How about Brownies and a book? (mom)

Last Friday, Steph, Mel and I took the babies and went to Grandma H's house to give her a perm.  When we got there, she was in the process of making some zucchini brownies from a recipe in the newspaper.  I needed to start on her perm right away because she had to leave at three and we had arrived late due to traffic. It always takes so long to get out of the valley.  Anyway, she asked Steph to finish what she had started.  The recipe turned out more like cake than brownie.  So, yesterday it was Sarah's turn to host a team dinner and I decided to find a recipe for zucchini brownies.  This is what I came up with.  I modified a zucchini bar receipe into a brownie recipe.  It turned out wonderful and yummy!  Try it!
Zucchini Brownies
In a large mixing bowl, cream the following ingredients:
4 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cup sugar
2 cup zucchini, grated ( I peeled it because it was older.  Younger zucchini doesn't need to be peeled.)
In another bowl, combine
2 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 cup cocoa powder
Use a whisk to combine these well.  Add to the wet ingredients. Don't over mix.  Pour into a greased jelly roll pan (cookie sheet) and bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 350 *.  Be sure to set your timer so you don't over bake. Cool for at least 30 minutes before frosting.
Brownie Frosting
2 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup softened margarine
1/3 cup boiling water
1 tsp. vanilla
dash of salt
Combine powdered sugar and cocoa powder.  Add butter, vanilla and enough boiling water to mix together.  If more water is needed, add a spoonfull at a time until it becomes spreading consistency.  Frost cooled brownies.  It is yummy for zucchini.

I finished the latest book I was reading.  The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke was originally written in German and translated to English about the same time that the first Harry Potter came out.  It is set in Venice, Italy in  modern day.  It is about 2 young boys who have run away from their relatives because they are not nice people.  The two boys are taken in by a group of street children and adventure begins.  There is a detective, intrigue, and magic in the book.  It wasn't a really hard read.  I enjoyed it even though it was hard for me to get into at first.  You have to get through the first few chapters to meet all of the characters.  I did find that I liked the main characters.  I would have to say that if you want a quick read with adventure this is it.