Homemade Magic Shell

I got an ice cream maker!  Woo Hoo!!!!  Finally!  I made Vanilla Ice Cream for my first one...the boys LOVED it ... we all did!   Do you like toppings on your ice cream?  I'm picky about it and it all depends what type of dessert mood I'm in.  Some days are berries while others are nuts and chocolate.  Today, was chocolate so I decided to make Magic Shell.  It's easy and everyone loved it.  In less than one minute you can make magical chocolate shells and amaze your little ones, too.

Triple Chocolate Vanilla Chip Bran Brownies w/Vanilla Ganache

One of my twins stayed home from school today.  When I asked what would make him feel better, he said brownies with white icing and sprinkles.  

Here ya go sweetie!  I hope these 

Triple Chocolate Vanilla Chip Bran Brownies w/Vanilla Ganache 

make you feel all better!  Love and hugs!

Triple Chocolate Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread

I went to Walmart the other morning, which isn't much different than most mornings, and took pictures documenting my time there.  Taking pictures along the way was so much fun and it didn't bother anyone in the least little bit...they all know us by name.  I'll share that in another post.  I ended up buying zucchini, Nestle Semi Sweet Mini Chocolate Chips, Hershey's Chocolate Syrup and more Cocoa.  This is the result of my shopping trip.  Are you thinking a trip is in order, now?

Peanutty Dark Chocolate Magic Bars

These are so rich!  You only need a bite...yet, you keep going back for more!  Layer the toppings or mix them all together.  However you top it, it is intensely full of deep, sweet flavors!

Dark Chocolate Graham Cracker Brownies

My youngest just came home from the hospital last night after staying there 3 days from an asthma attack.  The whole time there, he wanted brownies.  This morning, I made these really easy fudgy brownies for him.  I know he will be happy to share with the rest of us.  Enjoy them out of the oven while they are soft and gooey or let them cool and they are chewy outer covering and fudgy inside.  Either way, I know you will love them!  Use different flavor graham crackers, chips, dried fruit, nuts .... for a variety of new brownies.  I am thinking quite a few ways to enjoy them!

Frozen Banana Chocolate Eclair Dessert

A frozen delight made from an old recipe.  This is what happened the other day when I made it in the morning.  I forgot a middle layer and left it in the freezer.  YUM!

Sour Cream Ganache

What do you do when you don't have cream to make a ganache?  You use what you have in the refrigerator, this for me meant sour cream.   I love the way it tastes on my overpowering chocolate brownie and Frozen Banana Eclair Cake.  This gets very thick as it cools so work fast.  You can use a little more sour cream if you want it thinner, but not too much.  You don't want a strong taste of the sour cream.  I used Hershey's Dark Chocolate Special Blend and it turned out almost bittersweet.  We loved it.  Next time you are out of cream, grab the sour cream.

Baked Chocolate Donuts

While hubby was at the store this morning, I asked him to pick up german chocolate.  It has been ages since I made anything with it and was feeling I needed to.  Ya know?  Do you get those hankerings that you have to do something…and now!  That was me and I was so happy to see hubby home.  I melted butter…having an idea, but not totally certain where I was going with this.  The butter was melted, eggs and milk at room temperature, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, anything and everything I could think of, was ready.  I picked up the german chocolate and it was opened!  Not only opened but the paper was ripped off of it!   I’m ready to bake and most important part of this, I don’t know recipe, is bad!  Plan 2 ended up with Chocolate Covered Chocolate Baked Donuts.  My boys will be so happy the german chocolate was a miss.  ~smile~  I'll add more photos later.

Deep Chocolate Brownies

These are so light, melt in your mouth, not too sweet, deep, dark and chocolaty!  If you like rich chocolate taste without being overly sweet...this is for you!  Enjoy!

Deep Chocolate Brownies

1/2 cup butter

2  1 ounce squares unsweetened chocolate

1/4 cup brewed coffee

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 cup King Arthur Unbleached All Purpose Flour, plus 1/2 Tablespoon

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 to 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, roughly chopped

1/2 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips

1/2 nuts, optional

1/2 raisins, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease 9x9 pan.  Heat butter, unsweetened chocolate and coffee in microwave, in microwave safe bowl, according to directions on chocolate.  I did 30 seconds on high and then another 20 seconds..do not overheat.  Chocolate will not be completely melted.  Stir until chocolate is completely melted.  If not melted, heat another 10 seconds.  Add sugar and mix thoroughly.  Beat in eggs.  Sift in cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, stirring until mixed thoroughly.  Stir in vanilla extract.  Toss chocolate chips with 1/2 tablespoon flour in a bowl to coat.  Fold into batter.  Spread batter in greased pan and cook 25 to 30 minutes until done.  Mine was done at 28 minutes.  The middle will be soft and will harden as it cools  Enjoy!

Quinoa and Flax Seed Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache

I am trying to incorporate healthier recipes in our diet.  The boys pediatrician said I could cut out gluten and and dairy to help with one of the twins over active behavior and my oldest short attention span and forgetfulness.  This is my first change and my boys really like them!  They have a slightly different taste and I'm not certain if it is because of the quinoa flour or flax seed.  I did find they taste better after they have cooled completely.  The addition of dark chocolate chips and dark chocolate ganache was a plus.   Hope you like them.  My boys have asked for them again....already!  You can find the recipe on Examiner.com.  I would love if you would subscribe to my articles there.  ~love and hugs~

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Chocolate Oatmeal Cake For My Birthday

Yep, it's my birthday.  My 50th Birthday.  One half of a century old.  I have boys.  A 9 1/2 year old and 5 1/2 year old twins.  Hubby of 24 years.  Beautiful friends.  Some loving family.  Dogs, cats, mini horses, big ole pigs and an old goat.  I'm a Blessed and Happy Old Girl!

Here is my birthday cake.  I didn't want an overly sweet cake.  This is dense, moist, rich and chocolaty.  You may want to use regular cocoa and semi sweet chips if you want a sweeter cake.  Love and hugs!

Chocolate Oatmeal Cake

1 cup quick oats, my homemade instant oatmeal works great

1 1/4 cup water, boiling, I think I will use milk or buttermilk next cake

1/2 cup Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa, or any cocoa

1 1/2 cups King Arthur unbleached all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 Tablespoons molasses, unsulphured

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips or semi-sweet, optional

Put oatmeal in a bowl, sift cocoa in, add boiling water, stir and set aside for 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease bundt pan.  My bundt pan was too large  I think I have a 12 cup. 

In large mixing bowl whisk, or sift, together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Beat together sugar, molasses and oil.  Beat in eggs until mixed.  Add flour mixture and beat just until incorporated.  Add oatmeal mixture and vanilla, stirring to mix well but not over mix.  

Pour batter in bundt pan and cook for 20 - 30 minutes.  It's done when toothpick comes out clean.  Always check before earliest time.  

Let cool for 20 minutes.  Run a plastic knife around edges, I use one of my twins old zoo pal knives,  ~smile~  Remove from pan onto serving plate or cooling rack. 

Top with ganache or dust with powdered sugar.  

Dark Chocolate Ganache

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup Hershey's Dark Special Chocolate Chips or semi sweet chips

Heat cream just until boil.  While heating but chocolate chips in a bowl. 

Once cream has come to a boil, pour over chocolate chips.

Whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth.

Spoon over cake.

Slice and enjoy warm or place in refrigerator to set chocolate. 

Shared on:

Weekend Potluck #41

Mocha Java Sorbet Made In Freezer

I am always looking for new frozen desserts.  It's summer and it's hot!  Okay, we eat frozen goodness all year.  Anyway, I was looking for a different one and found many for mocha java sorbet.   There are four of us that drink morning coffee.  The younger ones are more coffee flavored milk.  We like chocolate, too.  Hmmm, something for us to definitely try!  It turned out great!  Except...seems there is an exception a lot these days, I didn't have semi sweet chocolate squares and used milk chocolate chips instead.  Very chocolaty and yummy but the coffee is an aftertaste.  Use semi sweet if you are looking for more of a coffee taste or replace the water with coffee or both, which is what I will do next time.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Dark Chocolate Upside Down Cake

An old recipe my Grandma and Mama would make.  It's also known as Chocolate Cobbler.  Very simple yet wonderful.  It's just what your chocolate lovers are wanting!  A thin cake with a thick chocolate sauce. You can easily double this to make a thicker cake.  When ready to serve, cut a piece, flip it over with a spatula and see the amazement on faces gathered 'round.  

Enjoy!  Love and hugs! 

Dark Chocolate Cake

As always in our house, nobody can agree on what kind dessert, or anything for that matter, they want.  I did as I usually do and combine different ingredients of their requested food.  It tends to make a happy dessert for everyone.  I saw a recipe on the back of Hershey's Dark Cocoa..here is their recipe for Deep Dark Cake.  I adapted this recipe from theirs.  This cake is very moist and really does not need anything to top it.   The icing is great though.  We added it to cut pieces, each person topping their own.  I did find that this cake wasn't as thick as I wanted it so I made another cake that is reduced fat.  It turned out a little thicker.  I'll be sharing that one very soon.   I am making another one tonight cake tonight in an 8x8" pan and will let you know how it turns out.  <3 and hugs! 
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Chocolate Ice Cream Made In The Freezer

Who says you can't have ice cream without an ice cream maker!  I'm pretty certain as long as I keep making ice cream this way, I'll never get the ice cream maker I want either!  It's really easy to make the worst part is the wait.  Make it in the morning if you want it for the evening or the night before even for a really hard set.  The ice cream melted, once again, before I could take a picture.  It was hard set when it started.  ~smile~  Who wants ice cream?  <3 and hugs!

Chocolate Freezer Ice Cream

2 squares unsweetened chocolate, 1 oz each, chopped into small pieces

2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided

pinch salt

1 can condensed milk, chilled

Heat 1 cup cream until it gets hot but does not boil.

Take off heat and add chopped unsweetened chocolate, stirring until melted. 

Chill until completely cool.

Put condensed milk in large bowl.

Beat remaining 1 cup of cream with chilled cream and chocolate until firm peaks form. 

Do not over beat.

Fold into condensed milk and put in a loaf pan or shallow pan for faster freezing.  

Freeze at least 6 hours.  My freezer was opened at least one hundred times while trying to make this set.  It was soft serve at 4 hours.    Try at least 6 hours for a firm set. Enjoy!  <3 and hugs!

Can also be viewed here.

Thursday's Treasures Week 35

I am so happy to have Bobbi, Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen and Joan, Chocolate, Chocolate and More co-host this week!  Bobbi is such a wonderful friend and makes everything you could imagine..only better!  Joan is such a darlin' too!  She is the one to turn to for your best desserts..chocolate and more!  Please visit each of them, you will absolutely love them both!  I do! <3 <3
Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen on facebook and her amazing blog  Bobbi just started a linky party and oh, you have to see her Sammie while there!  Manic Monday
Joan's Chocolate, Chocolate and More on facebook  and the sweetest blog  Her Zucchini Bites look absolutely amazing!

The most viewed recipes of last week were The Better Baker's 

Deep Dish Gooey Cookie Pie 

Inside BruCrew Life 

White Chocolate Goo Goo Brownies

Love each and every one of the recipes shared with us last week.  Please feel free to share as many as you like.  <3  

Rules..Yeah, you know they are here.  

Follow each blog, facebook and pinterest so you can stay up to date.

Share the party..I know your friends will love it, too!  

Link back to your original recipe, not your blog.  

Visit others..they love company as much as we do.

Leave a comment when you visit, that's the neighborly thing to do.  

Please return each week, I love your smiling faces, treasures recipes and precious memories that sometimes accompany them.

Have a beautiful week, be good to yourselves and others!  <3 and hugs!

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

My boys drink a lot of milk and in their milk...they want chocolate!  I get so tired of paying for a little bit of syrup that doesn't last long.  At least when one certain twin makes his own!  ~smile~  I decided to make my own.  I gave it to the boys to try and they loved it and told me it was more chocolaty than their usual milk.  Yep, I'm a happy Mama.  <3 and hugs dear!

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

makes 1 pint

1 1/4 cups water

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups cocoa

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

    I thought I would try it and it worked.  

For a thinner syrup
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups sugar
pinch salt
1 cup water

Whisk dry ingredients together.  Add water and heat in microwave until your desired consistency.  Start with 1 1/2 minutes, stir and keep heating in 45 second intervals.  When it reaches your desired thickness..take out and let cool.  We like it thinner to make chocolate milk.

Stir water, sugar and cocoa until dissolved. Bring to a boil and then lower heat.  Keep stirring until it has thickened.  Add vanilla and cinnamon, if using.  

Put in a clean pint jar with a lid.  

Stir before using and add desired amount to milk, pour over ice cream or frozen yogurt, make milk shakes, drizzle on cake.  You get the idea!  Reid even wanted to put some on his pasta last night.  ~smiles~

Lucas put some on a peanut butter sandwich he made on a hot dog bun!  ~smile~
<3 and hugs! 

Cheesecake and Chocolate Pie

I made this for Mother's Day..problem,  I waited until late afternoon to make it.   Needless to say, there were a few unhappy people until I reminded them of the Lemon Fizz Cake I made the day before.   Their smiles came back.  ;D   I'm sorry for the lack of pictures.   I cannot find the ones I took while fixing it.  Hmmmm,  I wonder what became of them?  I'll post them when and if,  they are found.  In the mean time....enjoy this one!  <3 and hugs!

Cheesecake and Chocolate Pie

1 cup self rising flour

1 - 1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped to make 1/2 cup..more or less

3/4 stick margarine, melted

8 oz neufchatel cheese 

1 cup sugar or splenda

16 oz cool whip, lite o fat free - divided

2 small boxes instant sugar free chocolate pudding

2 to 2 1/4 cups milk

grated chocolate and/or chocolate chips to garnish

Here's how to make it

Mix flour, pecans and melted margarine.  Pat in pan and cook for preheated 350 degree F oven for 15 minutes.  Let cool.

While the crust is cooling, beat together cream cheese and sugar.  Fold in cool whip.  Spread on top of crust.

Beat pudding and milk together until thick.  Spread on top of cream cheese mixture.

Top with remaining cool whip.  Refrigerate 4 hours to overnight.   We like our frozen!  

An easy way to eat frozen pie!  Enjoy!  <3 and hugs! 

Chocolate Ricotta Cake w/Bittersweet Yogurt Icing

I found a recipe on the side of Sorrento's Ricotta container for The Best Chocolate Cake Ever.  I just had to try it to see if it was telling the truth.  Changing just a little bit from the original and now waiting to see how it turns out......It was wonderful and my boys were any the wiser of my switch!  My oldest said it was the best while my twins keep asking for it for breakfast!  As far as the icing (frosting) goes, well, let's say I came about it mistakenly by not having enough ingredients on hand when I started the cake.  My boys loved the bittersweet taste.   Get the ricotta out of the fridge, you have a cake to bake!  Enjoy!  <3 and hugs!

Fudge Pie

I ran across this old recipe the other day and knew my boys would love it.  Of course, I changed it a bit here and there, you know I do.  My hubby always asks me why..I usually don't have an answer that's just how I am.   For this pie, I changed it by cutting down on the sugar and margarine.  There was too much for me.  You can even start with 1 cup sugar to see if that is sweet enough as this is a sweet pie.  It tastes, and sets up like, fudge.  Enjoy!

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