Chocolate Cake In A Mug

My mother-in-law just sent me this recipe, and we kind of like it. Since it's microwaved, it was a bit chewy (maybe we cooked it too long?). My brother-in-law and my kids hated it. My husband liked it. It's much better eaten warm with ice cream than later when it's cool.

(Serves 2)
1 mug
4 Tbsp regular flour
4 Tbsp sugar
Dash salt
2 Tbsp baking cocoa
1 egg
3 Tbsp milk
3 Tbsp oil
3 Tbsp chocolate chips
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug & mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips and vanilla and mix again. Put mug in microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed. Allow to cool a little, tip out onto a plate and enjoy! (Needs ice cream.)

Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream

This is straight from the Ben & Jerry's cookbook, except I cook the mixture because I worry about raw eggs. It makes one quart this way, but I doubled it for more people and because more mixture works better in a larger ice cream maker.

1/4 C unsweetened cocoa
3/4 C sugar
1 and 1/2 C milk
2 eggs
1 oz dark or unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 C heavy or whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract (Mexican?)
1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
1 and 1/2 C crumbled gingersnap pieces

Mix cocoa, sugar, milk, and eggs in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate. Stir in cinnamon, vanilla, and cream. Cool for a few hours in fridge (with plastic wrap pressed on the surface of the custard). Mix in ice cream maker according to directions. Add cookie pieces during last two minutes of mixing time.

Baked Donuts!

So, this is not really a dinner recipe, but it's one of our favorites! You will LOVE these... so easy and delicious! I would make a bet that you literally can't eat just one! Serve these warm with milk ~ YUMMY!

4 tsp active dry yeast

1/4 c warm water

1 1/2 c milk

1/2 c sugar

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinamon

2 eggs

1 tsp nutmeg

1/3 c shortening

4 1/2 c flour

1/4 c butter, melted

Scald milk and allow to cool to lukewarm. In large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water (6-10 min.). Add milk, sugar, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, eggs, shortening, and 2 c flour. Blend on low speed, scraping constantly. Beat 2 min. on medium speed. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise until doubled (50-60 min.). Turn dough on well-floured board, roll dough about 1/2" thick. Cut donuts, brush with melted butter. Cover and let rise until doubled (20 min.). Heat oven to 425 degrees. Bake 8-10 min. until golden brown. Spread with creamy glaze.

Creamy Glaze

1/3 c butter

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 c powdered sugar

2-3 Tbps water

Melt butter. Blend in powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir water in 1 Tbps at a time until well mixed and blended.

**If using for baked donuts, you'll need to make a few batches of this recipe.

Black Bean Brownies

What is that you say? Well, I thought the same thing until I tried it. They are not as rich as regular brownies, but they are still quite good and a "little" more healthy for you.

1 box brownie mix
1 can black beans

Blend black beans in blender until pureed. Place beans back in can and add water till full to top of can.
Add to brownie mix (DO NOT need to add the eggs, water or oil)
Bake in pan according to directions on box.

Banana Bread

Several people have asked for the recipe for my banana bread so here it is:

1c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. warm water
3 mashed bananas
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. brown sugar
Ground cinnamon

Cream together sugar and butter. Add egs, vanilla, water, and bananas. Mix together salt, baking soda, and flour; add to banana mixture.
Pour into loaf pan. Top with brown sugar and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Bake at 350 for 60 to 70 minutes. Makes 1 large loaf.
To make 2 large loaves, double everything except water; increase water to 1 1/2 cups.