Grand-Cookie

In an effort to be more help to my Mom I am committing to having my Dad over to play every Wednesday in order to get him out of the house. We made cookies last week and we made him an extra big ones. I also had Joseph over to play and the boys were quite jealous Grandpa got the huge and mungous one(according to Nate) or gianormic one(according to Joseph).

Glad you liked it Dad! Isn't he so cute?

Out of FLOUR!

Over the past several weeks(Including Easter weekend), I have made two batches of the worlds best brownies, one double batch of chocolate chip cookies, two different types of pretzels(same recipe, but two entirely different ways of cooking them), several loafs of my new no-fail french bread recipe(its really no fail).

(Nate doesn't like having his picture taken)

(Yum yum yum- this was the German method where I boil them first in baking soda water. I didn't like the baking soda taste so much. The second way I made them was buttered up. Yum)

I have no eggs. I have no flour. I do have new baking powder and backing soda. I am getting very low on my brown sugar. I have no powdered sugar, but don't use that in any of the above recipes, just thought I would throw that in there.

I wonder why baking makes me so happy? I don't think there is anything better than fresh baked items out of the oven. I LOVE that. I also love the idea that I am creating things from scratch. Wouldn't my grandpa be so proud? I didn't bake this past weekend because I had nothing to bake with and I was sad. I kept hoping someone would bring me cookies on Sunday and almost called a few people to ask them too(yes, I will do that!). But, I am still trying to fight the baby weight(Yes, I know Kathryn is over a year!) and it was probably a good thing no one did.

The Best Brownies EVER- and you know I wouldn't lie about this...

Best Brownies

1 Cup Butter
2 Cups Sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
¾ Cup cocoa powder
1 Cup Flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 Cup Chocolate Chips

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and beat again. Add cocoa powder and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well. Add chocolate chips.

Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes.


So, I got this recipe from Jeremy's work again. I am hoping he will get a raise this year, but so long as the best recipes ever keep coming home I guess I will have to be OK with that. A bit more plump than I want to be, but OK. I made these and think I might not ever be able to have a brownie out of a box mix again. Well, maybe. I don't think I would ever turn down a brownie no matter its origin. Anyway- I made this twice- first time didn't quite bake it long enough(but still amazingly good). The second time I used wheat flour and they were perfection. Also, the second day they are very chewy. Oh and I am very impressed with how clean my kids can lick a beater. :o>

I think if we could eat a cloud from Heaven, it would taste like these brownies.