Although it is dry here, most farmers are on the land again, and quite
hopeful for rain, or at least trying to be hopeful.
We feel fortunate to have both our son and our son-in-law helping with
seeding this year, bringing new enthusiasm and excitement to the
process. For our son-in-law, there are many first-time farm
experiences, including driving a tractor. To feed these hungry fellows,
I thought I’d try out a newly acquired recipe from E.L. of Elrose,
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Sask. I made it for dessert one night, and although it was a large pan,
there was none left to serve for lunch the next day. It was a hit.
I have two suggestions: Let it cool before you serve it. If you don’t
have a 10×15 inch (25×38 cm) pan, you could use two 8×8 (20×20 cm)
pans. I used a 9×13 inch (22×33 cm) and the brownie was a little too
thick.
Caramel brownie
First layer:
2 cups white sugar 500 mL
1 cup margarine 250 mL
1/2 cup cocoa 125 mL
2 teaspoons vanilla 10 mL
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour 375 mL
1 1/2 cups chopped 375 mL
walnuts, optional
1 teaspoon salt 5 mL
Cream sugar and margarine together, add rest of ingredients and beat
well. Bake at 180 C on a greased cookie sheet for 20-25 minutes.
Second layer:
Cook in a saucepan on low to medium heat until thickened and
caramelized:
1 cup margarine 250 mL
2 tablespoons corn 30 mL
syrup
1 can condensed milk
4 tablespoons flour 60 mL
1 1/2 cups brown 375 mL
sugar
Pour caramelized mixture over first layer. Bake an extra 10 minutes.
Icing for brownies
3 tablespoons 45 mL
melted margarine
1/4 cup cold milk 50 mL
2 cups icing sugar 500 mL
1/2 cup cocoa 125 mL
1/2 teaspoon vanilla 2 mL
Blend milk and margarine and beat well. Add rest of ingredients and
beat. Ice cake with this mixture when cake is cool.
Hoping or moping?
We need a lot of hope to go seeding this spring. Studying hope theory
has been the norm for me in the past few weeks as I worked on my
university papers and thesis. Since stress overload can lead to
illness, it is important to manage the best we can. I appreciated
suggestions from a book called Hoping, Moping and Coping-Handling Life
When Illness Makes It Tough, published in 2000 by Health information
Press, Los Angeles, California.
Through her stories, author Ronna Jevne suggests ways to simplify your
life, live in the present, manage setbacks and take care of your
spirit.
She helps the reader learn to communicate more effectively with family
members, caregivers and physicians. She talks about hoping, coping and
moping, and acknowledging our need to do some of each.
Hoping keeps our sights set on confidently expecting a good future.
Coping helps us deal with the practical and realistic day-to-day
challenges. Both influence each other. If we have no hope, we see
little point to coping. If we are consistently not coping, hoping will
be on a slippery slope.
Moping is our time-out, where we can moan and groan and grieve and
despair the lost dreams.
It may even help get the emotional and mental sludge out of your
system, providing it doesn’t become a “poor me” unhelpful rut.
- Attitude
Don’t try to be perfect. Try not to apologize for failing health.
Coming to terms with being different is a tough task and key to feeling
some hope for the future. One person said, “Hope is not about
everything turning out OK; it is about being OK however things turn
out.”
Over-exercising your moping muscle may lead to depression or worse.
There is always someone who is worse off. What would make the situation
worse? Ask yourself, what would you trade?
Suffering is built into life. While no one escapes, some seem to have a
disproportionate amount.
Know and understand what you are suffering from, for it is always
individual. What’s the good news? Find the little things that make your
day more positive.
Influence those in public office by sending newspaper clippings,
e-mailing or telling your story. Keep company with positive folks. Eat
dessert first. Notice what is important. Change how you do things. Get
out of the rut.
- Simplify your life
Keep out the clutter. Be a few casseroles ahead. Slow down. Get rid of
your “to do” list until you are in a better position to deal with it.
Shop by mail, internet or phone. Own a message machine. Pick your
battles. Pick only three things to be annoyed with and let the rest go.
- Your spirit
Take care of your spirit. Say a prayer or write letters to God. Return
to nature. Keep a flower in a vase.
Give in some days to do whatever suits you.
Each night, look up at the moon. Think about the bigger picture.
Barbara Sanderson is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of
four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care
of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4
