It is that time of year once again.  Bittersweet at our house.  Where did the summer go? Is it really time for school to begin? Each year flies  by faster than the one before and that old familiar melancholy feeling returns.

What better way to chase away the blues and turn to excitement for the new school year than baking brownies.  The smell of chocolate, butter and sugar baking away will surely give any child walking in the door after a stressful new day a feeling of warmth and love.

I’ve mentioned before that my husband’s family has a brownie tradition.  Whenever they get together the family brownie recipe is sure to appear. Thanks to a generous sister-in-law who shared the recipe with me, I can begin to create family memories at our home too.

Last weekend my husband gathered with his siblings at our home. They spent the afternoon sorting through family photographs, some dating to the 1800’s. They talked, laughed and recalled childhood memories.  It was fun to hear their stories and to be able to observe them recreating their past. Not far from reach were the famous family brownies. Food imparts wonderful memories of days gone by and I feel so blessed to participate in the tradition of creating family food traditions.

So whether your family is getting together soon to reminiscence or if a pan of brownies after school just might save the day, I hope you will try this recipe and enjoy.