Seize the Date…or at least the Brownie Pie

You know those moments you realize it will all slip by too quickly and be gone in an instant? That if you don’t seize the day, the moment, the night it may never pass this way again?  Well I’ve been living too long on borrowed time.  Thinking that David and I will spend quality time tomorrow, or the weekend or next week and it hit me in an instant.  Why not now, why not today, why not tonight? For this snapshot in time will be history and cannot be lived again, and sometimes capturing the moment means you don’t have time to find a sitter, or plan a date out. So I did the next best thing.  I made the dessert I’ve been craving for weeks now (discreetly of course so the little people would have no idea the plan), bought the ice cream, made certain that electronics and any other distraction was turned off so we could just be. Nothing fancy, no high in the sky expectations but to just enjoy the company of each other and celebrate the week we’ve had. Of course this meant bedtime with kids had to happen first.  And THAT had a lot of expectations (which quickly became apparent as each minute ticked by).  A quick brush and tuck and prayers and kisses and it’s funny how up-ended things get at 8pm at night. Kids wailing about not wanting to go to school in the morning, and why oh why do I never get to stay up with mom and dad…”You all always have such fun after we go to bed.  I’ll even help with the dishes if you let me stay up”. And then there were the toenails needing trimmed a month ago that one never sees until the bed covers are ready to be pulled over so out comes clippers and here I am frazzled a few minutes before nine lining up all three trimming toes and nails. In all this hurry and bustle to close the day in order to seize the next moment it dawns on me that I am missing the present one and perhaps this is what they will all remember most. The hugs and prayers in the middle of tears, the taking care of little things they can’t do yet like nails and braids and this moment is too sacred to rush. So I slow and breathe and pray a few more prayers and kiss the tears and tuck covers, and before you know it it’s time to sneak down to this amazing chocolate brownie pie waiting that will certainly make everything OK.

Brownie Pie

3/4 cup white whole wheat flour

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup melted coconut oil

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup toasted pecans

2 large handfuls of mini-marshmallows or enough to cover pie

Mix together all the ingredients except the nuts.  Fold those in.  Pour batter into large greased pie plate.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 min. or until toothpick comes out clean.  Add marshmallows to the top of the pie and place back in the oven just until they begin to melt.  Pour warm frosting over still warm brownie. Serve with or without vanilla ice cream.

Fudge Buttermilk Frosting

In a saucepan add:

2 TBL butter

1 1/2 TBL cocoa powder

1 1/2 TBL buttermilk

Bring to boiling.  Remove from heat and add 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla.  Stir until smooth and pour over warm brownie.