32 Comments

If I get an invitation for Thanksgiving dinner I'll be making these brownies as well as a recipe I have for pecan pie bars. If I don't get the invitation (sometimes my brothers and their wives go to one of their kids homes - I live alone) I'll make these and give the extras to two of my brothers and their wives when we get together next Tuesday for our monthly dinner. Either way, I get to make and eat these, and then add the recipe to my "Make it Again" list. I usually complain about Christmas and Hanukkah decorations going up so early in November but not this year. I think we all need something happy and distracting. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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Marissa, I really want to make these brownies, but do not think I am talented enough to do so. They contain all of the ingredients of my dreams.

I love your sweet cat. He/she would be a delightful distraction.

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You certainly are. Read the instructions and if you have any questions, lmk.

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First, I can smell that all the way over here. Yummy! Second what a delightful community Substack is. I plan to make this delightful concoction, brew some coffee, and sit outside with Ellie and devour both the posts and the yummy!

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Yay! Enjoy.

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These bars look luscious! Thinking Christmas most definitely! A daughter and family coming for Thanksgiving, along with new puppy, and a neighbor may join us. The puppy will assuredly dominate the day and make it fun. Yes, I have mostly given up the depressing news and am reading more. Currently on Dr Vivek Murthy’s Together. He examines loneliness and the importance of social connection to not only our emotional well being but our physical health and longevity as well. It’s a follow up to Dr Bruce Perry and Oprah’s What Happened to You, on trauma, resilience and healing. While not political, both are timely for my brain. I deeply appreciate the community you’ve created here, Marissa, as it helps me to know, as Joyce Vance says, we’re in this together. The wonderful food you share is a huge bonus, so thank you!

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Interesting sounding book!

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Love your recipes! Almost made the pumpkin apple cake but I will in the near future!🤪. Kind of crazy these days. No news. No trump. Unbelievable 🤬. What is wrong with people that don’t see him. Omg. The future…

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One of the fabled Melissa Rothkopf's Brain's SPECTACULAR explosions!

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Looks fabulous. Thank you for sharing this.

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Hi Marissa. I’ve loved you for a long time and want to help. How about sending me and several dozen of your fans, your recipes and let us make them? We can take pics and send to you. There is nothing more affirming than having your readers prepare your goodies for you. Don’t you want to know if your recipes are user friendly? Pffft. Hmm. 🤔

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I do listen to podcasts and read Substacks. Recommend Matthew Yglesias’s Slow Boring.

Anarchists want to tire us out and have us give up!

Local engagement is important and gratifying. Got to have more affordable housing in blue states or else we’ll lose our population and our electoral votes.

Love the recipe!

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I have been seriously far more concerned, worried, terrified, shocked…. Well you know ALL of those words - as I first did not even believe for a minute the {insert all curse words you have ever heard} FG could possibly be elected AGAIN?!?!!

I have been in a bit of a downward spiral since. So many ways my life can, may possibly- be Fked!

I will tell you this recipe made me smile!! Of course there is no way in hell my RA twisted fingers can make either one - I will remind you that my hubs is a chef. Since even he has not been able to pull me out of my blues, I am quite sure he would be thrilled to try these!

I am actually still alive!!! (Even the puls/ox showed no pulse at the dr appointment this morning!)

Blessed Be she’s ALIVE!!

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“Festooned” and “subtle homemade jowl lift” - glorious!! Love it. I am staying in DC for a big Friendsgiving gathering - it’s better for my inner peace that way. Can’t wait to check out the medieval podcast! Thanks for your post and take good care!

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Since you asked, I'm working to finish a commission (1860s costume for Dickens Faire), finishing my final project for my photography class (posed photos of my creepy old doll collection) and getting ready for a trip to London where I will immerse myself in theatre (8 shows in a week). Going the traditional route for Thanksgiving with a pie (Rose Levy Berenbaum's best apple pie recipe, always so good). Then getting on the plane for London the next day. The brownies look amazing, so maybe I'll make them for New Years.

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Not my turn to bake sweets for Thanksgiving. I am charged with acquiring a North Georgia Candy Roaster squash. Yes, just one, but if you've ever seen one, you'll know that one squash serves 10-20 people. And if you haven't seen one, I recommend looking it up.

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That’s so crazy you mentioned the Medieval podcast! I started listening to it to—before the election as I couldn’t handle the circular firing squads for how Kamala was screwing up. Pfffttt. (This is my daughter’s text response to me quite a lot lately.)

Anyhoo—love the Medieval podcast. Helps to drown out our dystopian reality.

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I find I am making a lot of sounds instead of words these days. Pffffft. Blecccch. Ewwwww. Ughhhhhhh.

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The words I am making these days are mostly "are you fucking kidding me" and variations thereof.

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I believe the majority of us are making the same noises.

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Dang, I’m losing my touch. These did not come out at all. I literally baked them twice and the bottom layer is just mush. Can’t figure out what I might have done wrong.

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I can't imagine you losing your touch, since you are a maestra of cooking, so hmmmph. I know you didn't, but maybe you put the top frangipane on the bottom? Ok, I doubt that. Maybe your eggs were ostrich eggs? ROFL. I am betting, if I were a better, that it had to do with the fineness of the almond meal...which brand did you use? Or maybe...I'm not sure. I'm just very sorry it turned out this way. What if you scooped it and made it into pancakes?

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How does this one do when made the day before? Should I wait til tomorrow to make it?

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These are best made the day before!

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