Dawna's Favorite Fudge Brownies

I have tried so many brownie recipes over the years, and could never find one that was really "it" for us. I've finally found it. This is the brownie recipe to end the search.

Dawna’s Favorite Fudge Brownies

Adapted from King Arthur Flour

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
2-1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1-1/4 cups dutch-process cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
½-teaspoon expresso powder
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups flour
2 cups chocolate chips
walnuts, if desired

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9x13 pan.

Melt butter. Add sugar and stir together. Return to heat just until hot (110 to 120F) but not bubbling. **note** heating a second time dissolves more sugar, which gives a shiny top crust like “box” brownies.

Beat the eggs, then beat in the cocoa, salt, baking powder, expresso and vanilla. It takes awhile to incorporate.

Add the hot sugar/butter mixture to the egg mixture, and stir until smooth. Gently fold in the flour and fold in chocolate chips. Add walnuts if using. Don’t overmix when adding flour.

Pour into pan. Give Floyd Michael the bowl and spoon to lick. Bake for 30 minutes.

Cool on a rack. Cut. Hide some from the kids so Floyd Michael can have some.

I work a lot

Need I say more? I really do work a lot. It seems I've spent most of my life saying "I can't do that, I have to work". "Hold on one minute, I'm working". "I need to work more". "I need to work less". There are some things I enjoy about working. There are others I definitely do not enjoy. I just wish work-life balance was easier to attain.

My Girl

Today is Destiny's birthday. Happy birthday to my girl!

Parents tend to have a list of things they want for their children to do, or to be. Mostly, I want my children to be happy. I want them to be thinking, thoughtful people. I want them to know success in the world, rather than struggle. I want them to find work that means something to them more than simply a paycheck. I want them to have solid, meaningful, fulfilling relationships. I want them to have health. I want them to do good in the world. I want them to give, rather than simply take.

I admire Destiny. I appreciate the hard work and long hours she is putting in at this stage in her life. She is loyal and hard working and responsible and reliable. She is out there working for the future that she wants. We have wonderful conversations that show me only glimpses of the girl that was, but even more the woman she has become. She is an amazing granddaughter, and I so admire and appreciate the relationship she has carved out with her grandparents. She is an absolutely amazing Aunt, and Jason adores her.

I couldn't have asked for a better daughter. I can't wait to see the great things that are yet to come for my girl.

Time for an update

This is the last family photograph we had taken. Wasn't Jason a cute baby? Jason will be five in a few weeks. Yes, five years old. And Jason at five is so adorable there aren't words to describe it. Only a new picture will do. Clearly, it is time for an update! Now if I could only find a day that everyone is available...

Indian Pow-Wow Fry Bread

Many, many years ago the kids and I attended the Indian Pow Wow in Tehachapi with my friend Bonnie and her children. We had a wonderful time, and Bonnie left determined to recreate the fry bread we had there. This recipe is the result of her experimentation. Bonnie and I later made fry bread for Tiana and Daniel's class at school (I'm thinking maybe second grade...but am not sure). I can still remember lugging the electric skillets and all of the ingredients into the school. Another crazy adventure that I would never have thought to attempt on my own, but with Bonnie anything was possible.

I no longer have a breadmaker, but know the recipe can easily be adapted. I will have to add those directions when I do.

INDIAN FRY BREAD

3 CUPS FLOUR
1 TBSP BAKING POWDER
½ TEASPOON SALT
¼ CUP MILK
1 CUP WARM WATER

Put flour, baking powder, salt and milk in breadmaker on dough setting. As it begins to mix continuously, add water, ¼ cup at a time. After dough is mixed, take out (it does not need to be kneaded a seocnd time).

Cover and let stand for 15 minutes.

Pull off egg-sized balls. Flatten on floured board (and between hands), then let rest.

Flatten again and let rest.

Should be 1/4 inch thick.

Fry on both sides. Will puff slightly.

Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar or with taco fixings (like at Indian Pow-Wow in Tehachapi).

Destiny's Snickerdoodles

Destiny has made these at Christmas time for years. They are her Grandma Syd's favorites, so she always makes sure her Grandma gets some.


Snickerdoodles

1-1/2 cups sugar
½ cup margarine or butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream sugar, margarine, vanilla and eggs until light and fluffy.

In separate bowl, stir together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture.

Shape dough into balls.

Mix together the 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon.

Roll balls into cinnamon-sugar.

Place apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-14 minutes or until set. Remove immediately from cookie sheets.

Shirley's no-bake cookies

Floyd Michael loves these cookies. Any time he comes in the door and sees them cooling on the counter, he has to have one immediately!

Shirley Bays’ No-Bake Cookies

Combine the following ingredients in a saucepan:

1 stick butter
2 cups sugar
½ cup cocoa
½ cup milk

Bring to a boil, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.

Add:
½ cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Bring back to a boil, then add:

Approximately 3 cups oatmeal (enough to get desired consistency).

STIR until oats are well coated. Drop by (serving size) spoonfuls onto sprayed aluminum foil; let cool.