BROWNIES!

Happy, happy Monday!!!!   The beginning of a great week ahead!  We had a great weekend!  I got my hair done and I LOVE IT!  I will share pictures this week!  We had some nice family time this weekend too.  Poor Marsh, Charli , Heston , Tucker and now Emma are all not feeling well. The little ones have ear infections and the older ones have colds.  Why am I  happy about that………. BECAUSE  it’s not throwing up!  YES!  I will take any other illness besides vomiting please!  I hope they get well soon and Mikey and Lucy stay healthy!

I wanted to share with you my favorite “boxed” brownie mix.  I love brownies!  Brownies are actually one of the first things I teach my kids to make.  They are easy and pretty foolproof and let’s face it…. delicious!  This a mix that you make ahead and keep in your pantry!  YES!!  No more buying boxed brownies!  Well, when they are really cheap I buy them…. hey I love food storage!  I originally found this recipe here.   Melissa from redfly creations is awesome!  She also has some great printables that go along with her awesome mixes!  I love this mix because it uses butter,  there are other ones that use oil and you can substitute the oil for the butter, but I really like the butter better.  I make this in bulk and keep it in my pantry.

I also took a lot of pictures to show you each step!  I hope you love it!

In a large bowl, and you really do want a large bowl!  This makes a lot!  Put 8 cups of sugar.

Add 6 cups flour.

Add 2 cups of cocoa powder, HELPFUL HINT:  Use a sieve or sifter to add the cocoa, you do not want clumps of cocoa!  I just used a sieve and tap it with my spatula.

Add in 1 1/2 Tbsp. baking powder and 1 Tbsp salt.  DO NOT USE KOSHER SALT!  Just use regular salt!  Kosher did not mix well and we had salted brownies, they were still good but salted!

Using a whisk mix that all together!  It does take a few minutes.

It will look like this!  Delicious!

I keep mine in a one gallon storage container from Wal-Mart, they are like $3.00.  That is the whole mix!  No preservatives~ nothing you can’t read! I love it!  I am going to share with you how you make a batch now.  PLEASE REMEMBER THESE PHOTOS SHOW IT BEING DOUBLED!  If I made a small 8×8 pan of brownies, the kids would revolt!  I will share the recipe for a 8×8 batch on the bottom!

Okay!  So get 4 eggs(double batch) or 2 eggs ( single batch) and beat them.

Add 4 tsp ( double batch) or 2 tsp ( singlebatch) of vanilla

Melt 2/3 cup butter ( doublebatch) or 1/3 cup melted butter (single batch)

Add  egg mixture and butter to 4 1/2 cups dry mix ( double batch) or 2 1/4 cups dry mix ( single batch).  Mix it gently and just until moistened.  If you mix it too much, it will turn cakey and you don’t want cakey brownies!

Spread onto a baking sheet for a double batch or a 8×8 square pan for a single.

Doesn’t that look delicious!   You can add nuts or anything you like!  Bake it at 350 degrees for about 25 min.

Cut it with a pizza cutter, or if you want smooth edges, use a plastic knife!

Dust with powdered sugar ( my kids favorite!) Enjoy!  They are chewy in the center, rich and chocolatey!  They are easy and so delicious!  I would love to hear if you try them!!

Have a super, happy day!  I was wondering if you wanted to see this weeks menu, I know I shared the monthly menu, but let me know if you would like weekly updates!

Here one more time in just written form is the recipe for a single batch……….

Brownie Mix:

8 cups of sugar

6 cups flour

2 cups cocoa powder ( HELPFUL HINT: Sift,so no clumps)

1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder

1 Tbsp salt

Mix well and store in pantry.

To Make 8×8 pan of brownies

Mix together:

2 eggs well beaten

2 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup melted butter

Add to dry mixture, MIX GENTLY!  Too much air and the brownies will be cakey!

Cook at 350 degrees for 25-30 min.

I really would love to hear what you think!  Try them out!

Have a happy day!  Tomorrow is a Valentines day treat so check back!!

Huge Hugs,

Lara

SMILE BOOK:

Marsha folds her sweet little hands for prayer all the time now!

Charli riding her bike around with pigtails in her hair! I could not take enough pictures!

MY HAIR ! I LOVE IT!
Pomegranates  two for a dollar!

The nurse at the walk in clinic ” you have the cutest kids!”