“Life must be lived as play.” – Plato
NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It’s my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian ‘Quote Cup’ passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, along with an update and photos of what has been going on in our lives. I love trying new recipes…and love getting recipes you would like to share!
I think of this week’s pictures as ‘play’… essential to our physical and mental wellbeing! Our daughter-in-law Laura is a jigsaw puzzle lover extraordinaire, and she recently attended the semi-annual international PUZZLE PARLEY wooden puzzle convention, right here in Minneapolis… where she learned to cut her own wooden puzzles (the snail above is her creation). Meanwhile, I am happy to just assemble the fun puzzles she brings me to put together and exchange for another… such as the fun, creative one in the middle above. Meanwhile, our grandson was in Florida on a work/vacation and sent the gorgeous beach photo above… I told him he could be a photographer! He still has his spirit of play wearing the basketball above… the creative start of his birthday present wrapped in streamers into a ball by creative Aunt Laura!
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
This week’s recipe is for brownies I made at our daughter’s request. It qualifies as vintage… I first started making them in college, introduced to them by a roommate more than 50 years ago! When Nissa was growing up I made them often, but haven’t made them in a while… and she noticed! They are rich, soft and fudgy dense cake-like… and contain 16 ounces of Hershey’s chocolate syrup! When I offered her one, she said she had to wait… if she started she wouldn’t be able to stop with just one!
NISSA’S FAVORITE BROWNIES
BARS
- 1 stick butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- 16 ounces chocolate syrup
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup nuts (optional)
- Pinch salt
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs ONE AT A TIME, beating after each. Add flour, syrup and nuts if desired. Bake in 13 x 9 inch pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
FROSTING
- 1 stick butter
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Combine all ingredients in medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Let boil 1 1/2 minutes. Take off stove, add chocolate chips and beat until smooth. Frosting will harden ON cake.
