Toffee Top Brownies

Death is only a natural part of life.
Or at least that's what they say.
Death and life are opposites. Death is not a natural part of life any more than burning your cookies is a natural part of baking. It wasn't originally intended, but the world isn't perfect anymore, so bad things happen. Like burnt cookies. And death.
Today was Mom's uncle's funeral.  I guess that's what's steering my thoughts in such a morbid direction. I hate to see people sad. But, as we all know, nothing cheers people's spirits like a big solid hunk of chocolaty goodness.

Toffee Top Brownies

• 2 sticks of butter (1 Cup)
• 2 1/4 Cups of Sugar
• 1 1/4 Cups of Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
• 2 Cups chocolate chips

Melt the butter. Add the sugar and beat well.
Add the eggs and vanilla and beat well.
Mix in the flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder.
Stir in the chips.
Bake in a well greased 9x13 for 25-28 minutes.

Topping:

• 2/3 C butter
• 2/3 C brown sugar
• 2 T heavy cream (or milk)
• 1 C heath bits (or more)

Melt the butter on the stove and wisk in the sugar. Boil for 2 1/2 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly add the cream.
Pour half of the caramel onto the top of the cooled brownies. Sprinkle with half the heath. Pour the rest of the caramel over the heath and then sprinkle with the rest of the heath.



Oh, and by the way. We were in charge of coffee hour at our church on Sunday, so Saturday was crazy. The kitchen would have been crowded enough with Nemo, Piggie, and me each making our own goodies, but to make it even worse, Dad was also installing a new refrigerator and dishwasher. There were dirty dishes everywhere, I was stepping on screws and running into everyone, and there were giant stainless steel appliances blocking my way to the sugar.
But on the bright side, we do have a new refrigerator and dishwasher.

I didn't write down the recipe for the Reese's Bars pictured above. Like I said, the kitchen was pretty hectic at the time I was inventing them. But I hope you enjoy looking at them anyways.