Thursday, 31 March 2011

Microwave Chocolate "Cup" Cakes

When you haven't baked or shopped and the kids (or you) need a dessert , this is a quick and delicious thing to have on hand.  It's pretty easy for the kids to make too.

When you have some extra time ( ha ! ) mix together the following:
1 1/2 cup Flour
1 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Cocoa
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
Mix very well.




Pour dry mix into a container that has a lid that can be tightly closed.  Or you can skip this step, put all the dry ingredients into the jar and then shake it around quite a bit.  See!  you've just saved some extra steps and dishes!

To make the cake select a 10 oz Mug that is microwave proof and add the following:
5 tbsp Mix
1 tbsp Oil
1/4 tsp Vanilla
3 tbsp. Hot Water
1/2 tsp Vinegar
Mix well and cook in a Microwave on High for 1 minute 15 Seconds.  Remove from Microwave, cool slightly, top with Whipped Cream  or Ice Cream and Chocolate or Butterscotch Sauce.

The baked amount is like eating two regular cupcakes so you could divide the mixed batter into 2 smaller cups.  Bake them together in the microwave or the cooking time will need to be reduced.
Some useful tips:
Use a cup that has fairly straight sides for even cooking
No greasing of the cup is necessary
For "switch up" flavors stir in mini chocolate chips, chocolate mint chips, peanut butter chips,  small cut banana chunks, 1/8 tsp instant coffee powder, tuck 3 or 4 mini marshmallows in the middle of the batter, or any of your favorites... (you get the idea)


Wednesday, 30 March 2011

Beauty and the Eye of the Beholder


http://www.hugoandelsa.blogspot.com/


I love this ladder/shoe storage but at my house I think it would have on its shelves the following:
*crap for the recycle bag
*bills and junk mail
*tape - in the tape dispenser and in little bits stuck everywhere
*pottery - lots and lots of pottery
*my purse and/or keys
*assorted magazines and books

I'd roll my eyes  wishing we were all tidier and could appreciate its artistic beauty better and BD (my husband) would quietly think of ways to garbage dump this wonderful ladder at his soonest covert convenience  saying "no, no, I have no idea what happened to it ........"


'No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it all too seriously.'
The Laurel Hedge Blogspot

Tuesday, 29 March 2011

A few things




About a month ago I went to work accidentally wearing my bedroom slippers - comfy and embarrassing .

My first car was a 1962 Ford Falcon - the horn honked whenever I turned left.

I am a light sleeper and my husband snores - I'm a bit tired but I sure wouldn't trade him for some quiet.

I grew up on a farm and, as a kid, shirts and shoes were optional - I now wear shirts.

I love a clean house - unfortunately its not mine.

Today when I was getting ready for work my dining room was filled with the smell of lemon blossoms and  the smell of the hyacinths by my front steps was beautiful - I love Spring.

Monday, 28 March 2011

Sisters

Some are from the same mother and father and some are chosen from the long list of people we get to know.  It doesn't matter how they got into our lives -  what would we do without them?

Sunday, 27 March 2011

Today is the first day of my blog

Today is my first post to my new blog.  I have no idea if anyone is interested in reading what I have to say or looking at the things I do.  I love to create and hopefully through this blog I can share some of my recipes, patterns, pottery and thoughts on being a mom, wife, potter, sewer, gardener, artist, full time employee, dog owner, baker and grower of lemon trees but now I have to go and make a sandwich for my youngest son who is really old enough to do it himself.  Am I worried that  if I don't he'll realize he doesn't need me so much?  I think so....