Crossword Genius

Brownies bring food items about eleven (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pixies

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'brownies' is the definition.
('pixie' can be a synonym of 'brownie')

'food items about eleven' is the wordplay.
'food items' becomes 'pies' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'eleven' becomes 'xi' (Roman numerals).
'pies' going around 'xi' is 'PIXIES'.

'bring' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pixies that I've seen before include "Mischievous fairies" , "Small supernatural beings in fairy tales" , "Elves, imps" , "small fairies in children's tales" , "Little (mischievous) people" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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