Q: How can BYU mint brownies be any better? A: Dark chocolate ganache.

Yes, my friends, I have a gift. It is the gift of dark chocolate ganache. No longer are the BYU mint brownies too sweet; I have made them PERFECT. Please send your praise and money and join my cult of ganache.

Brownies (from BYU recipe):
1 c. margarine
1/2 c. cocoa
2 Tbsp. honey
4 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 c. chopped walnuts (or not.)

Melt margarine and mix in cocoa. Allow to cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Add nuts, or not. Pour batter into a greased 9-by-13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool.

Now here is where I come in (Mwah-Ha-Ha.):
While the brownies are cooking, clear out a space in your freezer large enough for the pan.

As soon as they are done, put the pan in the freezer. Then

Mix together in a small saucepan:
3/4 c best quality unsweetened cocoa powder. (I get mine from penzey's spices)
1/2 c heavy cream
6 T butter, cut into bits
3/4 c powdered sugar
tiny pinch of salt

Cook over low heat until combined and thickened, about 10 minutes.

As soon as this is thickened, pour it over the pan in the freezer. Just a thin layer, you will save some in the pan. Close the freezer and make the mint icing

5 Tbsp. margarine, softened
dash of salt
1 Tbsp. dark corn syrup
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. mint extract, or more to taste.
1-2 drops green food color, or as green as you want it. You don't even need it if you are of the "Bryers mint ice cream with no added color" persuasion.
3 Tbsp. milk, or enough to make it the right consistency

In a bowl, use your mixer to blend together first 4 ingredients until creamy. Add flavoring and coloring, and the milk. You want the consistency to be as thin as the ganache, so you may need to add more milk, depending on how it all goes. As soon as it is done, spread it on the layer in the freezer.

Wait five more minutes or so, and then layer the last bit of chocolate and the last bit of mint in the freezer. You can make it all swirly like mine, or you can leave it with the scary green on top.

I am telling you, you will be sorely disappointed the next time you have the Cannon Center ones--you will cry "Why does Jen not work here?" And I will say "Because I finally graduated and do not need to be the office secretary any longer."