Day 20: Feeding from the Heart

Today we made meals for the homeless. Patrick and I volunteered at his preschool's "Urban Feeding Program" to prepare lunches of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, granola bars, clementines, cookies decorated by the kids, rice krispie treats, Slim Jims and milk - easily portable food. Patrick immediately objected to the Slim Jims.

Lunch saks will be distributed to local shelters over the weekend. Patrick had a really positive experience, and he was only disappointed we wouldn't be dining with the recipients. I told him someday we can go to a homeless shelter and help serve and eat dinner together. It's nice to prepare a meal from the heart, and even nicer to share it with the people you're cooking for.

In the spirit of feeding from the heart, here's a favorite recipe from my grandmother, Gaga. When we visited her house, she'd make good old-fashioned pot roast, roasted vegetables and butterscotch brownies. I made them tonight to celebrate the weekend. They are sugar laden, but great.

Gaga's Butterscotch Brownies
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter

2 cups brown sugar

3 eggs
2 1/4 cups sifted flour

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 chopped nuts (optional)

1. Put in sauce pan butter and sugar. Stir over low heat until well blended.

2. When lukewarm add eggs and beat mixture well.

3. Add sifted flour and baking powder. Mix well.

4. Add vanilla and nuts. Spread in well-greased pan.

5. Bake at 300 degrees until golden brown. Cut in squares before cold.

Menu
Breakfast: Toast, oranges, yogurt and OJ with fish oil.

Lunch: Pita and hummus, grapes, leftover tortilla chips and milk.

Dinner: The kids ate grilled burgers, oven-baked potatoes, green beans and milk. We ate grilled ahi tuna, soba noodles and lettuce salad, and my "Gaga's Butterscotch Brownies"

Nugget o' the Day: "Next time, we should eat with the homeless mans." -Patrick.