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Kitchen *Kitbash: Betty Crocker GF Brownie Mix

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There are many things that come in packages and are Gluten Free (GF) these days, but not all are necessarily delicious right out of the box.  Such is the case with Betty Crocker‘s GF Brownie Mix.  Overly sweet, and very gooey they are simply not the best brownies out there.

Now I won’t buy these for myself, but I have twice been gifted these same brownies and honestly appreciate the kindness of both friends to go out of their way and do this for me!  That said, I desired to see if I could make them a bit more palatable by doctoring them up.

Here’s what I did…

Ingredients:

1 box Betty Crocker GF Brownie Mix

1 extra egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup chopped *almonds (mine happened to be smoke house style)

I added the above to the mix in addition to the called for ingredients.  Mixed and baked per the instructions on the box, and I believe they came out to be superior to the just as directed version.

They were not gooey and a bit lighter in crumb.  I asked Bob what he thought of the changes and he said:  “Oh, I don’t know.  I think I will have to eat another one to be sure.”

That is a very good sign!

Should you try this at home I would be interested in knowing what you think of the changes I made.

*kitbash:  “The practice of modifying a model…  [no longer limited to model railroad or] toy action figures, to achieve [a] result other than that intended by the manufacturer.”  Paraphrased from the Urban Dictionary and term applied loosely to the process of modifying a box baking mix.   🙂

**I used almonds because that is what was on hand, but I am sure that walnuts or pecans would be equally good!

Photo Friday: a keen sense of smell?

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In Latin I am called Cathartes aura, and my closest cousins are storks and ibises.  Surprisingly,  while most birds don’t have a sense of smell, I do, and a very keen one at that!  I have no voice box, and yet I can hiss or grunt.  My wingspan is a whopping 6 feet!  Impressive don’t you think?

And for all my wonderful features I am not well liked.  In fact, I am often reviled and feared.  Too bad really, because I am actually shy and non-aggressive.  If you want to know the truth you need me in ways you have probably never even thought about.

Who am I?

I am a Turkey Vulture, and this Friday past when the Lady of the Farmlet spied me atop the neighbors big tree she stopped everything she was doing and took pictures of me.  I am so flattered!  Though I must say she didn’t get my best side, and her photos are all grainy and out of focus to boot!  Well, let’s just imagine it was because she was in awe of my tremendous size and impressive stature.

You imagine I am posing for the camera don’t you?  Well, OK a little, but I really do this to warm up and/or dry off when wet.  Does my size impress you? NO?

Impressed now?  You should be, this tree is about 60 feet tall,  give or take, and I look tremendous in it!

Well, gotta go!  The Lady is getting too close for my comfort now…

So you may not like my looks, but you must admit,  I’m graceful in flight!

Want to find out more about fabulous me?  Then go here to read more.  I really am a fascinating creature you know!

https://wildbirdhabitatstore.com/uncategorized/353-turkey-vulture

PS:  And once and for all can we clear up the matter of my being a buzzard?  I am not a buzzard!   They are a completely different class of  bird.  They are birds of prey and eat their meals alive!  What a revolting habit!  No, I am not a buzzard by any stretch of the imagination.

NOTE:  The link above is not the original source of my information for this post.  The original was closed down (IDKW).  This site is a store, but seems to have much the same information as the previous link.

There’s no place like home…

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After running off to Cheekwood week before last I took a look around and realized I had some wonderful things happening “… right in my own back yard…”  Perhaps Dorothy was right?

What I found…

Iris in three stages of bloom

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Pink Dogwood in Bloom

I first visited our property in April and all the dogwoods were in bloom! We have twelve, but only this one is pink the rest being white.  It was their beauty and the seclusion of our little street that sold me.

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I know it’s dark.  It  was taken at dawn.

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Over the weekend I was working at the potting bench and kept smelling a wonderful perfume… I sniffed everything in sight and couldn’t figure out what it could be.  Then I took a different path to the front yard and passed by this!

There is no finer fragrance than that of Lilac in bloom.

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The summer’s strawberries are only blossoms now, but I can already taste them,  picked fresh of a morning and kissed by the Fairies with dew.

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And finally…

Three Chicklets in a Fringe Tree

So OK, technically this is not in bloom yet, but it wouldn’t be a visit to the Farmlet with out the ubiquitous chicken picture now would it?  But you have to imagine my surprise when I returned from picture-taking to find these three roosting in the little Fringe Tree in the back yard.  We have three of them, two in back, and one out at the end of the drive.  I love them!  They have a subtle sweet scent, but it is their fuzzy “Grandpaw’s Whiskers” (another name they are known by) that makes me love them so!  Want see one in full bloom?

Then follow this link to Clemson University’s Extension <— (Click here) for a view and a bit of information on these lovely native specimens!

Thank you for visiting, and see you again soon!