Brownies

A lack of sleep could be causing you to do more than nod off at work--it could be making you long for carbs and rich foods. Two studies presented this week at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting in Minneapolis show that being sleepy could affect our desire for carb-heavy foods. One study focused on 262 high school seniors who answered surveys on sleepiness, carb cravings, and depression. Researchers discovered that as daytime sleepiness became more acute, so did a craving for carbs.

Mayors in two Massachusetts cities want to ban Lazy Cakes, brownies laced with the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, because the psychedelic packaging with a cartoon brownie may be enticing to children, according to news reports . Lazy Cakes, sold at some convenience stores and online, are touted on their website as “a delicious, chocolate alternative to medication and harmful narcotics to help you safely relax and fall asleep.” ...

  Dear SOS: I absolutely love the butterscotch brownie at Clementine in Los Angeles . It's chewy and full of brown-sugary goodness — the perfect afternoon treat or sweet for a picnic. I'd love to be able to make it at home. Would you be able to find the recipe for me? Mindy Nyby Los Angeles Dear Mindy: Tender, rich and temptingly sweet, Clementine's butterscotch brownies balance that brown-sugary goodness with a nice hint of salt to make this the perfect treat for almost any occasion.

  Spicy cherry chocolate brownies Total time: About 1 hour, plus cooling time Servings: 12 to 16 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted 3 cups sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 4 eggs 1 1/2 cups flour 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup dried sweet cherries (6 ounces) 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13-by-9-inch baking dish.

It was a casual Saturday evening dinner about six months ago. I was preparing a rosemary pork roast with a few dishes on the side when, like a smack in the face, I was hit by a happy accident. Here's what happened: knife chops rosemary for roast, knife left on counter next to rosemary, fresh batch of marshmallow squares is cooling off next to the knife that's next to the rosemary. Lack of self-control drives knife into the corner piece of the marshmallow square. Neck kicks back and senses become a scene from "Fantasia.

At the Ganja Gourmet, the chef's first order of business on a recent weekday morning was to whip up a meat lasagna. Her next was to entice customers to try it. "Dinner Buzz Special," Jenny Fowler wrote on a dry-erase board. "Start with our ganjanade [ganja tapenade], bread and a fat dank joint! Then choose from a slice of pizza or LaGanja [lasagna]. Then top it off with a Ganja Gourmet dessert, your choice, $30." This, pronounced owner Steve Horwitz as he watched over her shoulder, was a dinner special no other restaurant in America could claim.

The Early Show Alec Baldwin; Charlie Palmer. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Maggie Gyllenhaal. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA Good Morning America Jude Law; journalist Charles Gibson. (N) 7 a.m. KABC Good Day L.A. (N) 7 a.m. KTTV Live With Regis and Kelly Guest co-host Mark Consuelos; Robert Downey Jr. (N) 9 a.m. KABC The View Téa Leoni. (N) 10 a.m. KABC The Doctors Robin McGraw with tips for a safe, healthy holiday.

A group of preschool teachers in Los Angeles was sickened by marijuana this year after unknowingly eating pot brownies purchased by a fellow instructor, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. The incident took place April 7 at an unidentified preschool and was investigated by Los Angeles police, according to the CDC report. The preschool teacher who brought in the brownies told investigators that she had purchased them two days earlier from a street vendor who claimed to be selling them as a church fundraiser.

Dear SOS: Could you possibly get the recipe for the brownies at Boudin Bakery near South Coast Plaza? They are the most delicious brownies I have ever tasted! Mindy Morse Los Angeles Dear Mindy: It may be most famous for its San Francisco sourdough, but Boudin Bakery puts out an equally mean brownie. Thick and almost fudge-like in consistency, it's richly flavored with a slightly sweet finish. Arm yourself with a big glass of milk before delving into one of these winners.

Dear SOS: BLD's brownie sundae is the BEST brownie EVER! Please get the recipe! Lynn Frankel West Los Angeles Dear Lynn: Yeah, we were at a loss for words when we first tried this sundae, too (actually, we just couldn't stop eating it). The fudge-like brownies are super-rich and not too sweet, perfectly topped with creamy homemade coffee ice cream and hot fudge sauce. The components are each great on their own, but together they might just leave you speechless.