James’ new show “A Time to Kill” is based on the best selling book by John Grisham, and set in Clanton, Mississippi.  So, James was inspired  to make a Mississippi Mud Cake for this week’s Wine and Unwind. The common element of all the recipes he found seemed to be marshmallows and chocolate icing.  Here is a super-decadent dessert consisting of a cake-like brownie covered with mini-marshmallows (while the cake is still hot!) then drizzled with homemade chocolate icing.  Mmmm . . . it’s to die for!!  (Or maybe to kill for??)

Assistant Stage Manager David Sugarman and Production Assistant Jeff Brancato serving the cake.

Mississippi Mud Brownies

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups chopped pecans (you could also use walnuts but the pecans seemed more “southern”)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups of miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup milk
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Method:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9×13 inch cake pan.

2.  In a large sauce pan over low heat, melt 1 cup of the butter or margarine and the cocoa. Stir often. Remove from heat and add white sugar, beat well. Beat in eggs one at a time.

3.  Combine flour, baking powder, and salt and stir into the egg mixture. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the chopped nuts and teaspoon of the vanilla. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

4.  Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes. Remove cake from oven and sprinkle the marshmallows over the cake. Return to oven for 5 more minutes.  Test cake, and if toothpick comes out clean,  remove from oven.   Spoon chocolate icing* over marshmallow topping while the cake is still hot and spread. The cake will get “muddied” by the spreading action. Sprinkle with the last 1/4 cup of nuts.

*To make icing: Beat together the remaining 1/4 cup butter or margarine, 1/3 cup cocoa, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the milk and the confectioner’s sugar. Once well combined spoon over the still hot cake.

Tonya Pinkins enjoying the cake next to Lee Sellars. Chike Johnson to the right of them.

Dashiell Eaves and Ashley Williams unwinding with wine!