Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
I told a lie today and now have to live it out and feel like a bit of a heel in doing so.
I made packet brownies last night.
Three batches as I bought them when they were Buy 2 Get 1 Free.
I feel no guilt in using mixes - the staffroom gets what it wants and I feel happy. Usually I focus on decorating or giving something a special twist. Nothing you can do to brownies, so in the mixing bowl they went.
Trouble is, the staffroom are mostly female and adore chocolate.
AND we had a TA meeting straight after break. I wasn't there at break as I was on duty, but as soon as I came in at 10.30 I was greeted with thanks and compliments.
Linda - a very sweet woman - asked if they were made from scratch.
Oh yes, I blithely replied, as I didn't want to tarnish my image as a master baker.
At lunchtime she asked if she could have the recipe
Hers never come out as well as mine.
Sigh.
Why did I lie?
I feel I can't lose her respect by admitting the lie, so I have spent approx an hour vetting recipes online. I've found one by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall that has more steps than the average recipe, so if they turn out different - as they will, unless she is Dr Oetker - she'll assume she did something different in one of the stages.
I have to say they sound yummy and they aren't all that difficult.
But my conscience tells me I'd better make a batch soon to test them out.
And not bloody lie in future.