Avery's Birthday Brownies

A couple of days ago was my big sister Avery's 23rd birthday!  Growing up, our mom always let us choose between homemade brownies or white cake for our birthday.  I secretly was hoping Ave would want cake so that I could use my new cake pans that I got for Christmas, but she picked brownies so I happily obliged.  I topped them off with the same very easy homemade frosting that our mom always makes in Avery's choice of pink.

Brownies Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup shortening
• 3 squares unsweetened chocolate
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt shortening and chocolate together in a small bowl in the microwave.
3. Beat together sugar, vanilla and eggs in a large mixing bowl.
4. Blend in chocolate mixture.
5. Mix in dry ingredients.
6. Spread in greased 9x13 inch pan. (Use a smaller pan if you prefer your brownies thicker.)
7. Bake for 25 minutes.

Frosting Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• ⅓ cup softened butter or crisco
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
• About 2 tablespoons milk (may need more)
• Food coloring

Directions

1. Combine powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, and milk in a medium mixing bowl and beat together.
2. Add food coloring as desired.

Recipe courtesy of Karen Spencer

Happy 23rd Birthday Big Sister!