Just back after an unexpected trip to Arizona and tonight is the last of my photography classes and Daughter is coming for a visit so I made these brownies,.  They are very rich and sticky!  I made my own Dulce de Leche which is pretty simple but time-consuming (a great recipe from David Lebovitz at http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2005/11/dulce_de_lechec.html)  so you could use store-bought as well.  

Ingredients

1             cups      chocolate chips 

1            cup         butter (2 sticks) 

 1            cup         cocoa powder 

 2 1/2     cups       sugar 

 4                           large eggs 

1             Tbs         pure vanilla extract 

 1/8        tsp          salt 

 1            cup         unbleached white flour 

 2            cup         chopped toasted pecans (optional) 

 2            oz           espresso or strong coffee

4             cups       dulce de leche

1/4         cup         cream 

Procedure

1   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2   Butter or spray and flour a 9 X 13 inch glass or non-stick baking pan.

3   Melt chocolate chips and butter in microwave checking and stirring at 30 second intervals.

4   Add cocoa and sugar and stir until well mixed.

5   Add eggs, vanilla, espresso and salt and mix well.

6   Add flour and mix just until smooth. Do not over mix. 

7   Pour 1/2 of the batter into prepared pan.

8   Microwave 2 cups dulce de leche at 15 second intervals until stirable but not melted stirring in 1/2 the chopped pecans.  Drop by spoonfuls onto the batter.

9   Swirl in with a knife, drawing it lengthwise, then crosswise to make a nice design. then cover with the remaining batter.  Bake for 40-45 minutes until the brownies pull away from the sides and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

10  Just before the brownies come out, mix the remaining dulce de leche with the cream, adding more if necessary to make a spreading consistency.  As soon as the brownies come out, while still hot, spread on the icing and sprinkle with the remaining pecans.  Refrigerate for at least several hours before serving.