No big deal. Also, some boxed brownies are delish, so I would never pass judgement if they were boxed or not. I think your friend is overly sensitive. The main point to your comment was that the brownies were good.

Anonymous wrote:Who makes brownies from scratch?

Francesca

doodlebug wrote:Is her son named Duncan? If not then they're Duncan Hines boxed. To the PP who is proud of having a scratch recipe mistake for boxed...WHY? Boxed brownies taste like chemicals and preservatives. Why would you want your homemade brownies to taste like they came from a chemistry lab?

No they don't, shut up. Boxed brownies are like the one thing everyone admits set the gold standard for brownies. It's almost not even worth doing scratch when you have ghirardelli boxed mix.

OP, did you offer commentary and inquisition on every course of the meal, or just dessert?

What else was served?

I personally would not care if someone asked that. But some people are sensitive about their perceived image.

To hell with the Perfect Wife/Superhuman Mother crap, seriously.

Anonymous wrote:

doodlebug wrote:Is her son named Duncan? If not then they're Duncan Hines boxed. To the PP who is proud of having a scratch recipe mistake for boxed...WHY? Boxed brownies taste like chemicals and preservatives. Why would you want your homemade brownies to taste like they came from a chemistry lab?

I'm pretty sure OP and everyone on this thread figured out by themselves that it was Duncan Hines.

There's always one Captain Obvious on these threads who is slow on the uptake.

I love box brownies and also do not see t as shameful to make them that way. BUT you were rude OP. Some people are up tight up not using mixes so why ask?

I would be embarassed if I was the host and had to tell the whole party that I made brownies from a box. Not a nice thing to ask.

doodlebug wrote:Is her son named Duncan? If not then they're Duncan Hines boxed. To the PP who is proud of having a scratch recipe mistake for boxed...WHY? Boxed brownies taste like chemicals and preservatives. Why would you want your homemade brownies to taste like they came from a chemistry lab?

I'm pretty sure OP and everyone on this thread figured out by themselves that it was Duncan Hines.

Anonymous wrote:Context is everything OP. You didn't give us enough information to make a call.

Agree.
OP you said the hostess rolled her eyes looking over at her friend. So, is the hostess more peeved thinking you were keeping score who was the more hard core hostess (you or her) by scratch verse boxed brownies?
You called out the hostess in front of a group with passive agressively saying she cheated bc she didn't truly make the dessert.

doodlebug wrote:Is her son named Duncan? If not then they're Duncan Hines boxed. To the PP who is proud of having a scratch recipe mistake for boxed...WHY? Boxed brownies taste like chemicals and preservatives. Why would you want your homemade brownies to taste like they came from a chemistry lab?

You: Shut.

OP: I would have stopped at "tasty" in front of everyone, and asked more specific questions in the kitchen. But I do not think what you did is rude.

doodlebug wrote:Is her son named Duncan? If not then they're Duncan Hines boxed. To the PP who is proud of having a scratch recipe mistake for boxed...WHY? Boxed brownies taste like chemicals and preservatives. Why would you want your homemade brownies to taste like they came from a chemistry lab?

Boxed brownies are delicious. I make a lot of things from scratch, but why bother making brownies from scratch when boxed ones are so good and cost about a buck a box?

It's a weird thing for you to ask, and what difference does the answer make? It sounds like she overreacted, but I would have been mildly annoyed as well, and responded "why do you ask?"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A more polite way to do it would be to ask if she's willing to share the recipe.

+1.

This is a great suggestion. That said, your friend sounds overly sensitive. You said she rolled her eyes. Has this happened before with you two?

Is her son named Duncan? If not then they're Duncan Hines boxed. To the PP who is proud of having a scratch recipe mistake for boxed...WHY? Boxed brownies taste like chemicals and preservatives. Why would you want your homemade brownies to taste like they came from a chemistry lab?