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Recently I saw the new Smart ForTwo 451 at Victoria star motors. This was my first time seeing the new one in person, and I find myself agreeing with my previous thoughts on it. I personally think it looks completely fat. The current 450has a nice sharp and straight rear end, nice sharp sides, with distinct fender flares. The new 451 in my opinion loses all of that and just overall looks like it has gained a few pounds. The rear end is sloped far too much for my tastes, as well as the lack of rear side windows. The interior, while apparently larger, looked smaller to me. The mundaneness of it compared to the current 450 also can not be over stressed. The poor car has lost it’s spunk. Not to mention the fact that it is not available as a diesel. Oh, I just did.

There are certainly a few things that I do like however. I like the new headlamp arrangement, nice bright xenons. I like the new way of opening the rear hatch, no longer do you need your key fob to open it, even if the car is unlocked. Alas, i still wouldn’t buy one. Everyone else who was looking at the car with me also would not buy one, and they all currently own and love a Smart.

So last week I met someone and I have been feeling strange ever since. It has taken me until now to realize. We have so much in common, we love the same type of music, movies, etc. He pretty much has the same taste in everything as I do. This is the first time that anything so perfect has come along, and it tears me to know that he definitely does not feel the same way in all likelihood. Either way though, i would still like to get to know him as a friend, and only a friend, since I have found that my current group of friends is kind of stagnating. Change is good, and I at least hope he is willing to at least try.

-Maty

Ingredients:
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup non-dairy margarine
2/3 cup cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Cinnamon to taste

Garnish - Confectioners’ sugar

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/180 degrees C. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with non-dairy margarine, or you may also use vegetable oil to grease the pan or spray pan with vegetable cooking spray.

2. Combine 1/3 cup of the flour with water in a medium saucepan. Cook on medium heat untill thick, stirring constantly. Set mixture aside to cool completely.

3. Melt margarine and stir in the cocoa powder.

4. Sift together the remaining 2 cups flour with the baking powder.

5. Beat sugar, salt, and vanilla into the cooled flour mixture, then add the melted butter/cocoa mixture.

6. Add the above mixture to the sifted flour/baking powder mixture. Add chopped nuts, if desired.

7. Spoon batter into prepared baking pan and bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Let brownies cool in pan. Cut into squares when cooled completely. If desired, dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Makes 16 brownies.

-Maty