CHOCOLATE...My 1st LOVE:)

Ahhhhhh.....Heaven, I'm in HEAVEN!!!!!!

What's not to love about Chocolate.....MOLTEN/MELTING....Cake?????????  

I just had to make these....made me feel better today!!!!  You know, when you need a little uplifting from a sad mood.....this will do the trick....for a while at least:/

You will need: 

1/4 cup of flour

3/4 cup of butter

3/4 cup of granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon of salt

4 room temperature eggs

3/4 cup of dark chocolate pieces 

1 tbsp of hot coffee

1tsp of vanilla

4 to 6 ramekins greased and ready for baking

1 large sheet pan for baking

Oven temperature 390 degrees

In a saucepan, melt the chocolate and butter together until smooth. Then add in the sugar and eggs until well blended, then gradually add in the vanilla and coffee mixture. Next add the flour and salt just until mixed. Pour into greased ramekins and place in the oven for no longer than 14 minutes.  

You will be so glad that you did!!!!! YUMMY!!! Enjoy with a scoop of ice cream, freshly whipped cream or any additional chocolate gooeyness that you would like to add.  If you want to make yourself think that you are being healthy, you could add some strawberries or raspberries for an additional fruity goodness!

I also like to mix it up sometimes with variations of this recipe....like mocha, mexican hot chocolate, orange liquor and mint!!!! So yummy....be versatile!

Oh, Do You Know The Muffin Man....Muffin Man....Muffin Man????

That song will forever be in my head due to the fact that my oldest daughter was a BARNEY lover and still is....AND....I was a 1st grade teacher for many years!!! I can't tell you how many times I've heard that song in my lifetime!!!!....anyway....

Today.....it's about all things MUFFIN!!!!

From the basic muffin recipe....to variations on the muffin recipe!!!  Hmmmm....NOTE TO SELF....this day is probably not going to help reduce my personal "muffin top".....might have to go to the gym twice today!!!!

BASIC RECIPE:

In a mixing bowl, combine these 4 ingredients and make a well in the center for the wet ingredients.
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup of sugar
3 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt

In another bowl, combine these 3 ingredients and pour into the well of the dry ingredients.  Combine with a fork and DO NOT over mix.  The batter should be on the thicker side....and lumpy.

1 beaten egg
1/4 cup of vegetable oil
1 cup of milk

            

At this point....you can scoop them in paper lined baking cups and place in a muffin tin and bake them in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes if you want plain muffins, or you can "spice" them up a little with variations of flavors!!!!  Today, I'm baking sweet and savory muffins!!!! YUM!!!!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins and Cheddar Thyme Muffins!!!

I separated the batter into two equal amounts in different bowls.  To the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip batter, I added 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of oatmeal.  Mix to combine....careful not to over mix!

To the Cheddar Thyme batter, I added 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, 1tsp more of salt and 1 tsp of chopped fresh thyme.  Mixing to combine.

These are absolutely YUMMY!!!!  NOTE:  Please do NOT over mix.....very important!!!! The muffins will be tough and not as fluffy and yummy as you would like....so DON'T OVER MIX!!!

Oh, Yes I know the muffin man who lives on Drury Lane!!!!....