Baking BROWNIES, brewing coffee, and . . .

A man was shot dead night before last in my neighborhood.  Only the tape on the outer perimeter of the crime scene was being removed yesterday morning.  How does this affect us?   One woman in the elevator put it this way, “It’s just a bunch of gang bangers.”  Another woman, though, said she wouldn’t be using the neighborhood gym anymore – “Too many gangs use it.”

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As for me,  it’s no different than seeing it on the news.  I never used the gym anyway.  I didn’t see or hear anything so I'm getting on with things . . . like making a  costume for Kepler. 

                                         

                      

Diana was over and really liked these Brownies -- the way she put it:  "At last a Brownie worth eating!"  In fact, she wants the recipe, so here it is for all of you.  It’s from an old Purity Cookbook, a gift from my mother.

 BROWNIES

2 squares unsweetened chocolate

½ cup shortening, divided

½ cup flour

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 tsp vanilla

Chocolate icing

1.      Preheat oven to 350.

2.     Butter an 8 inch square pan.

3.     Melt chocolate with ¼ cup shortening over low heat and set aside.

4.     In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.

5.     Cream ¼ cup shortening with sugar.

6.     Beat in 2 eggs.

7.     Stir in the melted chocolate, nuts, and vanilla.

8.     Stir in the flour.

9.     Put batter into baking pan.

10.                         Bake for 30 minutes.  The center will still be sticky.

11.                          When cool, spread chocolate icing on top.

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P.S.  Marilyn likes this recipe too.  She says hers comes from the OLD, OLD, OLD Blue Ribbon cookbook.