Chocolate Cake in a Cup

This is the perfect recipe for anyone who a) likes chocolate, b) likes cake, and c) likes chocolate cake.  I will confess that this is Tabetha's recipe.  I found out that she acquired the recipe while online one day and then was making these for herself when she was  home alone.  That girl is smart I tell you.  It's like a mini little party by yourself with very little evidence left behind for others to notice.  She also makes these for the kids she babysits.  Is it a bribe to get them to want her to babysit again?  Could be.  Smart remember.  She finally made one for me the other day and mmmmmmm was it good.
You want me to just get to the recipe already.  Okay, here it is:

Chocolate Cake in a Cup

1 T. + 2 t. cocoa powder

3 T. flour

dash of salt

1T. + 2t. sugar

1/4 t. baking powder

1T. oil

3 T. milk

1/4 t. vanilla

Mix all ingredients in a mug.  Then sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Cook in the microwave for 30 seconds.  Voila!  It's done, and it's so quick and easy.   Tabetha says it won't look cooked from the top but it is.  Enjoy!

My Healthy New Life Day 4

Maybe I should start recording my videos before I get so tired.  Maybe then I wouldn't be slurring all my words together.  

Here is green smoothie recipe I promised you:

Kim's Craving

3 med. carrots

1/2 lime (peeled)

1 pear (peeled, and seeds removed)

1 apple (peeled, and seeds removed)  The reason I am peeling the apples is that I didn't buy organic apples 

1 avocado (peel and pit removed)

2 handfuls of spinach

Water

Mix in blender until smooth

Here is another recipe that was good.  I made this on Sunday night when I was craving tomato soup.  I thought I might heat it up a bit, but I ended up really enjoying it cold.

Tomato soup smoothie  

4 med tomatoes

3 celery stalks

1/2 cucumber (peeled)

1/4 t. minced garlic

1-2 t. chopped onion

a sprinkle of dried basil

water

Mix in blender until smooth

I can't believe that tomorrow will be day 5 already.  

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Last week I made some strawberry rhubarb jam, with rhubarb from my very own back yard.  Oh, it turned out so good!  This was the first time I have ever made jam that wasn't freezer jam.  It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. 
First I sterilized the jars.  I found out how to do that here,  and I read about how to make jam here.

After, I sterilized the jars I cut up the strawberries,

and the rhubarb.

Doesn't that look pretty?

After I cut up the rhubarb I decided to chop it up really fine in my little food processor.  I like jam that isn't chunky.  If you like chunky jam, you can skip that part.

Then I mixed them together in my big kettle. 

Next came 4 cups of sugar. 

The next step is to stir it.  It starts to get all syrupy and gooey.  Once it gets all gooey, bring it to a boil over medium heat and let boil for 15 minutes while stirring constantly.  Also, after it had cooked for a while I smashed it up with my potato smasher to make it even less chunky. 

After it has boiled for 15 minutes remove it from the heat, and add a package of strawberry jello.  Stir until dissolved.  Then pour jam into jars, and add the lids.

The final step is place the jars in a kettle of water, this is called a water bath, and bring to a boil.   Boil for 15 minutes.

Wall La!  Homemade strawberry, rhubarb jam. 

Here is the recipe I used:  (kind of)

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB JAM

4 c. rhubarb (I didn't have quite this much so I used more strawberries)
4 c. sugar
1 box frozen strawberries or raspberries (I used fresh)
1 (3 oz.) box strawberry or raspberry Jello
Mix rhubarb, berries, and sugar. Stir until it forms its own juice. Cook for 15 minutes after it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and add Jello. Stir until dissolved. Put in jars. Seal or freeze. The jam will keep in the refrigerator for several months.

I also found this recipe helpful. 

What do you do when you want more rhubarb jam, but you are out of rhubarb?  Ask for rhubarb donations on the local freecycle Yahoo group.

I'm going to be busy making a lot more jam.  I should even have enough for some rhubarb crisp and muffins .  Oh, maybe some rhubarb muffins with homemade strawberry rhubarb jam on them.  My mouth is watering already. 

It's a Thanksgiving Tradition at Our House

to make peanut butter balls, and guess who is helping this year.




It's me, Mya, and I'm so cute!





All you need to make peatnut butter balls is:
1/2 cup of peanut butter
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 bag or chocolate chips





First, mix the peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar together.





Then roll the mix into balls.  This is 2 times the recipe.



but, we usually make 4 times the recipe, cuz they're so so good.





Next, you melt the chocolate chips over very low heat, and dip the balls in the chocolate.





MMmmmmmmmmm!  They're good!





Don't believe me, just ask Hannah.





They are so good that later when everyone was getting ready for bed, I sneeked into the kitchen and helped myself to a few more.

Yumm!

Did you know the awesome girls in my family have a family recipe blog where we share our new favorite recipes with everyone?
Check it out here
where I posted the recipe for this awesome
homemade granola.

Doesn't it look good? And guess what, it is oh, so easy.

Thank You!!

I have been using this recipe for years now. These are my absolute favorite pancakes. Cathy Crane included this recipe in a cookbook the Benningtion Relief Society Sisters put together years and years ago. I have used it so many times that my page ripped out of the book. I now have it included in our family cookbook so I can have it forever.
Here's to you Cathy and Stuart Crane. Thank you for giving us the best pancake recipe ever. We have become spoiled. We will never enjoy pancakes from a mix because of you. We think of you every time we eat these golden delicious pancakes. You, Cathy and Stuart, will live on in our hearts forever. Thank you.

Stuart's Pancakes

1 1/3 C. flour

2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

2 T. oil

2 T. sugar

1 C. milk

1 egg

Mix together. Gradually add a little more milk if batter is too thick. (I make 4 times the recipe when I make them)

Mom's Syrup

2 C. sugar

1 C. water

1 t. maple flavoring

Combine ingredients and bring to a boil over high heat. When the syrup boils it will bubble up, when the bubbles go back down turn heat off.