Home Economics and Home Improvement

Last night Madison decided she wanted brownies.  She asked me if we had any brownie mix and I said we didn't - we try not to buy any packaged foods.  I suggested she look on the internet for a recipe from scratch.  She looked at me in amazement (apparently she didn't realize brownies could be made without Duncan Hines Fudge Brownie Mix) but soon found a recipe.  She extracted a promise from Brock to wake her up early in the morning so the brownies would be ready in time for breakfast.  The results were amazing!

   

This afternoon our woodworking class centered around our dinghy.  We taught the kids how to use a palm sander (including fitting it with sandpaper - a task I still find difficult).  They spent the better part of an hour sanding the seats and oars of our Boston Whaler.

So today both school and the schooner received appropriate amounts of attention :)


Best Breakfast Brownie Recipe

Prep Time: 25 Minutes 

Cook Time: 35 Minutes Ready In: 1 Hour 

Servings: 16 

INGREDIENTS: 

BATTER

1/2 cup butter 

1 cup brown sugar 

2 eggs 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

1/2 cup all-purpose flour 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon baking powder 

FROSTING

3 tablespoons butter, softened 

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 

1 tablespoon honey 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 cup confectioners' sugar 

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan. 

2. In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. 

Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan. 

3. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook. 

4. To Make Frosting: Combine 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 

and 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Frost brownies while they are still warm.