National Brownie Day!

Today's thank you is to the blog Depression Cookies, and a post about brownies and National Brownie Day.

Did you know December 8 is National Brownie Day?  I didn't.

Brownies are my favorite baked good.  I am not noted for my cooking or my pastry chef skills. But I can whip up a pretty mean brownie.  So can you.

Brownies forgive almost everything except overbaking.  You can sneak whole wheat flower in and no one will ever know.  You can substitute applesauce for some of the butter.  You can add walnuts, pecans or almonds.  Or, you can add chips.  Both chocolate chips and peanut butter chips will work.  Add some pureed banana?  Sure!  Mint?  White Chocolate?  Why not?  Either frosted or non-frosted works (I prefer unfrosted).

(and, of course, you can even use a ......mix!)

I treasure memories I have of baking brownies with my son, who is now a young adult.  Years ago, I was able to send away for a paperback of kid-friendly recipes from Gold Medal Flour. (I seem to remember it was free with some proofs of purchase).  I latched right onto the easy brownie recipe.  It's been years since I've made it but I seem to recall that all you had to do is melt chocolate chips and butter in the microwave.  You added your flour (I used 1/2 white unbleached and 1/2 whole wheat) and an egg, some vanilla, a pinch of salt.  You mixed, and then poured into an 8 x 8 cake pan and baked at 350 degrees.

It was a one bowl recipe, which I appreciated even more.

When he was really young , my son would do the measuring with my help (and, of course, try to steal chocolate chips behind my back.)  As he grew older, he was able to make this with little help. 

And, he still does some baking - although, he does use mixes.

I've lost the cookbook and I can't seem to find the recipe online.  But what I did find was this:

There are thousands of brownie recipes.  And even blogs devoted to brownies.

Does anyone remember this Gold Medal kids cookbook?  Does anyone have a treasured brownie recipe they used to make with their young children?  Or for their families?  Please feel welcome to post them in the comments.  Let's all celebrate.

Happy Brownie Day!