Thanks to all of you who have reached out in response to earlier posts in which I shared thoughts about my grief journey after losing my husband last year. It was a risky step putting such personal stuff out there. I don’t feel I have any advice to share so if you’ve not read any of it, you won’t find a lot of help or inspiration.
It’s more me talking on how I’ve found help, much of it with baking. Putting an old recipe together helps me think of happy things like the love I received from my parents and grandparents.
I should add that I also lost Mom last year. As she was in her 90’s and ready to go to Heaven to meet her Savior Jesus Christ, hers was not such a dramatic loss as my husband who died from cancer.
Or so I thought.
Last year, I was so wrapped up in taking care of my husband (top, far right- I’m standing next to him, ca. 2015) with his chemo treatments that I could barely grieve for Mom (top, on scooter).
Now that I have lost both of them and have more time on my hands, I’m realizing how much I miss her. She was a great mom and we had such fun together. She would have probably given me advice on how to handle being a widow as she was one for two decades. In my opinion she handled it well, although I know she missed Dad.
All of that to say I hope I never have another year like 2024.
There is, of course, no guarantee of that. I’m just getting through each day by hanging on to my Christian faith and friends and praying for wisdom for me and my kids and also for people around me who are also in need of prayers for healing of some sort.
So those of you who have reached out – you’ve touched me with your sincerity. It all helps.
I hope these sharings help someone else as well.
Now on to today’s recipe.
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My earliest recollection of learning to cook was making brownies. It seemed like the easiest thing ever!
Mom usually had a packaged mix in the pantry from Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker. Together, she and I cracked the eggs, added oil into the mix, and hand stirred it just until mixed. Voila! In just a few minutes, the gooey mixture was ready for the oven. No mixer, frosting or other attachments were needed.
In recent years, I’ve avoided packaged bake mixes for health reasons. But, while that worked with cakes as I could find good homemade recipes, I had problems finding one for moist homemade brownies. This recipe from 1979 solved that problem.
The title gives away the helper – applesauce. This fruity addition is something I’ve used in lieu of oil in other recipes with great success. The recipes came out lighter and with a crumbly texture that was a delight. I had never thought of trying it in a brownie recipe. I’m glad someone did and shared the results in this recipe!
The brownies can be put together in 15 minutes in one bowl. They are ready less than an hour later to be enjoyed by all ages!
I found this delicious recipe in a cookbook published in 1979 by the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Decatur, Indiana.
As it was so simple, I don’t have tips for you under My Notes or photos to help to assemble. Enjoy!
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Applesauce Brownies
½ cup shortening
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
½ cup applesauce
1 cup flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup nuts (optional-I used slivered almonds)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place parchment paper in 6-inch x 9-inch pan.
Melt shortening and chocolate over hot water in double boiler.
Blend sugar, eggs, applesauce, and vanilla.
Sift together dry ingredients and stir into pan.
Fold in ½ cup nuts.
Pour into 6-inch x 9-inch pan.
Bake 35-40 minutes.
Yield: 16 servings
Vintage Eats of Kayleen Reusser 
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