Mmm... Brownies!

Once upon a time, a long time ago, I used to bake from scratch. My specialty? Brownies from the Better Homes and Gardens (red checkered) cookbook--and not just a single recipe. I excelled at Blond Brownies and Cake Brownies. The blond ones were made with brown sugar and had no chocolate in them--kind of like chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips. I think making them is where I learned to really, really love the corner pieces. I would make the cake brownies for nearly everything for years. In fact, I thought "my" brownies were normal and that fudge brownies were a variation. *chuckle*

I remember when I lived in Germany the first time and I made some to take to a baptism. We attended a German speaking ward, although there were some American expatriates who had married German men and a German girl who had gone on an exchange program to Payson. She had made what I now know to be "regular" brownies that were put side-by-side with mine. No one liked her version and everyone loved mine. She was quite vocal in her displeasure and really ripped me a new one that night.

"You didn't make brownies, Sister Murphy, you made cake. They're eating cake. *I* made real brownies. You don't know what you're talking about if you're calling those brownies!"

Didn't help that she was older and taller than me... *wry chuckle* I was definitely intimidated by her.

I didn't understand what the problem was. My brownies were normal and *I* was the American, not her.

*blushing*

The ignorance of youth...

I "get" it now. My brownies weren't typical brownies. That's why they were called "Cake Brownies" *slapping forehead*

Fast forward twenty years where I have unfortunately gotten away from baking from scratch except for on rare occasions. I now use Betty Crocker's fudge brownie mix when I'm in the mood for brownies, which I have been lately. I made a box of them the other day but I added my own touch to them---I sprinkled a half bag of Andes Mint chips over the hot from the oven brownies and let them melt for a while.

As you can see, they've been quite popular. My fingerprint is on the pan (the corners that are missing). And see the serving thingamajig? I had never seen one of those until I was dating Hunny Bunny and he had it. It is the neatest contraption when it comes to brownies and cake pieces!!!