Chocolate Lava Cakes (For 2)

Quick (First Try) Video of Chocolate Lava Cakes. Never video raped before. I was just kinda playing around. Because I could. Lol

German Pancakes!

RECIPE - CLICK HERE

Quicky post, German pancakes... very good! easy peezy lemon squeezy! give a try!

Chocolate Souffle Cookies

XYLITOL FRIENDLY RECIPE! (make sugar free)

Souffle Cookies

That recipe (linked title above) was fabulous!

So rich and chocolatey! So soft inside!

It's a quick minimal ingredient fix. 

Melt Chocolate

Whip up egg whites/tartar

Add sugar, vanilla, nuts (opt)

Blend chocolate and whites

Once blended, spoon onto prepped cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven. 

Ours were not as pretty as hers, but they were oh my gosh tasty!

I'm obsessed with thinking about them now. 

Definitely worth the mess I made. :) 

Rich Fudge Frosting

Easy Sour Cream Fudge Frosting

Easy rich frosting? Melt chocolate in double broiler like typical ganache, let cool, then mix in sour cream and confectioners sugar until right. 

here.....from my fave ppl.. Williams Sonoma

• 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 10 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar

Directions:

In a medium-size, heavy saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and cream. Heat, stirring frequently, until the butter melts. Add the chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; let cool to barely lukewarm, about 8 minutes.

Whisk in the sour cream until fully combined. Then whisk in the confectioners' sugar. Let stand until thick enough to spread, about 10 minutes. If the frosting becomes too stiff to spread, rewarm briefly over low heat and whisk again until smooth.

For mocha flavor: Add 1 Tbs. instant espresso powder or regular coffee powder to the butter and cream.

For peppermint flavor: Whisk 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract into the frosting before adding the confectioners' sugar.

For tangerine flavor: Whisk 1 Tbs. grated tangerine zest into the frosting before adding the confectioners' sugar

Makes about 2 2/3 cups.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library Series, Cakes, Cupcakes & Cheesecakes, by Sarah Tenaglia (Time-Life Books, 1995).

Dinner Time Blues

The self professed "queen of dinners", (me, being dramatic) has caught a hard case of the blues! 

With the changing varied schedule and tight times, my dinner days are a fond memory. I have not been able to play and cook alot of REAL dinners since usually hubby works nights and when he is home our pockets are empty and cupboards are bare. Well, not bare bare, but not well stocked. We are reduced to cheap quick food, esp since his days off often turn into a whole day of errands. 

So when I have free time (or even when I'm suppose to be doing something and I'm procrastinating) I daydream of cooking. Hubs and I will talk about what we WANT to make, but then he gets overwelmed by costs and work stress and we end up with the cheap easy stuff. Makes it a tad harder to EAT RIGHT, when your just eating what you can afford. 

Occasionally I'll bake a sweet, but I miss cooking REAL MEALS!

LIKE :

pulled BBQ sammiches

cheesy chicken and broccoli cassarole

chicken adobo

cornbread with chunky chili 

fried chicken, i'm known for

biscuit topped chicken pot pie (southern thing)

etc... roasts, mac n cheese, stews, and so much I miss making! ahhh!

but soon, if wallets permit!

SOON!

LD

Breakfast Cookies

Almost a variant name for a fancy oatmeal cookie. The idea of these has gotten quite popular these days. As a busy on-the-go society, we need grab-n-go food. And the concept of a cookie can really take a quick breakfast far! you can stick all kinds of things in them! I guess we all get tired of muffins and bars. As well cereal and fruit. So why not mix it up with a healthy-ish cookie?

Yup healthy! These can be as healthy, or fattening, as you wish. On a typical 1-10 scale, I'd say 3-6 would be the best fat range. To lite and they won't be quite as scrumptious. Remember, if your going to eat sugar and fat, breakfast is the best time to do it! (balanced, not just that)

These are creative cookies. They leave plenty of room for your personal touch. Its your basic chocolate chip or oatmeal cookie recipe, cut some fat out, replace with mashed bananas and applesauce, through in some nuts, oats, dried fruit, chocolate, whatever. Some of the better sounding ingridients to a gal with my picky taste buds (don't like fruit much, esp dried) would be toasted coconut, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, flax, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, soy protein powders, chocolate chips, maybe dried cranberries. etc. I'd also probably have to up the applesauce to banana ratio, If I taste banana in the food, I'll be done with it. 

I plan on taking this idea and running with it myself. I'd encourage anyone to give it a try! Best you start with a recipe to work off of, and replace as close as possible to what is replaceable. I'll include a few below as options. (googled "breakfast cookies" to find)

Elle's Breakfast Cookies

Healthified PB Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

King Arthur Breakfast Cookies

Ok, well, thats all for now. I can't say I'll get to try my ideas out soon, as I will be "dukan-ing" the next few weeks/months. I start next week, as this week we are not properly equipped (groceries) to do so now. I will be adding a section to my "Cooky's Diets" tab about Dukan to further explain it later. I hope despite my not jumping on the breakfast cookie bandwagon that won't hinder, as I do plan on it as SOON as i'm allowed by Dukan.

PS - You might ask, "Why is she adding ANOTHER diet in the mix?" Well, I don't typically follow a certain one, I mix knowledge from the ones that I feel fit my life and situation best. At the moment, I'm having trouble with ANY AND ALL sugars, carbs, and starches PERIOD. Its causing a flare up of my Candida (stomach, digestive, etc), which feeds off so many things. And never fully goes away. It is also responsible for some food allergies and intolerances. well, the GENERAL RULE for killing them off is to eat certain veggies and protein, and not only does my blood type diet agree with this (for 0) but Dukan goes right with it. It be a great opportunity to cleanse my system (holding off cal counting temp) and really tone my muscles. Since I'll be eating so much muscle building and feeding foods. 

In short, its for my health, so I can enjoy food and cooking again. Right now I can't eat anything (of specified above) without getting so ill. So I look forward to fixing it. As well as to being toned. 

But, I really look forward to playing with these ideas. I love the idea of creative cooking! 

Quick and Easy, Diet Friendly Treats

Quick Foods, That WON'T Bust Your Diet!

It is said by many that we should eat more than 3 times per day. Admitably, this is not easy to do! Three times fits better in a busy schedule than 6 does!  Espcially with the "every 2 hours" and "no eating 2-3 hours before bed" rules adding to it. And if that was not enough, your trying to "stay healthy", for whatever reason. Be it intolerance, diet, fitness, illness, etc. So now you gotta fit all these rules together in a timely neat lil' package!

Easier said than done!

there are however, a few things I can reccomend to those of you who are ok with the types of foods I'll be listing. Who are likely to be on a lesser restrictive diet or plan. 

Like...

Nuts

Try them mixed with things. Many kinds many flavors, and unless your allergic to all nuts, most people have at least one they like to eat. Nuts are loaded with (listen carefuly to the first ford here..) HEALTHY fats. YES THATS RIGHT - HEALTHY! Your body actually NEEDS fats to function properly, so don't hold out on it! These fats help digestion, brain power, hair/skin/nails, blood cholestoral levels, and more! 

Ideas? I like a simple quick fix, I mix 2/3 (or up two twice as much) Emeralds Cocoa Roast Almonds, with Ghirardelli's 60% Cocoa Chocolate Chips in a baggie and munch away! You can either set up serving size amount by calories, or, like me, just munch (or "graze") whenever you get a chocolate craving. This method can be applied to all kinds of mixes! Look up recipes for ideas. Like almond cherry granola mix. Or walnuts and dried fruit. Peanuts are full of protien so through them in. Toasted, shelled, seasoned, whatever you like! 

Fruit and Wine? 

According to the show "The Doctors", one of the healthiest (as well romantic, yummy and enjoyable) snacks you can eat, esp ladies, is chocolate (pref dark) dipped fruit and red wine. You can chocolate dip just about any fruit for this. Or just eat the fruit fresh with the wine. For added calcium you can pick a matching cheese (you can pick healthy like mozzarella, swiss, feta, etc.) , especially since fruit is not very filling. Very hydrating and great for your skin and body, but not filling. But if your watching calories, you can stick to just the fruit and wine if you would prefer. 

Spread and crackers

Get yourself some great crackers, be they wheat, multigrain, seed, butter, soda crackers, or graham. You can put everything from various nut butters to various dips. Or even pita chips, or other chip variety  There are yogurt dips, tuna spreads, veggies spreads and dips, bean dips, hummus, onion dip, even healthy versions of various cheese dips. Just about anything can be made into a dip or spread. Bananas and a couple other fruits like avocado, most veggies like squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, onion, spinach, corn even, most meats, all cheeses, and any beans available just about! Also, anything can be added into a dip. Nuts, fruits, veggies, whatever! So you can either buy some or look up recipes and make your own. Either way, with so many options it shouldn't be hard to stay within your diet/plan rules if you must!

Smoothie

Smoothies are relatively simple. Loud, but simple - and fairly quick to boot.

A simple smoothie is basically made up of fruit, yogurt and juice/milk.

Smoothie recipes can be found far and wide! you can made chocolate, pb, even veggie ones... eew, but you could. Healthy (if you make it that way) and yummy!

Grab and Go?

Try pre-packaged items, or easy to grab fruit. There are a wide assortment of healthy "bars" you can find. Even the picky people can often find one that fits them. Or make if you can't! there are recipes! There are vita-cookies and muffins. There are low-no sugar packaged fruits. Or just the real deal fresh! Fresh veggies can be a grab and go if there are ones you like. Example, celery, carrots, radishes (hubby eats them raw), etc. We enjoy pre-packaged mozzarella sticks (string cheese) as a great grab and go. There are nutrition shakes, liquid food i guess you can call it, like ensures or special k's version. Pre-packaged crackers (healthy), or nuts. Just make sure you steer clear of tempting processed fat filled options! 

Salads

these CAN be quick and easy! Unless your my husband! (acts like each one he makes is going to a photoshoot or art gallery...takes FOREVER placing EAH peace JUST SO. lol) 

Start with a basic leaf and add anything! Fruit, other veggies, cheese, meats, breads, beans, nuts, seeds, etc. Then top with a dressing that won't turn this salad into the calorie equivant or a big mac, and TADA!

ALSO, salads can be made of fruits, beans, eggs, meats, and pastas. so just look up ideas or play! Keep in mind your trying to be healthy!

Dessert anyone?

Not all desserts have to be evil! There are so many people out there creating ways to eat dessert healthy! Like the above Black Forest Trifle, for example! an easy quick fix! Get healthy brownies, berries, whipped cream and sugar free dark chocolate pudding and its easy peazy! One of my faves is to take the whip cream and sugar free pudding and make instant mousse! 

There are pre-packaged healthy desserts everywhere now. Most common ones say "100 calorie" or "low fat" or something on them. Or google search healthy dessert recipes (or click that) and it can open a world of new recipes and ideas! Even if its simply buying soy icecream or frozen low fat yogurt. In fact the ice cream isle has a few lines of healthy options! Or try this - Eating Well has a list of quick and healthy ideas! So don't limit yourself!

I hope that this has helped you see that the two or three missing meals from your schedule do NOT have to be a burden or unpleasant. They can be simple, quick and yummy!

Have a blessed day!

LD