Awhile back, my stepsister Anya was talking and I was sort of half-listening because – shaaaa! – when I suddenly heard something worth hearing. It was like, “Blah blah blah that’s like my aunt says, ‘Why would anybody use a brownie mix when they’re so easy to make from scratch?'” I filed that idea away: brownies are not just easy to make, but super-easy. I almost wish I’d been listening, although that would have involved effort or something.

Still hot, like me.

Today is my birthday and, for my birthday, I decided to learn how to make brownies from scratch. The old Joy Of Cooking has a few pages on brownies and the steps looked pretty simple, so I dragged out the cupcake pan and gave it a go. It’s easy! It’s like suddenly having a new magic power! Why the cupcake pan? you ask. Because with great power comes great responsibility, like knowing to stop eating these delicious things after a modest five or six.