Brownies with Alice and Gertrude

Our reference to the legendary Alice B. Toklas brownies has brought requests for the recipe. In fact, "The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book" does not call these confections brownies: the recipe is for "Hashchich Fudge," and was given to Ms. Toklas by an English painter and poet named Brion Gysin.

Ms. Toklas writes, "This is the food of Paradise." She recommends serving it accompanied by "large quantities of hot mint tea," and says, "Euphoria and brilliant storms of laughter, ecstatic reveries and extensions of one's personality are to be expected."

The ingredients: one teaspoon black peppercorns, one whole nutmeg, four sticks of cinnamon, one teaspoon coriander, a handful each of chopped dates, figs, almonds and peanuts, a cup of sugar dissolved in a big pat of butter, and finally, a bunch of canibus sativa.

Ms. Toklas has words of caution: "It should be eaten with care," she writes. "Two pieces are quite sufficient."