We have had a rough last few weeks in the Holthaus home. My in-laws have had some health issues, and my brother-in-law’s grandson is very ill after heart surgery. Just when I think we are organized and back on schedule, the game of life sends us another card of unfortunate news. I am lucky, though. I have a supportive family, and we try to have each other’s backs All. The. Time.
I know I can make a single phone call and have a sympathetic ear or all hands-on-deck if need be. That is an excellent feeling. I try to be this person for both my family and friends.
Recently, our dear neighbor was having a very heartbreaking morning. A pet died in an unfortunate accident. I didn’t know how best to help, as the entire family was very sad. Then I remembered the smell of baking makes me feel better. I went right over and baked chocolate muffins and shared a cup of tea. It’s only a small gesture, but I think it helped a little.
On dark sad days, we need each other and chocolate to make it through.
I honestly think I can remember my first taste of chocolate frosting. My mom was mixing cocoa and powdered sugar with butter and milk to frost a pan of freshly baked brownies. She would let my brother Gary and me each have a beater to lick once the frosting was made. She cut her brownies in tiny servings that we would have as an after-school snack.
I thought that was how you cut brownies until I was visiting my friend Terry one day. She has a daycare in her home. She will make a nine by 13 pan and cut it into eight large bars, one for each kid. She said it stopped them from coming back for seconds, and she didn’t have to worry about eating any because the brownies were all gone. I started doing this when I made after school brownies for my kids. I’d cut an eight by eight pan into four pieces, but one of them was for me!
Brownies make everything better!
~ Peace, Sandy
Leave a Reply