Being Happy First to me is living a life you love! It is all about family, friends, hobbies, pursuing your passions.
Many of you that know me know that I love to be surrounded by family and friends. We love to have people over and entertain. Usually it is simple recipes!
This brownie dessert is my mother-in-law Joyce’s recipe. Joyce is an incredible person. I have learned so much from her. When Randy and I first got married I knew nothing about cooking and Joyce and my sister in laws, Lyn and Missy, taught me so much. I also learned how to entertain.
When I had to go through chemo and radiation for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Joyce was the one who really took care of me. My kids were 2 months and 3 1/2 years old and I needed help with them. We would spend a couple of nights at her home ever 2 weeks after my treatment and she would look after all of us. So when I think of Joyce, I think of love, family and comfort.
So now I would like to share some comfort and sweetness with all of you!
Joyce’s Brownie Recipe
ingredients-
8 Tbsp. cocoa powder (like Hershey’s, Nestles, whatever)
3 sticks butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
1 box powdered sugar (16 oz, about 4 cups)
dab of karo syrup
splash of coffee
splash milk
1 Tbsp. almond extract (I use pure)
4 eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
Use 2 saucepans, one big, one little
Put 2 sticks of margarine in big saucepan (batter) and 1 stick in the little pan (for frosting), melt. Add 4 Tbsp. cocoa to each pan.
Add 2 cups of sugar to the big pan, stir and then set aside to cool.
Small pan-add 1 box of powdered sugar, 1 Tbsp almond extract. Then add enough coffee and milk to make smooth but not too runny and just a dab (maybe a Tbsp. or 2) of Karo syrup to make glossy.
Big pan-Mix the 4 eggs in a bowl with a fork then add to the big pan. Add 1 Tbsp. vanilla. Stir. Then add in 1 1/2 cups flour.
Pour the contents of big saucepan into a “pammed” large pan-13x9x2 works great for me. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Pour the frosting over it as soon as you take it out of the oven.
Enjoy!