The KBAL Brownie Initiative

Analysis

This recipe set me off from the get-go. The pie filling and mini-marshmallows were all I could think about and how much that turned my stomach. Oh, and I only had 1 8oz box of semi-sweet chocolate, so I almost had to make a late night run to the store. Luckily, I remembered that chocolate chips are also semi-sweet, and with at least 10 bags of those in the cupboard, I was ok.

The recipe was straightforward, although it did tell me to use a double boiler and a whisk to mix the eggs and sugar (hold on while I go get more wood to put in the stove so I can bake them). At least this recipe called for butter and I didn't have to substitute.

The worst part of this recipe was straining the cherry pie filling. This gooey, red, drippy gunk slowly plopping into the measuring bowl, yuck, especially since I knew what I needed to do with it. The batter was really runny, but after letting it set in the "foil lined, greased and floured (are we worried about this sticking?)" pan, it sort of turned hard and fudge-like. Probably good since I had to spread the drained cherries over the batter in the pan and then cover it with the rest of it. And it was into the oven to bake.

Now for the yucky part. I had to take part of the cherry pie filling liquid and mix it with the marshmallows. When the browines were done baking, this got spread over the hot brownies and covered so it could melt. I then garnished with some of the remaining soppy cherry. What a lovely looking treat!

• Prep time: 45 minutes


• Cooking time: 50 minutes (a full 20 minutes longer than called for. Must be the foil)


• Total time: 1.75 hours

Modifications

None made. I just couldn't stand to think about it. I had to plow through and just get it done.

Improvements

One. Don't make these.

My Rating - scale of 1-10

• PITA Rating: 5 (The cherry draining was a pain)
• Difficulty Rating: 6 (two layers with goo in the middle)
• Recipe Complexity (over a basic no-frills brownie): 6
• Texture: 2
• Flavor: -3
• Overall Rating: 0 (ok, I haven't tasted them yet, but I don't know if I can)

I'm worried about tasting these tomorrow.

P.S. I am NEVER making these again. They were yucky. I found nothing redeeming about them, not even the fact that there was chocolate in them. My kids and husband wouldn't even eat them.