Fairworthy Brownies?

Doesn't that brownie look delicious? Okay, if you're Linda, maybe not so much, but when I saw this recipe on Picky Palate, I thought, "Yum! I need to try those. I bet they'd be fairworthy." Then I saw that someone else had made them and gave them great reviews and I thought, "I definitely have to make those." I decided to try them out on some people from church we were having over for dinner on Saturday evening. I usually don't make something I haven't tried before when we have guests, but thought I couldn't go wrong with this.

Well, I found them not very good. My husband liked the brownie part, one of the guests said they were good, but the other didn't say anything which I took as a bad sign. I was disappointed to say the least. My two oldest children loved them, but they will not be judging baked goods come this August.

Every time I would walk by the leftovers I would want to eat another because they looked so yummy-Reeses peanut butter cups, marshmallows, chocolate chips, peanut butter on top of a chocolate/peanut butter cheesecake swirled brownie-how could these not taste good? So last night after I finally got Kate to sleep and was able to eat some dinner I had one against my better judgment. I guess I was so hungry I was willing to eat anything. It actually tasted pretty good.

I decided that the main problem was the brownie itself. I had used a box mix as the directions called for and I know that when fair time comes around I will not be doing that as it's against the rules and I can make much better brownies from scratch. I do use mixes on occasion though, especially when they are on sale for $.50/box and I need some brownies fast. I almost always add something to them to help them out.

Today I tried another one just to see if maybe I was so hungry last night that an old tire would have tasted good. Again the brownie was good. Moist, melt in your mouth, a nice melding of flavors. I took this as a good sign. With a homemade brownie batter as a base with good chocolate, top of the line chocolate chips and marshmallows, I think we have a brownie that might actually be fairworthy. The thing that changed my mind is that they still tasted good after two days. Since judging happens at least one whole day after items are entered, it's better to enter items that still taste good after a day or so. I've made cookies and other baked goods that tasted wonderful the first few hours after baking, but by the next day or so, not as good as before-these never do well at the fair. I'm always on the lookout for something that will do well a good day or so old. This brownie may be it! I think I will try at any rate.

I love having a window in my kitchen. It looks out onto our deck and this is what is currently out there. I wonder where my son is going on his next adventure? He gets a lot of ideas from Calvin and Hobbes.
How do you like Macy's hair? It was wacky hair day a few weeks ago and I'm finally getting around to posting a picture.

We have spring break this week with a trip to the zoo planned on Wednesday. I feel tired already just thinking about it!