Leprechan Kidnapping

The Leprechauns came to our house on St. Patrick's Day. In the morning they left treasures for everyone, in the evening, they returned to do some mischief. Right before dinner the doorbell rang. One of my girls answered the door and found a note notifying them that the leprechauns had kidnapped their parents. Luckily they left clues so we could be rescued before the dinner got too cold.

After 10 plus agonizing minutes (for us with gags), they burst into our playhouse with their grandparents who were assisting them and freed us from our bonds.

The leprechauns, always capricious, left us a full meal set up in the playhouse. Though the accommodations were a little squishy for seven, we enjoyed BBQ salmon, snow white salad, bacon flavored green beans and mint brownies. The kids had Little Cesar's Pizza.

While we ate, the two older girls who just this morning told me privately that they knew that I left the treasures, wondered about the little green men. "What did the one that got you look like? What color was their hair? How tall were they? If they are only about knee high, how did they overcome you Dad?" Then they found two little green flies. They knew that the kidnappers had changed themselves by magic into those flies. We had to be very careful because they could hear everything we were saying. We planned to set a trap next year to curb their mischief, but it had to be done in code so our plans would remain secret.

So, we all had a WONDERFUL time.

I had plans for a creative leprechany dinner, but health concerns interfered and I had to do the best I could. Thus the pizza etc. Here is my absolutely favorite brownie recipe. It is not too cakey and not too fudgy. It is not super healthy... In fact, the brownies are the opposite. But I love them and can eat a whole pan. Sometimes I make a pan and cover it with a layer of cookie dough (without the egg) and top it with fudge icing. This time I covered the fudgy topping with a light green mint drizzle in honor of the day. The secret is in the corn syrup so don't leave it out or substitute.
Vonnie's Brownies
2 cups sugar
1 cups shortening or oil
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tbsp corn syrup
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 1/2 cups flour
2/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
Mix all ingredients. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or just until knife comes out clean. Frost with favorite butter cream icing.

Butter Cream Icing:
Melt 1 cube margarine in pan. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add 1/2 cup or so cocoa, beat together with electric beater or whisk. Add powdered sugar until desired sweetness is reached. (About 2 cups) Over low heat stir in milk teaspoon by teaspoon until the frosting takes on a glossy sheen.