Epic Fails 2015

It’s that time of year again!  Last week I shared the Top 5 of 2015…. the most viewed posts of 2015.  I guess you could call them “successes”.  Well, in keeping with tradition, I’m sharing my “Epic Fails 2015”.  These are recipes I attempted to make but somehow things just didn’t work out.  Sometimes it was because the recipe didn’t turn out as expected, sometimes it was recipe “user” error (meaning I just flat-out skuffed it up) and sometimes it was the pictures.    

I have to confess, I don’t have pictures for them all.  In an effort to de-clutter my photo folder, I deleted several that easily made it into this “illustrious” category because I had no intention of blogging them.  Just like when I attempt to clean out things in my house, as soon as I get rid of them… I need them.

So, here they are… with or without picture and in no particular order.

#1 – Tasteless Mac & Cheese

This recipe was attempted to include a product I was asked to use.  It sounded like a good idea and even looked great.  The problem…. NO flavor!  Seriously, it was bland.  How bland?  Well, my in-laws were here and I asked my mother in law to give it a try and give me her honest opinion.  Now for those who actually know her IRL, you know she’s the kindest, gentlest soul to ever live.  Her response, “Well, if I was just tasting it without seeing it and you asked me what I was eating I don’t think I’d know what it was.”  So, it was back to the drawing board on that one!

#2 – Red, White and Blue Burgers and Flies

No, it’s not a typo… there were actually flies with the burger!  Of course, not in this picture…it’s been removed.

In order to get the best lighting I take most of my finished product pictures outside on my back porch, right off the kitchen.  I keep a small table set up there and it works great…. most of the time.  

As you know, we live in Texas.  What you may not know is Texas as A LOT of flies and our back porch seems to REALLY attract them…. especially when my husband grills…. which he did these burgers.  Again, I deleted all the pictures with flies but of course, the BEST picture (see above) had a fly right on the edge of the plate.  Thanks to my husband and Lightroom… it miraculously disappeared and no one was the wiser, well, until now.  We’re also on a “Don’t ask don’t tell” policy about whether said burger was eaten and by whom.

#3 – S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies

My daughter had a friend over and they wanted to make something yummy.  They found this recipe (on Pinterest, of course) for chocolate chip cookies stuffed with s’mores.  What’s not to love about that?  They asked me, because my daughter knows you can’t believe everything you see, if it would work.  I read over it and it seemed plausible and it was…. sort of.  I will admit, they tasted good but THEY.WERE.HUGE!  and not very attractive.  I think maybe our marshmallows were too big or something but this was the perfect example of “less is more”.  

#4 – Key Lime Buttermilk Icebox Pie 

How do you know when you have enough pictures of a dish….. when this happens.

I mentioned already that I photograph outside, in Texas.  As it turns out not only do we have flies but we also have a lot of wind!  

#5 – S’mores Dip

Last year I struggled with cakes, this year it was S’mores.  This dip looked so good on Pinterest and even when it came out of my oven.  I still think it would work.  

However, somehow I could not get my chocolate chips to melt.

So, I left them in the oven a little longer.  I know what happens when you overheat chocolate but I’ve never had it happen in the oven, but evidently it can.  The chocolate was very grainy, almost powdery, the consistency was something akin to dirt.  It did taste OK and we ate some of it but we were very disappointed.  

Well, there you have it…. Epic (and not so Epic) fails of 2015!