Desperation Brownie

Several months back I read about these brownies in a mug in the Chicago Tribune. I thought it would be fun to try them, but never got around to it. Well last night I had a taste for chocolate but didn't feel like putting any real effort into baking, then I remembered the recipe and was happy to find it online!

Let me tell you this is dangerous - to be able to make yourself an individual brownie with staple ingredients in under 5 minutes?! I wonder how many you'd have to eat to gain 5 pounds?! I'm renaming them desperation brownies because I feel it is a more fitting name.

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

Dash of salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons water

¼ teaspoon vanilla

Whisk dry ingredients together in a large coffee mug. Add liquid ingredients and mix well.
Microwave on high approximately 1 min. Middle should not quite set up. Beware I think I overcooked mine a tiny bit at 1 min. Still tasty though!

This could be a fun baking activity for elementary age kids to master on their own!

Chicago Family Time

For Mark's birthday we gave him a homemade certificate for a Wendella boat tour of Chicago! He had the option of taking the kids or having a babysitter...from the pic you can tell he chose to bring them with!

We all had a great time. Little construction enthusiasts will love the views they get of the big city under construction. You can see a lot of that from the river!
Packing a lunch saved some cash and prevented toddler crankiness as well!

As an aside...the cute baby sling Aubrey is riding in was made by my cousin!

Be Inspired

- Could Amy please come clean out my fridge?! Really smart tips for cleaning the fridge!

- I'm on a homemade kick lately - maybe homemade chocolate syrup should be next on my list?

- Warm weather splashing for baby in the high chair - very creative!

- I love this series - yes, you can make a reversible tote bag!

- A good take on kids and chores.

- Ok...I'm getting the hint, it's high time to hang up my line - 5 reasons to line dry your laundry.

The Book List

Current summer reading...

Parenting by The Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising Your Child

The Power of a Praying Wife

Jesus the One and Only (a Beth Moore Bible study)

The Scarlet Letter

Gulliver's Travels

Go Read This

This fabulous post by Randy Alcorn really speaks to me. I hope it inspires you as much as it did me!

Reflections:
Am I being a good example in being Biblically literate for the next generation? Do I know my Bible and make it a priority to spend time daily in God's word?

How can I share what I don't know?