what i do every 3rd of july

For at least the last eight years,
my kitchen counter looks like this
on the 3rd of July.

There's not always mayo and mustard,
but the cocoa, eggs, baking soda, etc.
are always there.

4th of July Tradition: Texas Sheetcake Brownies.
{pioneer woman - whom i LOVE - has the identical recipe in her book}

I copied mine from my mom back in August of 2000
when Gary and I had been married less than a year
and we were living in Texas
and I was homesick and supporting Gary and I
on my measly teacher's salary
while he was in grad school at Texas A&M
and I was teaching 4th graders
and discovering the beauty and
efficiency of phrases like "all y'all".

Whew.  I'm glad I told you that.

It's the best, most moist dessert.
It shouldn't really be called brownies:
more like cake.

And, like anything,
it's better with sprinkles.
{recipe below}

I also made Ina Garten's potato salad.

I'll let you know if it's any good.
{but it's Ina we're talking about, so it should be...right?}

Also on the 3rd of July,
one of my very favorite things about our town:

parade, old-school style.
I love the homemade floats with baseball teams and gymnastics troupes and boyscouts.
I love that the kids see people they know on every third float and in the crowd and are
yelling and waving at their friends.
I love that the kids are beyond thrilled
to catch candy and and cheap necklaces
and temporary tattoos that are thrown into the crowd.
I love the veterans in their uniforms receiving standing ovations.
I get teary.
I love the classic cars.

This is the car that Gary drove when I met him.
It's no wonder I liked him, right?

And I love when I take a picture down the main street
and then notice that there is someone planking in the middle of the street.

Never heard of planking?
I'm not sure if it's funny or just plain weird.

Jessica Johnson: this picture is for you.
The pirate lives on.

Happy 4th, everyone.


**********************************

Texas Sheetcake Brownies

Sift into bowl: 

2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. salt

In pan on stove boil:
2 sticks butter

1 cup water

4 Tbsp. cocoa powder

Pour wet ingredients over dry into bowl.

Add 1/2 cup of EITHER sour cream or buttermilk,

and 2 eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla.  

Beat well.

Spray jelly roll pan and pour in batter.

Bake at 400* for 30 minutes.

For icing:

Boil 1 stick butter,

4 Tbsp. cocoa powder,

and 6 Tbsp. sour cream.

Take off of heat and add

1 box powdered sugar,

1 tsp. vanilla,

1 cup nuts (optional).

Whisk together quickly and pour over warm cake.