If you add flour to the mixture, you should expect a more cake-like texture, so your brownies would taste more like cake. Limited Edition flavors are only available for a certain times during the year. You will need 2 10-ounce bags of the chips, mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract (and no shortening). sponsored. This cake was excellent. Find out their top picks. It was created by the American chocolate company Ghirardelli. Ghirardelli Bars and Squares are made in a facility and on shared equipment with products containing the following tree nuts: almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, cashews and coconut. Photo by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.com 2- Use butter instead of oil. I used triple the amount of chocolate, as recommended. A scoop of your favorite ice cream flavor: There are so many great flavors, so feel free to experiment! The three cocoa components are: chocolate liquor, cocoa butter and cocoa powder. Make sure to use the best quality chocolate and cocoa powder that you can get your hands on. NoteThe variety of distinctive flavors or hints of flavor that one can pick up when tasting and appreciating an individual piece of chocolate. For 16 Brownies, you will need: 1 pouch of Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix Available at Costco or any other grocery store. Ghirardelli does not support the changing the "standard of identity" or "definition" of chocolate. Made with only 2-ingredients and ready in 5 minutes. The secret ingredient in this mixture is the Ghirardelli premium chocolate-making that cannot be noticed in other brownie mixtures. * Congratulations to Riley, winner of our guest Mary Jane Maffini's Death Plans a Perfect Trip. Ghirardelli uses fine flavor cocoa beans (Criollo and Trinitario) from Ecuador, Madagascar, Dominican Republic and Papua New Guinea. This Ghirardelli brownie recipe is perfect for a quick and easy dessert! How to Make Ghirardelli Brownies More Fudgy? It contains sugar, cocoa butter, milk solids and fats, and flavorings. Gloss - The satiny sheen or mirror-like shine on the surface of a perfectly tempered piece of chocolate. I tend to make everything from scratch. What's included: Each order contains a 19-ounce box with a shelf life from production of 548 days. Snap - The sound and the feel of chocolate as it breaks or is bitten. There is an estimated 15-18 mg of caffeine in one 2-inch brownie. If you were sceptical wether you should try to add something salty to your dessert, this may be the chance to make up your mind. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions using oil, water and eggs. When it appears on a chocolate label with a percentage, it denotes the total cocoa bean (cacao) content of the chocolate and the term is sometimes used interchangeably with chocolate liquor, cacao, cocoa beans or cocoa solids. Chocolate should be kept wrapped tightly in a cool, dry place with a temperature ranging from 60-75F. A lot like a chocolate brownie. sponsored. Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting into squares for neater pieces. Among the most popular and commonly chosen Ghirardelli brownie mix is the Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix that provides ultimate chocolate richness and unique taste of the chewy brownies. May contain eggs and tree nuts. It was created by the American chocolate company Ghirardelli. This is a recommended way of achieving the sweet taste in your brownies since it will not mess up the recipe in any way. See Cocoa Powder. Walgreens coupons are paperless online! While this is the highest cacao content possible, it is for baking, not eating since it is very bitter and has absolutely no sugar added. Since higher cacao content chocolate is less sweet with a more intense chocolate flavor, knowing the cacao content will help you select the perfect chocolate for you. I split the recipe in half and made one 9" cake and had enough batter left over to make 6 cupcakes. 4- Use milk or heavy cream instead of water If you think about it, adding in water to your brownie mix is boring. Prep for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350F. Make brownies using 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup oil and 2 eggs. 13. How To Store Veggies, Fruits, Cereals And Meats. Craving brownies but short on time? The bread will help to moisten the brownies and make them soft again. In a large bowl whip together the brownie batter according to the package instructions. It contains no alcohol. Duncan Hines makes the best cake/brownie mixes, and I always stock up when theyre on sale. Free delivery for many products! Best Overall Brownie Mix: Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix. Different kinds of fruit, especially berries go great with chocolate brownies. Other basic materials should be available in your kitchen. Photo by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.com 2- Use butter instead of oil. My only, and by far favorite, brownie mix brand is Ghirardelli, Lewis said. If the chocolate hasnt fully melted, microwave the mixture for 15-20 seconds. Therefore, most people strive to make their brownies fudgy rather than chewy or cake-like. This recipe makes the richest brownies with the perfect balance of chocolate flavors. Growing up myfriends favorite chocolate was Ghirardelli. If you see that there are crumbs and the toothpick is moist, then your fudgy brownies are ready. Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix - 18.3oz. In a medium saucepan, boil water and sugar over medium heat. Find out more about the Ghirardelli Difference, Find out more about entertaining with chocolate, Find out more about how the experts taste chocolate. She offered ideas such as exchanging the water for milk, adding espresso powder, which deepens the chocolate flavor, or hitting the top with flaky sea salt. She also frequently adds different candies, such as Rolos, Reeses peanut butter cups or mints. 325 degrees F. 1. Is there Gluten in Ghirardelli products? 3. Duncan Hines Cake Mix, 15.25, or Brownie Mix, 16.7 to 18.3 oz, or Frosting, 16 oz, BOGO $3.69. This mix makes it easy to create rich and fudgy brownies perfect for any occasion. Next, mix the brownie mix, eggs, oil, and water until everything is fully combined. We achieved a 100% traceable and externally verified cocoa bean supply chain by 2020. In hot climates or during the summer, chocolate can be stored in the refrigerator, although this isn't ideal as the chocolate may absorb odors from other foods. Or, the recipe may call for adding melted butter to sugar instead of creaming the butter and sugar together. The result is a thick and glossy batter. Butter, butter, butter. Add one extra egg to your mix to make your brownies more cakey. First of all, use the original Ghirardelli brownie mix for a richer flavor. Ingredients Sugar, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Unsweetened Chocolate, Soy Lecithin an Emulsifier, Vanilla. does ghirardelli triple chocolate brownie mix have nuts. This simple trick can also save some time while thinking about decoration ideas. 3. This means that you can always top them with sprinkles or shredded coconut and make them look better and taste better. Picnic at Kays! Once youve slathered on a thick layer, sprinkle it with nuts, jimmies, toasted coconut, even flaky sea salt for some extra texture and fun. Brownie mix is a great step into the world of baking; using it as a building block to try new flavors and test how slight changes can create a new product is what makes it really exciting and versatile, said Olivia McCoy, the head chef of Daily Chew in Atlanta. Add brownie mix and fudge pouch (enclosed); stir until blended. 3 Bake as directed below. Everyone knows that chocolate and coffee go amazingly well together, so you will not regret trying it. Conching - Conching is the prolonged heating, mixing and scraping or grinding process done during the last stages of chocolate manufacture. Plus, using a mix can be a stepping stone to becoming more comfortable with baking. Nutritional information can be found on the side panel of our brownie mix packaging. These turned out perfectly and smelled amazing. Try this Gooey Mug Brownie topped with creamy vanilla ice cream or homemade chocolate sauce for the perfect single serve dessert! Often the ratio of chocolate to butter could be different than you'd expect. Contains a minimum of 35% chocolate liquor and less than 12% milk solids. 4. They can be toasted or raw, and you can determine the amount you want to add to the brownies. 1 1/4 cups Granulated sugar 3/4 cup All-purpose flour 2/3 cup Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa Powder 1/2 cup Powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt Reviews: 2 Servings: 1 . 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. They had the most intense flavor of the bunch, which I think came from the chocolate chips and the darker chocolate used in the batter. Yes, in general, darker chocolate and higher cacao content chocolate mean the same thing more intense chocolate taste and higher percentage of cacao components, although the definition of dark chocolate is very broad. However, when comparing across brands, higher cacao content may not mean darker since a chocolate made from more cocoa powder may not achieve as an intense chocolate flavor. Firefighter Search Techniques, Each box has a shelf life from production of 548 days. Couverture - Chocolate with a minimum of 32% cocoa butter. I split the recipe in half and made one 9" cake and had enough batter left over to make 6 cupcakes. Coleman likes this mix because it always provides a classic brownie. He said its a more affordable option but still has great flavor and texture. What size turkey do I need to feed 10 adults? Divide dough into 2 balls. Can this brownie mix recipe make ahead of time? Therefore, even though you already have the mixture, make sure that you add more chocolate or butter. Top with whipped cream, ice cream, or chocolate chips. Bake 40- 45 minutes According to the Size of The baking Pan. Cacao content is also important when pairing with other foods and beverages. Love the taste of these brownies, but I dread making them due to the mess and waste of getting the thick batter out of the blender. Just 9 ingredients. Ghirardelli brownies are so thick and moist that a toothpick method for determining doneness is not an accurate indication. Be sure to follow the instructions on the box to ensure perfect brownies every time. If you need customer assistance, or if you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, call Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Pacific:
This usually means whisking together oil, water and an egg or two to the dry ingredients. You will need: 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 egg. Cocoa Mass or Cocoa Masse - An alternate term for the total cocoa bean, cacao, chocolate liquor, or cocoa content of chocolate. Lets get baking! 2. Sprinkle immediately with remaining 1 cup white chips. This usually means whisking together oil, water and an egg or two to the dry ingredients. Ghirardelli currently manufactures products containing the following tree nuts. In a medium saucepan, boil water and sugar over medium heat. For baking chocolate, knowing the percentage allows you to control the sweetness and chocolate intensity in your baked goods. I used devils food cake mix and macademia nuts and white chips. Ghirardelli brownies are known to be delicious and the preferred choice among chocolate lovers. Premium ingredients: Our Ultimate Chocolate Brownie Mix includes delicious chocolate chips and smooth, chocolate syrup for an ultra-rich and sophisticated treat. Ganache - A mixture of chocolate and cream used as the filling for chocolate truffles, but also for sauces, glazes and cake fillings. Mix together prior to adding to the recipe. Sugar Bloom - Visible as a dull white film on the surface of the chocolate. Well start by cracking open that box of brownie mix to make our brownie base. you are the one that will decide on the sweetness. Coleman is a fan of all the Ghirardelli brownie mixes. Though I would often wander the aisles, drooling as I bought the decadent chocolate as a gift for her I never tasted it, as it wasnt safe for my peanut/nut allergies. Rather than using the semi-sweet chocolate chips combined with shortening and peppermint for coating the cookies, use Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers. When you're baking and you need to substitute one Ghirardelli product for another, try these options. 11 by 7 pan. How long does it take to make these brownies? Recipe! In a large bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar and sugar with a paddle attachment until creamy, about 1 minute. Sweet Chocolate (Dark) - Chocolate that contains a minimum of 15% chocolate liquor and less than 12% milk solids with varying amounts of sweeteners and cocoa butter. Instant Coffee enhances the chocolate flavor for a more chocolate-y brownie. 1 box Ghirardelli brownie mix of choice 1 egg, or per box ingredients 1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil, or per box directions 1/4 cup water, or per box directions 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract pinch kosher salt 3/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional WOW. You just have to decide what you want in your brownies, and you can easily achieve it. Ghirardelli Bars and Squares are made in a facility and on shared equipment with products containing the following tree nuts: almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, cashews and coconut. Tree Nuts, Eggs. The chocolate liquor is cooled and molded into blocks that can be used for baking. Let's mix Ghirardelli brownies, but make them even better. Ghirardelli's process of hand-selecting the world's finest cocoa beans and roasting them to perfection ensures an intense chocolate flavor. This would be a great option if you are preparing your brownies for some kind of celebration or party. The Limited Edition program allows consumer to have a variety of tasty treats throughout the year, in addition to our standard line up of fine products. White Confectionery Coating - Although apparently similar to white chocolate, white confectionery coating contains no part of the cocoa bean. Cacao content refers to the total cacao content in the chocolate, which is everything derived from the cocoa bean. It also contains chocolate chips and walnuts. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes . Ghirardelli uses a proprietary blend of bean varieties that has been refined over the company's 150-year history to provide the company's distinct and intense chocolate taste. These changes (proposed by other chocolate manufacturers) would allow for the addition of vegetable oil in place of cocoa butter without losing the ability to call the product Milk Chocolate, Semi-Sweet Chocolate or Bittersweet Chocolate. What can I add to box brownies to make them better? However, feedback on the flavors is also appreciated and taken into account in future product developments. It is obtained by pressing the unsweetened chocolate, or "chocolate liquor." Target Circle is a loyalty program where you can earn 1% in Target Circle earnings rewards every time you make an eligible purchase with non-RedCard payment, which Stir in liquor of choice. he makes beauty out of chaos bible verse; franklin police blotter; mm2 knife script pastebin. 5 Substitutes, Maggianos Butter Cake Recipe: Easy & Delicious, Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe. Betty Crocker is a cheaper alternative but doesnt lack in flavor or texture, Coleman said. Sprinkles: A fun way to add color and excitement to your dessert. HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. A chocolate made from more cocoa powder may not achieve as an intense chocolate flavor. You should also be careful not to overcook your brownies since overcooking can make ruin their texture and taste. Ice cream: This is the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day. If the storage temperature exceeds 75F, some of the cocoa butter may appear on the surface, causing the chocolate to develop a whitish cast, known as "bloom." Ghirardelli Unsweetened Chocolate and Unsweetened Premium Cocoa: For every 1 ounce of Unsweetened Chocolate called for in a recipe, use 3 level tablespoons of Unsweetened Premium Cocoa and 1 tablespoon extra of butter, margarine, or vegetable shortening than called for in the recipe. Best Sellers Rank: #130,729 in Grocery & Gourmet Food ( See Top 100 in Grocery & Gourmet Food) #119 in Brownie Mixes. Aroma - The variety of scents given off by individual chocolate. Time and temperature are the key to proper doneness. No flaxmeal. Picnic at Kays! Dark chocolate contains about 20 mg of caffeine per ounce, milk chocolate contains about 6 mg per ounce, and white chocolate contains no caffeine. This process changes the color of the cocoa and develops a milder chocolate flavor. Since the brownie mix requires liquid for the baking process, you can just simply add milk according to the given amount in the recipe of your brownies. Start your day off right, with a Dayspring Coffee ASIN : B0016X9AR4. The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies. 10. Add in the egg and egg yolk, plus the vanilla and beat to combine. But the reality is, sometimes you need something real quick and you want to be able to put your name behind it, so you put your own spin on it; bring a boxed dessert to life.. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. When I look at another brand's products, it says "Chocolate Flavor." In a Large Bowl, Add 1 Egg with xbc cup of water and whisk. However, caffeine content will vary and can be dependent on the cocoa bean type and origin. This substitution is not allowed today unless manufacturers clearly label their products as "chocolaty", "chocolate flavored", sweet chocolate and vegetable fat coating, or milk chocolate and vegetable fat coating. You will need 2 10-ounce bags of the chips, mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract (and no shortening). As you may have heard, the FDA is considering changing the "standard of identity" for chocolate. I love the different flavors and they always provide a fudgy brownie, he said. Betty Crocker Supreme Triple Chunk Brownie Mix - 17.8oz. Convenience I followed the package directions on how to bake the brownies by adding my water, egg and oil. Most brownie mix boxes suggest that you use oil but to add more richness to your brownie mix brownies, opt for melted butter. 7. In addition, people have loved the chocolate chunks inside the brownies since they give these sweet pastries amazing richness and authentic notes that are not present in other types of brownies. Can You Use Milk Instead of Water in Ghirardelli Brownies? In addition, you can feel confident that our milk chocolate baking chips, semisweet baking chips, and 60% baking chips and baking bars are also made without gluten-containing ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Proper tempering, followed by good cooling, is required for good surface gloss and to prevent "fat" bloom. It is mainly farmed in Latin America and the Caribbean. Contains: wheat, milk, soy. Caffeine is a compound naturally found in commonly consumed items such as coffee, tea, and chocolate. Caffeine is naturally present in our brownie mixes in small amounts from the chocolate. 12. Your email address will not be published. Ghirardelli Unsweetened Chocolate and Unsweetened Premium Cocoa: For every 1 ounce of Unsweetened Chocolate called for in a recipe, use 3 level tablespoons of Unsweetened Premium Cocoa and 1 tablespoon extra of butter, margarine, or vegetable shortening than called for in the recipe. To make them, I follow these steps: Step 1, Melt the butter with sugar, salt, and cocoa powder. It also contains chocolate chips and walnuts. Cocoa butter is a natural fat that is present in cocoa beans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare baking pan by lightly greasing or spraying with non-stick cooking spray 2. Typically caused by cold chocolate being exposed to a warm humid environment with resultant condensation forming on the product. Bake 28 to 31 minutes or until center is set. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. If youre debating trying another brand, consider the well-known Duncan Hines. The reason is simple. The result is a thick and glossy batter. The cacao content gives an indication of how intense or how sweet the chocolate will be. The user simply adds water and oil to the mix and stirs until combined to prepare the brownies. Poor storage conditions will cause chocolate to "bloom," or develop a light-colored powdery surface on the chocolate, caused by sugar or fat crystals rising to the surface. Pour the mixture into a prepared baking dish and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The reason is simple. What can I add to boxed brownie to make it better? Melt the chocolate the same way, and dip the cookies as instructed. Thaw frozen brownies overnight in the refrigerator before serving. However, you should not worry about making your brownies taste like coffee. Picnic at Kays! 1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil. Since you are here, I assume you have chosen the Ghirardelli brownie mix, which is an amazing brownie mixture that will work well with other ingredients. If youre used to always making everything from scratch, using a box may seem strange at first but even professionals occasionally reach for a mix. For the products that do not, however, the typical cocoa percentage is about 50%. In a large bowl whip together the brownie batter according to the package instructions. Milk contains more fat and flavor than water so the brownies are even more moist, gooey, and delicious. Best Brownie Mix - Reviews of Boxed Brownie Mixes - Modern The differences really allow a theme to carry through depending on what you choose if you're having a bonfire night, choose the s'mores brownies and add those on to your s'mores creation to really pump up the ooey-gooey chocolate level!, Ghirardelli Chocolate Supreme Brownie Mix. Thank you for making Chowhound a vibrant and passionate community of food trailblazers for 25 years. Add brownie mix, salt and chocolate syrup pounch (enclosed). Choose from Same Day Delivery, Drive Up or Order Pickup. These were also fudgy, which is my personal preference for a brownie. If you really want to take your brownies to the next level, you can get festive with them. A scoop of vanilla ice cream: This classic combination is always a hit! Can I just microwave Red Baron French Bread pizza? If you are a real lover of coffee, you will never say no to brownies that have some coffee included in them. Make sure your oven temperature is correct, and bake according to the time listed on the package. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. kamloops fishing report; what happened to herr starr's ear Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa and Ghirardelli Unsweetened Premium Cocoa: For 1 cup of Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa, use cup Unsweetened Premium Cocoa and cup sugar. For example, in our 60% Cacao Dark Chocolate SQUARES Chocolate, the 60% cacao content is made up of cocoa butter and chocolate liquor with the remaining 40% made up of sugar, vanilla, and other ingredients. Historically, "cacao" and "cocoa" were used interchangeably since "cocoa" is easier to understand. Therefore, you should not think that you will change the sweetness of your brownies by adding a little bit of coffee to the mixture. Just 9 ingredients. Stir in chopped pecans, chocolate chips and 1 cup white chips. Ghirardelli Bittersweet and Semi-Sweet Chocolate can be used interchangeably. We understand the impact that the uncontrolled cultivation of palm oil can have on rainforests and biodiversity. If you just add something without any indications or guidelines, you might mess up the mixture and end up with ruined and tasteless brownies. In large bowl, place brownie mix, flour, butter, egg, egg whites, baking powder and almond extract. does ghirardelli triple chocolate brownie mix have nuts. If you have done your research, you probably know that the best brownies are the fudgy ones. White chocolate is white because it contains no cocoa powder or chocolate liquor/unsweetened chocolate. The secret for making fudgy brownies is not complicated, you just have to know the right proportions of ingredients that you need to add to the mixture. * Congratulations to Riley, winner of our guest Mary Jane Maffini's Death Plans a Perfect Trip. How long does it take for salmon to cook in the oven? In-Club Style Number. The Ghirardelli Brownie mix is a pre-packaged mix used to bake brownies. Cocoa butter makes chocolate fluid when melted and crisp when hardened. Add brownie mix and fudge pouch (enclosed); stir until well blended. Or try adding melted butter instead of oil. Read reviews and buy Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix - 18oz at Target. What does the percentage of cacao content mean? To make a marble effect, swirl 1/4 cup of melted chocolate into the batter before pouring it into the pan. Choose the size of the mix that you would like to create a gift option or bulk box. Most commonly, this is "bloomed" chocolate. Stir in liquor of choice. Many people have claimed that they do not even need to add anything extra since they have a unique taste on their own. Although it may look unpleasant, bloomed chocolate is not harmful to eat. Here's what Ghirardelli had to say about the matter: Ghirardelli currently manufactures products containing the following tree nuts: almonds, coconut and hazelnuts; all the Bars and Squares made in the facility share equipment with products containing these tree nuts. Allow brownies to cool completely after baking and store in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap. Cocoa butter contributes to the creamy smooth texture and the long finish that characterizes fine chocolate. Yes, you can make your own Ghirardelli brownie mix at home with a few simple ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease an 8-inch pan, or line with parchment.Mix all ingredients well. Easy Recipe! Milk Chocolate - Chocolate with at least 10% chocolate liquor, 12% milk solids and 3.39% milk fat, combined with sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla. Bittersweet and semi-sweet both fall under this definition; however, bittersweet is often the term used for chocolate with a minimum of 50% chocolate liquor. Ghirardelli uses real chocolate in its products. No chia seeds or egg replacer. The mix contains flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. When I feel like going all out, I will add in a swirl of cheesecake, different fruit or caramel sauces., McCoy likes to tinker with the ingredients to create layers of flavor. Place water, oil and egg in medium bowl and stir until fully mixed. I just opened a chocolate bar and the chocolate is dry with white spots on it. This process is used to prepare chocolate for coating and dipping. Consumer cocoa is cocoa with a robust flavor. The Best Ever Chocolate Cake with Ganache. 6 Easy Ways to Make Boxed Brownies Better. 5. Ghirardelli uses Forastero beans (consumer cocoa), exclusively from Ghana. Best Compression Shirt To Hide Fat Women's, Let stand 1 minute to soften chips. Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix - 18.3oz. Always chocolatey, they can be cakey, rich and fudgy or chewy. Well start by cracking open that box of brownie mix to make our brownie base. Part of HuffPost Food & Drink. Other brands with similar cacao content may not be as careful in their bean selection, roasting, or manufacturing process, yielding a lower quality product. The boxed mix comes with two packets to stir into the batter one with chocolate chips and one with fudge and only calls for 1 egg, which helps keep the Most brownie mix boxes suggest that you use oil but to add more richness to your brownie mix brownies, opt for melted butter. My number one love when it comes to baking. I used triple the amount of chocolate, as recommended. For 16 Brownies, you will need: 1 pouch of Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix - Available at Costco or any other grocery store 11" by 7" pan 1/3 Cup Water 1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil 1 Egg In order to improve the taste of boxed brownies, you need to know the proper method to do that. Add brownie mix and fudge pouch (enclosed); stir until well blended. where is the serial number on vera bradley luggage.