Birthday in the bag
I think there is an invisible list of rules that exists with regard to birthdays for my children..((somehow the words “list” and “rules” just seemed to suck all of the fun out thinking about birthdays – oopsie)). Well, the rules are flexible – more like guidelines and procedures.
Just a few simple things like, giving a birthday greeting, hug, song, special breakfast, special activity, special lunch, party, presents, special dinner and then most important…THE CAKE. These things intensify for those milestone birthdays – like turning 10, where the plans just don’t seem to match how sad happy my heart feels about them growing up. Am I the only one who feels a little cloud of depression overhead as they enter double digits??
Okay, on to brighter topics: sugar! Each kiddo has his/her favorites of some, if not all of these procedures–but the most opinionated topic seems always to be the same. There must be CAKE and it must be their favorite, or uniquely special – with just the “birthday boy/girl” in mind. Shep asked for a cheesecake for an entire 4 months before his birthday. Kade and Brod love a good cookie cake. Gracie requires the pinkest, sweetest cake which must have a 1:3 cake to icing ratio.
My most recent birthday was for Brody, he turned 10 – it actually happened. In my mind he’s 4 – but he did what he is so good at, he launched a sneak attack on growing up. I blinked and he was 4, I blinked again and he turned 10. Time…well, time flies ((sniff)).
This particular birthday was spent away from home. Brody has a birthday that will always land during spring break, which usually is no problem for us because we have never gone anywhere for spring break. But, this year the kids are all at a great age to start taking them out into the world to see “things” and do “stuff”. Well, unless we they start causing a scene and then we just crawl right back into our hole for another year. But since we were away from home, I started feeling concerned about how I would make his birthday feel special to him. Additionally, the day before our trip started, I became gross sick and couldn’t think straight. But I was determined to follow the guidelines and procedures – he MUST have a special meal and he MUST have a cake and he MUST have a present to open.
The last thing I did before crawling into bed the night before we left turned out to be a very great idea and worked out perfectly. I decided to place all of the pre-measured ingredients for his special cake into a large ziploc baggie & pack it in the car along with several other things I had already made ahead for dinners. Immediately, all of my stress was gone, I had a plan, it would be tasty, it would be simple and most of all Brod would feel special and happy.
This recipe is a variation of a very special family recipe. My aunt won a blue ribbon at the county fair for this sweet treat! Mom and I have made it so much that I have had it memorized from a very young age. We could even sing a little song about the ingredients ((but I don’t remember it anymore so don’t bother asking haha)). As I grew up and started finding interest in reading recipes and cookbooks, I found something so funny. Our special family recipe was exactly the same as Betty Crocker’s brownie recipe! Now, I am not sure but just maybe Betty took our family recipe for herself…just kidding.