Grandma Kaye's Chewy Brownies (Blackies!)

We were at Grandma Kaye's house last week, and she served us the most delicious brownies!  We made them ourselves tonight for our Family Home Evening treat, and they were still awesome.  I never seem to have a brownie mix on hand, and I love that I can whip these up from ingredients that are always in my pantry/fridge.  This is a recipe that is definitely worth sharing:

• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 c. flour
• 3 HEAPING T. baking cocoa (Grandma likes them more like 'blackies' than 'blondies'  :)
• chocolate chips, if desired (optional)

Mix all the ingredients well.  Pour the batter into a greased 8x8 pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or until set.  (I think I had to bake mine for 22 minutes.)

Serve warm or cooled!

Grandma Kaye's Hot Spiced Apple Cider

This is a holiday tradition around our house.

4 c. water
2 c. sugar
1 can frozen lemonade (6 oz.)
1 can frozen orange juice (12 oz.)
2 qt. Apple cider or apple juice
1 small bag for spices (I use a brand-new sock for the bag, or a cheesecloth, tied with a string.)
whole ginger
whole cinnamon sticks
whole cloves
whole allspice berries

Fill the bag with the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Simmer water, sugar and bag of spices for about 30 minutes. Add the lemonade, orange juice, and apple cider. Simmer for about another 30 minutes. This makes the house smell delicious! Serve hot. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Grandma Kaye's Scrumptious Roast

1 roast – the best ones are Eye of the Round, Rump Roast, or Sirloin Tip.
Oil
Salt and pepper

Put a little oil in the bottom of a roasting pan and put the roast on top of that - the fat side should always be up. If there is hardly any fat then I roll it around in the oil to moisten it all over. Then salt generously and pepper the top and put it in the oven at 325 degrees. Bake it for 20 minutes per pound for a rare roast, 25 - 30 minutes per pound for a medium roast, and 35 minutes per pound for a well-done roast. NOTE: If it is a pot roast, it will need to be done with water. Pork roast is also done the same way in the oven - just make sure it is well done!