brownies "de cajita"

The brownies got burned - badly. And this talks about the importance of building a strong relationship with your oven. Things like knowing that you DO NOT use convection mode when you bake, that in this new oven you bake for less time than the recipe tells you, and that sometimes when you smell kind of burnt IT IS BECAUSE SOMETHING IS REALLY BURNING! Sadly, I had to drive to Randalls to get Duncan HInes brownies (brownies "de cajita" -- box brownies), and worked a la "Semi-homemade" show on the food network to make them taste a little bit less "de cajita" (add melted butter instead of oil, evaporated milk instead of water). I was going to take them to a little dinner party and since I am kind of a show off, I wanted them to be perfect. I'm not sure if I succeeded because I just couldn't eat any -- after making them and eating 1/4 of the batter (or is it dough?), I didn't want to eat anything chocolaty. Super Dave said they were good. And everyone else ate them so-- they must have been good. I did make another batch for home (before the Duncan Hines) and they were also a little bit burnt but not as bad as the first ones. Today, we had them as dessert after cooking (and this one totally from scratch -- no cajita) PAD THAI! Yes, pad thai.... Well, super dave, and letty, and david helped... and it was GOOD! But I still can't believe that I am actually cooking and baking. I have always liked it but now it feels like a big thing... Like a grown up thing, like a mature thing to do... After years of seldom having enough time to cook (my ph. d. student days), now I am really craving cooking, and baking, and learning how to do other stuff that have nothing to do with academics, and books, and research, and statistics, and high theory, etc., etc., etc. Oh how much I don't miss it... oooohhh, come on-- I know, I know... they were good times in their own special way...


Have to go to bed. Tomorrow is Monday. San Lunes... and I have to get ready for a cruise. I will be in high sea (en altamar) in a week. Traveling with Super Dave's family. And I am obviously nervous and anxious.