Kay Parker's Brownies

There are times when I occasionally stumble across something unexpectedly which brings back a flood of memories.  It happened to me a few weeks ago and I could not have been more thrilled about it.  I have to start by saying that my childhood, though it was overall very happy, had moments of deep pain.  I was different from other boys.  I was different from other children.  I knew that then but I did not know the reason behind it.  Sometimes I was made to feel different by the other kids, but as i look back now, I realize that those times were few and far between compared to the great times we had. I understand it now and am very happy to have had the childhood that I did have.  

Now, having gotten that out of the way, I grew up on a dead end street.  It was the best possible world for kids.  We could all play in the street safely.  And our neighborhood was just that.  It was a real neighborhood.  Everyone knew everyone's business whether they wanted to or not.  There were several generations of children on our street and you could always find us in each others' houses and yards.  

Almost every day you could find us in variations of groups doing something together...playing kick the can, playing school, playing G.I. Joe.  We often played tennis at the Griffin's private tennis court because they didn't mind.  We roller skated a lot in those days.  I remember that the Arnold's had the smoothest paved carport....perfect for skating.  There was a creek that ran behind Brandon's and Blair's houses and we'd often spend so much time there...racing makeshift boats or catching crawdads.  It truly was a magical time.  

And, of course, as I'm sure most of you can relate to, there were those times when we all froze in deathly fear as we heard one of our mothers call out not one, not two, but ALL three of our given names.  Amy Elizabeth Arnold!!!  Robert Laney Fornes!!  Blair Carson Davis!!  We all knew that someone was about it get it!  What I wouldn't give to hear that again....it would be sweet music now.

A few weeks ago, I was reading an old FBC of Monroe cookbook when all of these memories came flooding back.  The book was dated 1991.  I'm sure that most of you have church cookbooks that were made to raise money for the church.  Anyway, as I was reading the dessert section, I came across the recipe for Kay Parker's Brownies.  I think my heart skipped a beat.  The Parkers didn't go to our church, but Saundra Whitley, who taught 3rd grade next to Kay Parker for years, did and she had submitted this recipe.

If there was one thing that could always shut us kids up on Brookgreen Drive, it was Kay Parker's brownies.  Whenever she baked them, she would always invite whichever of us kids was around that day to come have one.  They were especially good fresh from the oven.  I cannot really explain why they were so good...they just were. Kay put a lot of love into everything she did and for me, getting one of her brownies was like her saying "thanks for being in our lives".  That's not what she really meant, but she was just that neat of a person to a 9 year old.  What I wouldn't give!

Try this recipe sometime for someone you love!

Kay Parker's Brownies

Bring to a boil:

1/2 cup margarine

1/2 cup shortening

4 Tbsp. cocoa

1 cup water

Sift into bowl:

2 cups flour (plain)

2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp salt

Add hot mixture to flour mixture.  Then add:

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. vanilla

Pour into 10x15x1 inch cookie sheet (greased).  Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes.

Frosting:

Bring to a boil:

1/2 cup margarine

4 Tbsp. cocoa

5 Tbsp. milk (buttermilk)

Remove from heat and add:

1 box powdered sugar

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 tsp vanilla

Frost cake while still hot