If it Looks Like a Brownie and Tastes Like a Brownie, is it a Brownie?

Recipe, Reflections, , , ,

This post is a lesson in “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet”.

Last week one of the articles that came up on my news feed boasted making brownies with just two ingredients. If you have been reading my blog for long you probably know that I do a lot of home cooking and baking, and we love desserts, so I read the article/ recipe that called for just chocolate chips and eggs. I had both ingredients on hand and decided to give it a try.

I followed the instructions to melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler and to beat the eggs (I used an electric mixer to make sure they were completely beaten.) I let the chocolate chips cool a bit so they were not hot enough to cook the eggs when added. I added the chocolate slowly while using the mixer to combine them. When it was completely mixed and looked like brownie batter, I put the mixture in a baking pan that I had sprayed with cooking spray.

I baked it at 350 F for about 25 minutes until a toothpick inserted came out clean. It was cooling on the counter when my husband came in and said, “brownies, yumm.” I explained it was a new recipe and he said he was sure it would be good. “You always make good desserts,” he said.

After lunch we decided to try the brownies. When I cut them and took one out of the pan it looked dense and moist like a good brownie should. My husband’s first impression was good, and I agree they had good flavor, chocolaty and sweet like a brownie, but after a second bite he noticed they were dry. He was right the, even the good chocolaty flavor could not make up for the dry crumbly texture. They looked like brownies and tasted like brownies, but they lacked the dense, moist and even a bit gooey texture of a good brownie. I honestly would not even call these brownies.

So, if you happen to come across this recipe for two ingredient brownies my advice would be save your eggs for breakfast and eat a handful of chocolate chips for dessert. Don’t bother trying this recipe which is sure to disappoint any brownie lover.

Of course, you could choose not to believe this since you did read it on the internet. 🙂

Our Bees Are Alive

Bees, Reflections

The above photo was taken during the summer of 2025.

Yesterday, when the sun was shining and the temperature rose into the low 40’s F, my husband saw bees flying in and out of our hive, taking cleansing flights. We find this amazing! It’s been many years since we have had bees that have survived the winter. Winter is not over yet but considering that they survived that long cold spell that we just experienced this is a very good sign.

Thanks for visiting.

The Mercury’s Rising

Chickens, Eggs, Maple Syrup, Reflections, Tapping Maple Trees, Weather, Winter Prep

Hello and Welcome!

Here in Michigan, we have finally emerged from the deep freeze that has engulfed us since early January. Daytime high temperatures for the next week are forecast to be above 40 F (4.4 C). I’m sure we will be dealing with a lot of mud as the snow melts, but I’ll gladly take that over the bitter cold that we have been dealing with.

With temperatures above freezing during the day then falling below freezing at night the sap will begin flowing. We won’t be tapping trees this year, we haven’t since 2017, but I suspect the syrup producers in our area have tapped their trees.

If you would like to read about our adventures in syrup making in 2016 and 2017 you click here, here and here.

The other thing that’s happening, that seems to coincide with the sap beginning to flow each year, is that are hens are beginning to lay again. We know that at least three of them are laying because my husband collected three eggs on a couple of days this week. As the days get longer and sunnier egg production will increase. I am thankful for my daughter and son-in-law and their flock who were able to provide us with fresh eggs this winter while our hens took a break.

It’s too soon to be celebrating the end of winter but this week will be a nice break.

Thank for visiting. Are you seeing signs of spring?

The Good News

Reflections

Hello and welcome.

Here in Michigan, we are in the midst of a brutal deep freeze. I’ve been staying in as much as possible (hibernation mode) and while my husband still goes to the farm to take the dogs out and care for the chickens his time there is abbreviated. Being out in that cold is just miserable.

But now for the good news. I received an email this week letting me know that one of my stories will be published in an upcoming  Chicken Soup for the Soul® book. The title of the book is “I Can’t Stop Laughing” and it’s scheduled to be on sale on April 28, 2026. The title of my story is “Where’s God?” and yes, it’s a funny story.

I’ve added this to my list of reasons I’m looking forward to April. Things like: Spring!, flowers, green grass, trees getting their leaves, birds returning from their winter homes, frogs singing, dandelions blossoming, bees buzzing, starting our garden plants, getting my hands in the dirt (yes even if that means pulling weeds), the chickens will be laying again, and now my story being published.

My mom always said, “don’t wish your life away,” so I’ll try to be patient while I, eagerly, await April.

Thanks for visiting.

Chicken Scratch (Not Another Chicken Post)

Reflections

In August I picked up some Chicken Soup for the Soul® books at the used book sale at our local library. It had been years since I had read a Chicken Soup book, but I remember the stories, real stories, delightful, heartwarming, encouraging, inspiring – the kind of stories I liked to read – the kind of stories I liked to write.

As I read through the first book, “Believe in Angels”, I thought of some of my own similar stories. Divine interventions, encounters with spirits, messages seemingly heaven sent. More than just coincidences. Some of my stories were written and published on my personal blog and read by a handful of people, others were still trapped in my head waiting to be written. I wondered if some of my stories belonged in these books.

When I came to the end of that book, I found information on how to submit stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul to be published in their books. I decided I would check it out on their website. After browsing the “how to submit” pages I thought this might be worth considering. I mindlessly took a notebook out of my desk and set it next to my computer to remind me to come back later and write down the story topics they were looking for and the dates that submissions were due.

Wondering if my writing was really good enough to be published I mentioned the idea of submitting some stories to my husband and my sister who have read my writings. Both of them encouraged me to do it. After all the worst that could happen is they would not be accepted.

“Lord, should I really do this?” I thought as I sat down with my laptop, ready to organize some stories for possible submission. When I picked up the notebook that I had retrieved from my desk, I recognized it as a gift my daughter had given me for Mother’s Day. It had a pink cover with several rows of chickens on it. In the center of the cover it said, “Chicken Scratch.” Thank you, Lord, Message received!

The above story is true. In November I began reviewing and editing some of my stories, preparing them for submission. Thus far I have submitted eight pieces for three of the books they will be publishing this year.

On Tuesday I received a message informing me that one of my stories has made it to the first phase in the selection process for an upcoming book, (only a small percentage of the stories submitted have made it this far) and asking me to sign an agreement giving permission for them to include my story in the book. I AM SO EXCITED!

This book is scheduled to go on sale on 4/28/26 so I should know for sure sometime in March if my piece will be included. I’ll let you know when I hear more.

Thanks for reading.