenly relationship with Whole Foods, we'll be on site in Portland for two tastings this weekend. Here are the details:

WHEN:
Saturday (2/6), 10am-12noon, and
Sunday (2/7), 12noon-2pm

WHERE:
Whole Foods Portland
2 Somerset Street
Portland, Maine 04101
Map and directions

WHY:
Because any occasion to sample free chocolate should not be passed up!

We hope to see you all there - have a great weekend everyone!

A Little Whisky Goes a Loooong Way!

2010-02-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

Click here to enter our Build a Brownie CONTEST!

"I think an Irish Cream brownie would be amazing! Irish cream mixed into the batter for a hint of flavor – I don't even think it would need icing.” - Robin

Hmmm, this fabulous idea has been floating around in my head since it was posted as an entry for our Build A Brownie Contest. At the same time, I’ve been trying to dream up some yummy recipes that include our delicious Sweet Conclusions. So, this weekend, I slapped on my apron and started experimenting. I licked a lot of spoons along the way and finally came up with this recipe, which I shared with the crew at Simply Divine Brownies. They devoured this tasty dessert within in hour of its unveiling – it was a hit!

Here’s the recipe – it only takes about 10 minutes to prepare, but it tastes like you spent all day slaving over a hot stove!

Ingredients:

2 pounds of cream cheese at room temperature
3 cups of confectioner’s sugar
1 cup Bailey’s Irish Cream
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1 dark chocolate bar
1 bag Not So Plain Jane Sweet Conclusions

With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar, Bailey’s Irish Cream and vanilla together until they are fluffy and well incorporated. Set aside.

Place 1 bag of Simply Divine Not So Plain Jane Sweet Conclusions in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 25 seconds or until they are soft. Place Sweet Conclusions in a food processor and process until crumbs are fine. Press the crumbs into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate.

Pour the cream cheese mixture into the crust. Melt the dark chocolate bar in the microwave and drizzle over the pie. Cover the pie and refrigerate for at least three hours.

Try this recipe and let us know how it turns out – we would love to hear from you. And if you whip up another dessert using our Sweet Conclusions, send us a picture along your recipe and we'll feature it on our blog!

Follow Our Lead

2010-02-02T12:09:00.000-08:00

Click here to enter our Build a Brownie CONTEST!

We all like to think we lead the way, but when it comes to the Simply Divine blog, we hope you'll consider becoming a follower. Why? Because followers can track new Simply Divine blog entries, so you'll be the first to learn about contests, recipes, promotions and new products. What's not to love about that?

So while we're sure your blazing trails and leading the charge in all sorts of wonderful ways in the rest of your life, when it comes to Simply Divine Brownies, we'd love to see you join the pack!

Here's how: Scroll down to "Followers" on the right side of this page and click "Follow." That's it! Now, you're one of us:)

Chocolate=Love

2010-02-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

Click here to enter our Build a Brownie CONTEST!

Chocolate has the power to make us swoon any day of the week (it's true!), but somehow it tastes especially sweet on Valentines Day. If you're scrambling to find the perfect gift for a loved one, or if you want to treat yourself to a heavenly bite on the sweetest day of the year, then visit the Simply Divine Brownies website for some great Valentines Day deals (like those featured in the pics above)!

Why choose chocolate over flowers and jewelry? Here are some facts about chocolate to get your heart racing:

Chocolate is an aphrodisiac. It contains feel good stimulants that help boost your mood, like Theobromine and Phenyethylamine. In fact, the Emperor of Montezuma of Mexico and the Italian adventurer Giacomo Casanova both partook in chocolate before many a conquest.

Chocolate is complex (don't we all love that!). It has over 500 flavor components - that's more than double the amount found in strawberries and vanilla.

Chocolate keeps you young. It's true! Chocolate contains antioxidants, that help protect the body from aging caused by free radicals.

Chocolate is a great source of energy. Did you know that Napolean supposedly carried chocolate with him on military campaigns and ate it to boost his stamina?

And last, but not least, chocolate is good for your heart. It contains flavonoids that help you lower your blood pressure and cholesteral levels, which prevents the onset of heart disease.

Go ahead, indulge ... it's good for you!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate....the Winning Combination!

2010-02-02T07:58:00.000-08:00

Click here to enter our Build a Brownie CONTEST!

It's offical....Simply Divine Brownie enthusiasts have cast their votes and their favorite brownie flavor is....drum roll, please....Love Affair. Love Affair is our delicious peanut butter and chocolate brownie and, judging from the name, you can tell how we feel about the combination of salty, creamy peanut butter and rich, decadent chocolate. A match made in heaven to be sure!

Have you had your peanut butter and chocolate fix for the day? I think I need to sneak off to the Simply Divine kitchen and have mine:) Enjoy your day everyone!

Simply Divine Spotlight on...Shannon!

2010-01-27T20:15:00.000-08:00

Click here to enter our Build a Brownie CONTEST!

Meet Shannon Grauer, Simply Divine Brownies’ heavenly baker. She’s the person who ensures that each and every bit of a Simply Divine Brownie is a memorable experience. In this photo, Shannon is mixing up a batch of our best selling brownie…Calmel. She insists that one taste of this fudgy brownie smothered with smooth and creamy caramel sauce and finished with butter roasted pecans makes the two hours she spends stirring the caramel sauce as it bubbles on the stove worth the effort. Our customers agree!

“I just finished one of your Calmel brownies…I was so eager to finish it, but so sad when it was all gone. That seriously had to be THE best brownie I have ever put in my mouth. YUM! I can’t wait to tell my friends…or better yet, gift them with more of your yummy treats!! Thanks!! Should have eaten it slower…” - R.P. Charleston, South Carolina

Making wonderful creations from scratch comes naturally to Shannon who is a Maine soapmaker who whips up soaps with coastal scents like Wild Sea Rose and Sea Shore Scrub in her Freeport home. Her soaps are almost as delicious as her brownies and we sell both items at our Freeport Company Store. For more information visit Shannon’s website.

Reminder: Build a Brownie CONTEST!!!!

2010-01-26T07:24:00.000-08:00

We are holding a Build a Brownie Contest - this is your chance to make your brownie fantasy a reality! All you have to do is submit your fantasy brownie flavor and your email address in the comments section of this post. One lucky winner, drawn at random, will win a pan of their creation to share with friends and family (45 brownies total!), as well as a feature on our blog!

So let your imagination run wild, think of the most delectable brownie concoction you can imagine, and soon enough you could be taking a bite of your very own Simply Divine Brownie!

Here are the CONTEST RULES:

All entries must be submitted by posting a comment to this post by midnight ET on March 12, 2010.
Entries must include a description of your fantasy brownie flavor, along with your email address.
The base for your fantasy brownie flavor must be our traditional fudgy brownie base, but you can add whatever toppings you would like to create the brownie of your dreams.
Your fantasy brownie must not be a flavor we already offer. Peruse our delicious brownie selection to see the flavors already available to you!

Life at the Shop

2010-01-21T19:13:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow brownie lovers, I'm Meggen Beaulier, one half of the mother/daughter duo that makes up Simply Divine Brownies. Over the years I've become the unofficial photographer at the Brownie Shop - I think taking photos is the perfect way to preserve our company's history ... and capture some funny moments along the way. People like to think that in Maine, life moves a little bit slower, but here at the Brownie Shop, we're always going a mile a minute! Take a look at some of the pictures I took over the holiday season - the proof is in the pudding (or in the brownies) as we like say in Freeport!

Here's Marla having a laugh while she prepares brownie truffles at the ripe hour of 6am (ahhh, the holiday grind)!

And here's Michelle drizzling chocolate on our delicious peanut butter and chocolate truffles. You've got to love the winter hat she's wearing underneath her work bonnnet. Maine hit a low of -10 degrees the night before and the shop was still thawing out when we arrived at work the next morning!
It's Chris and Dale - they're packing corporate gifts of chard pottery bowls filled with our gourmet brownies. We like the enthusiasm guys!
And here's our cutest employee. This is my nephew Jacob, who agreed to wear a hairnet so he could be part of the team. We made him a taste tester! Not a bad gig:)

Stay tuned for more pictures capturing life at the Simply Divine Brownie shop - and have a delicious week everyone!

Build a Brownie CONTEST!!!!

2010-01-11T09:08:00.001-08:00

All entries must be submitted by posting a comment to this post by midnight ET on February 28, 2010.
Entries must include a description of your fantasy brownie flavor, along with your email address.
The base for your fantasy brownie flavor must be our traditional fudgy brownie base, but you can add whatever toppings you would like to create the brownie of your dreams.
Your fantasy brownie must not be a flavor we already offer. Peruse our delicious brownie selection to see the flavors already available to you!

What's Your Favorite Brownie?

2009-12-22T06:08:00.000-08:00

We all have our favorites, right? Our favorite color, our favorite book, our favorite movie. And what about our favorite Simply Divine Brownie? My personal favorite is our Cherry Chakra Brownie - a crumbly sour cherry brownie with a delicious gooey center. My husband is a coffee nut (and a self proclaimed Starbucks fanatic), so he always reaches for our Perk Up Brownie, a fudge brownie smothered in coffee buttercream frosting, sprinkled with cappuccino chips and kicked up a notch with a splash of kahlua.

And my youngest daughter, who is arriving home today for the holidays, is devoted to Cocoa's Creation, our chocolate buttercream frosted fudge brownie. Her twin sister, on the other hand, always reaches for our Peppermint Peace Brownie when she makes the trip home.

What's your favorite flavor? Vote in the sidebar! Then, visit the Simply Divine Brownies website to peruse all our out of this world flavors.

Holiday Goodies

2009-12-21T18:46:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, nothing gets me quite as excited as the holiday season. I love it all - the traditions, the decorations, the energy in the air...even the manic shopping! At the Simply Divine Brownie Shop, the holiday season is in full swing. Just like Santa's little helpers, we've been working day and night to satisfy sweet tooths the world 'round. We've been sending orders out to all 5o states, Europe, Asia and beyond. It's pretty wonderful to think of people sitting at different longitudes and latitutes enjoying a Simply Divine Brownie - in keeping with this magical season, don't you think?

And here's something else pretty magical - our Simply Divine Christmas Tree Brownie. It's a brownie yule tree dipped in gourmet white chocolate, dusted in sparkling green sanding sugar and decorated with a string of candy lights. And, for the month of December, we are offering a special price on the Christmas Tree Brownie when you buy a full dozen! Visit the Simply Divine Brownies website for this and other great holiday deals...don't hesitate, stuff those stockings before it's too late!

A Lady Always Wears Pearls

2009-12-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

My mother used to always say that a lady always wears pearls. And sure enough, whether she was out in the garden, baking a pie, outwitting all the men in the room or tucking my siblings and I into bed, she always wore a trademark string of pearls. All the ladies who work at Simply Divine Brownies also wear pearls (allbeit imitation strands, but lovely nonetheless!) and it's a great way to honor my Mom.

I love the traditions that our parents pass down to us. What traditions has your mother passed down to you?

A Sweet Success

2009-12-21T18:04:00.000-08:00

When I retired from teaching, I thought for a brief second that I would take time to unwind, read the towering pile of novels beside my bed and adopt some new hobbies. And then the idea for Simply Divine Brownies popped into my head and the rest is history! But you know, it turns out I'm not alone. Did you know that over 15% of workers between the ages of 50 and 64 (yes, I've just revealed my age!), are self employed? AARP recently visited the Simply Divine Brownie Shop to talk about what it means to own your own business and be your own boss during your....well...your more twilight years! It was so much fun to film and I'm excited to share the end result with you. Click here or on the image above to launch the video!

Farm Fresh Goodness

2009-12-21T16:45:00.000-08:00

Want to know a little secret? Nothing makes a recipe sing quite like farm fresh butter and eggs. Okay, I suppose that's not so much a secret as a solid piece of baking wisdom, but I think people have a tendency to overlook the quality of their ingredients. A top notch vanilla or gourmet quality chocolate, like the kind used in my brownies, can really take a recipe from delicious to out-of-this-world delectable. Because I believe in using the freshest ingredients, and I'm also committed to supporting local Maine businesses, all of the dairy-based ingredients in my brownies comes from a locally owned dairy. I like to think this adds a little bit of Maine charm to every brownie I bake!