Apocalypse Nownies and The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse

A few weeks ago, in honor of the Season 6 premiere of The Walking Dead, I received a review copy of The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse. Now, I originally thought this would be a series of zombie-themed recipes, but what I didn’t expect is that this book would be full of practical advice. You may not realistically expect to be caught in a Zombie Apocalypse in the near future, but it got awfully windy and stormy in Seattle this past week, and many of my friends and neighbors ended up without power. Luckily, since I was reading this book, I knew to start making something delicious with my perishables, just in case the fridge/freezer didn’t make it through the night. I made Apocalypse Nownies, one of the first recipes and one of my many favorite puns in the book. These brownies were so great, I got permission to reprint the recipe here! Check it out at the end of the post.

In addition to these fun and delicious recipes, this book is full of amazing tips and tricks for any survival situation. You have recipes and guides for using up ingredients in your pantry, foraging and hunting through your neighborhood, gardening, pickling, and even repurposing MREs into slightly-more-gourmet fare. You’re taught how to find and filter water, and how you can prepare a variety of heat sources to cook your recipes. It’s incredibly practical and informative, set in an entertaining, zombie filled premise. But I’m guaranteed this book will save lives, or at least save you a bit of discomfort. Get it, read it, and then keep it in your emergency kit/bug-out bag. (Don’t have one of those yet? This book will show you how to put one together.)

Ok, enough talk about disasters and survivals. Let’s make some brownies!

Apocalypse Nownies

Recipe from The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse by Lauren Wilson

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pan
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 8 oz. chocolate (unsweetened baking preferable, or whatever you have on hand)
• 6 tbsp. butter, plus extra for greasing the pan
• 1 1/4 c. white sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. espresso powder (optional, but recommended)
• 1/8 tsp. salt (omit if using salted butter)
• 3 eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional, but recommended)

Method

1. Start a cooking fire, either well in advance to generate sufficient embers for 350 degree baking, or with the Hibachi Grill. Grease and flour a baking vessel.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and baking powder until well-combined. Set aside for now.
3. Set a medium pot, half-filled with water, over the cooking fire to use as a double boiler. Add the chocolate and butter to a second mixing bowl and rest it on the pot, stirring occasionally until completely melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat, add the sugar, vanilla, espresso powder, and salt (if needed). Mix until well incorporated and let cool for about 2 minutes.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking until the batter is shiny and smooth after each addition. Add the flour mixture and whisk again, more gently this time, until the mixture is smooth and shiny. The batter should be fairly thick. Add the walnuts and mix until just combined.
5. Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth out to edges if needed. Bake for about 20 minutes in a 7-by 11-inch metal baking pan. Check the brownies after about 15 minutes to avoid overbaking–they are ready when the sides are firm and the center has just set (a knife or toothpick in the center comes out relatively clean). Rotate the pan periodically to ensure even cooking, especially if using an Oven Hack.
6. Consume ravenously after letting the cooked brownies cool for 10-15 minutes.

Find this recipe and more in The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse!