Birthdays, Good Friday, and Earth Day

Too many days wrapped all in one. Today is Thomas's birthday, Good Friday, and Earth Day [plus the day Water for Elephants comes out, but we're not going there :) ]. Thomas is coming over soon for his birthday, so I'm currently baking Red Velvet Brownies with a Cream Cheese Topping. Its playing as non traditional birthday cake. The recipe is yummy. I made my first patch of them a couple of weeks ago.

I'm not sure today feels too much like Good Friday. I know it should, but people root themselves into tradition. Normally, we would all be getting ready for visiting my grandma on Easter. But she's in a nursing home. So no more holidays at her house. And I've spent every holiday at her house since I was born. It'll take some time for the holidays to feel like holidays without that tradition.

I love the idea of Earth Day. But people should do good things for Mother Earth on more than just one day. And yes, I know some people do. But a lot of people just do things on this day every year. And I know I could do more. A person can always do more. :)

Oh, for anyone saying "RECIPE!" after reading Red Velvet Brownies, here it is...

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients
*1/2 cup butter (at room temperature)
*1 1/4 cup sugar
*2 eggs
*2 tsp vanilla extract
*1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
*1/4 tsp salt
*3 tbsp cocoa powder
*2 tbsp red food coloring
*4 oz cream cheese (for frosting, at room temperature)
*1/4 cup butter (for frosting, at room temperature)
*2 cup powdered sugar (for frosting)
*1 tsp vanilla (for frosting)
*2 tbsp milk (as needed, for frosting)

Instructions
1) Preheat oven to 350.
2) Butter or spray an 8 x 8 cake pan.
3) In a small bowl, combine cocoa powder, red food coloring, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to create a paste.
4) In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then add remaining teaspoon of vanilla. With the mixer on medium speed, add in cocoa powder mixture. Beat until batter is completely red. (If at this time your batter is NOT red, you can add a little more food coloring if desired. Color will depend on brand.) Add flour and salt, mixing until just combined.
5) Spread in the 8 x 8 pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
6) Cream Cheese Frosting: Start with your ingredients at room temperature. Beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla. Beat in powdered sugar, adding milk as needed to reach a spreadable consistency.

Picture of my brownie, not just some random pic