The Internet Recipe Scandal and
My Mom’s Butterscotch Brownies

by Sherra on April 18, 2008
in Food, Rants

I choose not to talk politics or religion here.

Mostly because I started this site so we could share and support one another.

I didn’t start this site to get into any heated debates and I heartily respect other people’s views even when they are different than mine. It’s how I learn. It’s what makes the world go ’round.

It’s also what makes me laugh. Especially when I’m right. Which is often. Just ask PhilBillPaul.

Or you could ask my mom since I was right about the year of the photo.

I was amused when they got into a heated debate this week on The View. If you didn’t hear about this BIG news story, hurry, click on over and get yourself educated about this newsworthy event.

Even if you don’t want to get educated, please click just so you can see
the author’s name
. I feel like I’m being stalked by ________s.
Fill in the blank with author’s last name.

The answer is no for those of you asking yourselves if I’m going to stop being immature any time soon…sticking out my tongue as I type this.

I had already planned to share this recipe with you all before I heard about the story.

My Mom’s Butterscotch Brownies are brownies she has made since I was a little girl. They are a lovely change from your regular chocolate brownies and they are a perfect addition when making a brownie tray medley which I’ve been known to do on occasion. Easy and quick, PhilBillPaul whips them up from time to time.

Now because of Cindy McCain and the recipe scandal, I feel I must put a disclaimer here before actually revealing the recipe.

Disclaimer: To my knowledge, my mother has never created her own recipe. She has added and omitted different ingredients to match our family’s taste buds. I have followed that same tradition and customized recipes to match our love dislike of vegetables.

We call them “Family Recipes” because they are the recipes our family grew up loving and were prepared in our home – hence the name “Family Recipes.” I don’t know for sure where her Butterscotch Brownies recipe originated. She may have lifted this recipe right from the pages of a very old and worn Betty Crocker cookbook that looks just like this…

Betty Crocker Cookbook

Sidenote & reminder to my mom: Remember, I get the cookbook along with the black cast iron skillet and Grandad’s desk.

I feel better now that it’s in writing on the internet just in case she hasn’t made that clear in her will even though we’ve discussed it dozens of times through the years. I think this will hold up in court; you all are now my witnesses. Thanks.

I’ve done my research and Betty Crocker was not a real person and if she was, she’s dead. General Mills could come after me or my mom. Um, yeah, okay, whatever.

Here’s the thing…speaking only for women (since I am a woman), we trade recipes, share recipes, print recipes, type recipes, email recipes and post recipes. Whenever possible, I give credit as to the origin of the recipe. Many times, I just don’t know or remember. I don’t think any of us are trying to plagiarize or steal anyone’s original recipes.

Relax people. Share the recipes. Share the love. Journalists: Find a news story worthy of reporting and more importantly, worthy of our time!

Next week I might get really wild and share my Aunt Jane’s Brownie recipe. Who knows who she stole it from. My mom and my Aunt Jane have a long history of theft and deception.

Until then, bake these this weekend and enjoy!

Our way: We usually double this one and bake in a 13×9″ pan since there are six of us. The top has a thin crispy-like layer and they are gooey underneath. Don’t overbake!

My Mom’s Butterscotch Brownies

  • 1/4 C margarine, melted
  • 1 C light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 C flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

Cream margarine, sugar and egg. Add dry ingredients; mix well. Spread in 8×8″ or 9×9″ well-greased pan. Bake at 350º for 25 minutes.

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Comments

6 Responses to “The Internet Recipe Scandal and
My Mom’s Butterscotch Brownies”
  1. 1
    Tammy says:

    I cannot believe the author’s name! HYSTERICAL!!!! I wonder what it feels like to be stalked by we#$%ers?!?! Perhaps you can elaborate on that some time.

    We have a recipe similar to this one in our family (I mean, probably-stolen-from-someone-else) recipe file. We call them Blondies. I was hoping yours had butterscotch chips because I sure like those! Have you tried that before?

    Watch out…GM might be the next stalker in your ever-growing line of stalkers! You sure lead an exciting life Sherra!

  2. 2
    Rhonda says:

    Oh Sherra, I love reading your blog. Love catching up and reading your posts. I have that very cookbook, handed down from my mom. I am wondering if those butterscotch brownies are also the ones that my sister makes, called “blondies?”

    Have a great week.

    Ciao bella.

  3. 3
    Sherra says:

    Tammy » Glad someone thought it was funny…you’re the only one who commented about it but I know Friday is a slow day. LOL. Definitely throw some butterscotch chips in! I think the only way to ruin brownies is to overcook them. Cream cheese, caramel, nuts – I love them all!

    Rhonda » I’m sure “blondies” are very similar but we always called them Butterscotch Brownies. Hey, maybe that’s what my mom originated? I’m very behind on my blog reading and hope to catch up this week. Thanks for reading and I’m jealous that you already have the coveted cookbook in your possession. :)

  4. 4
    Nicki says:

    Our tradition is to name our favorite recipes after the relatives or friends who share them…have you ever made the broccoli rice casserole with cheese whiz and rice (it’s yummy!)? It’s Anne’s Broccoli at our house…since she made the recipe first in the family and once we asked her for thea recipe, it immediately became’s hers! (Even though the recipe was published in Southern Living first). I think if you have made the recipe several times then it is a family recipe and I don’t think there are any copywright or trademark infringements at all! Poor Mrs. McCain!

  5. 5
    Karen says:

    Sherra,
    It was a VERY slow news day is all I have to say about the stupid news story! Thanks for sharing it though. I plan to try the blondies out on my girlfriends next Monday – thanks for sharing that too. Here’s my recipe that I want to share – sorry, you nonveggie lovers… Sausage Bean Chowder from a 1982 or 1983 Southern Living Magazine that we make all the time..
    4 cups water
    1 lb ground beef – browned
    1 lb sausage – browned
    4 medium to large potatos – peeled cut into bitesized pieces
    1 bell pepper chopped
    2 cans light red kidney beans
    2 cans chopped tomatos
    2 onions chopped
    3 bay leaves
    1/2 tsp thyme
    1/2 tsp salt
    1/4 tsp garlic powder
    1/4 tsp course black pepper
    Put all in large pot and bring to boil. Then simmer for an hour. It’s our family favorite!

  6. 6
    Sherra says:

    Karen » Hmmmm, the brownies would be good dessert after the soup (that you already know we wouldn’t eat…LOL). Hope your girlfriends liked the brownies!

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