Recipe 1

I love to cook and for a long time I have wanted to post delicious recipes but I have just not been able to find the right one to start with. But, today I think I found just the thing...

Blonde Brownies

Ingredients

• 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Measure 1 cup sifted flour. Add baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sift again. Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Mix well and set aside.
3. Melt 1/3 cup butter. Add 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar and mix well. If shortening is used, add 1 tablespoon hot water. Cool slightly.
4. Add egg (beaten) and vanilla. Blend well. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, mixing well.
5. Spread in 9 x 9 x 2 inch pan. Sprinkle 1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips on top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

I actually doubled the recipe and baked them in a 9x13 pan - it did need just a few more minutes to bake. Also, I used milk chocolate chips and I mixed them into the batter.

Recipes compliments of allrecipes.com

The Captain

Next week my sister Nicki and her boys are moving back to Washington to get their house ready to sell which means...  Tyson is coming home!!  In the year (almost) that Tyson has been away he has accomplished some amazing things.  Although we as a family have never stopped worrying about and praying for him,  we are so proud of the things he is doing.  He has such deep influence wherever he goes.  He was recently awarded the Bronze Star for bravery in battle while under fire and also for capturing one of the highest ranking Al Quida operatives in Northern Iraq.  Tyson we love you and we can't wait to have you home with us again.  (He is on the far right in this photo -front row)

Happy List this Week /Life Changes

10. Les and I had a late but fantastic Valentine dinner at Epic - one of our favorite places. There was a great live musician, and the food was superb as always.

9. I know I mentioned it already, but we are finishing our basement bathroom. It should be done in a couple weeks. Just tonight Les jack-hammered the concrete so our plumber can reposition the toilet and tub. It is so exciting to see things rolling along. This poor house of ours has been in a holding pattern for too long.

8. We are highly enjoying Lost being back on TV and soon The Office. I'm hoping Pushing Daisies comes back soon too. Oh and, (gees I'm feeling like a TV junky) we are also watching those talented Mormon kids on American I. I convinced my mom to vote for the first time after explaining the costs involved - and boy did she vote - about 26 times until her fingers got tired of hitting redial. She's a corker.

7. Okay, now that you already know I'm a TV junky I must admit, I love the new technology to watch TV shows online. It has got to be the next best thing to tivo.

6. So now I need to counter balance those TV/lazy posts with the announcement that I have hired a personal trainer. Yikes. Don't expect anything too great. Knowing me, I'll last about 1 month.

5. Les and I refinanced our house and we're saving ourselves several hundred dollars a month! Yahoo!

4. So, of course we immediately went out and bought a new TV...will we ever learn? We are both spenders.

3. I am starting a new job with an employer I was with several years ago and who I loved. It will still be part-time and at home but I won't have to wake up quite so painfully early. I liked the other job, I just kept getting sick because I wasn't getting enough sleep.

2. Our very good friends are now going to be our neighbors. The Glancys are buying a house in Rose Park. We hope you guys like it here as much as we have! And we can't wait for late night game nights and BBQs with you. And maybe even a walking/running partner?

1. Dede and James are also moving back to SLC! It will truly be a summer of lovin' - friend lovin' that is. Don't get the wrong idea.