Cheri Strange, Christian Speaker and Author

     Is spending time writing about recipes related to living a Christian life that exceed mediocrity? Sometimes I wonder, especially when the financial woes of our country are so very pronounced and so many still have not heard the Gospel message --- the topic of recipes seems so trite. However, today, part of my role is to be about caring for my family and redeeming the time I've been given. To meet that responsibility, I find using the crock-pot to release me from hours previously spent preparing food to do other things. Any ways I can redeem the time in a financially responsible way contribute to extraordinary living for me as long as I use the redeemed time to honor Him.

     A follow-up to Tuesday's time-saving recipe post is the migraine-inducing chocolate dessert recipe I attempted this week: Brownie Bottoms. I found this recipe in a book by a maker of crock-pots, Rival. It took about 10 minutes and cooked for 1 1/2 hours. The ladies of Bunco loved it (as well as my husband). I hope you will, too.

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugan

3/4 cup water

2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

2 1/2 cups packaged brownie mix

1 package instant chocolate pudding

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

1.  Lightly grease inside of crock-pot with butter or cooking spray.

2. In small saucepan, combine brown sugar, water, and cocoa -- bring to boil.

3. Combine brownie mix, pudding mix, chocolate chips, eggs & butter in medium bowl -- stir and spread into crock-pot.  

    Cover and cook mixture on High 1 1/2 hours.

4. Turn off heat and let stand 30 minutes.

 I doubled this recipe -- topped it with whipped cream and a little a carmel sauce when served.