Another Birthday ... including Brownies

This is the year for milestone birthdays at our house.  Our daughter will be 21 in a few days, our son will be 18 this year, my husband is reaching a momentous decade mark, and as for me I'm feeling old and pleading the fifth.  With our daughter away at college, it distresses me to no end that we can't be there to celebrate with her on her day.  So we decided to make our birthday care package a little more special than usual.

20 packages, all numbered and boxed in order so she would open them from #1 through #20. 

Package #1 ... one CD

Package #2 ... two barrettes

Package #3 ... 3 packages of her favorite gum

Package #4 ... a box of microwave popcorn, a 4-pack of course

you get the drift?

Package #16 ... 8 pairs of socks

etc.,

etc.,

Package #19 ... 19 homemade brownies, and

Package #20 ... 20 chocolate kisses

But it's birthday #21, you say.  Package #21 is still to come.  She'll just have to wait.

The brownies are a great, one bowl concoction that would be a quick fix in a chocolate 911 situation.

1 cup sugar

5 tablespoons cocoa

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Stir everything together in a medium bowl.  Pour into a greased 8- x 12-inch baking dish (or 8- x 8- inch if you want a thicker brownie).  Bake at 350 degrees 20-25 minutes.  Remove from oven before they look done.  Let cool or not, depending on how urgent the need.

And if she's anything like her Mom, she went straight for package #19.