Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

I recently discovered this delicious recipe and have made it several times. My family loves it more than the pumpkin muffins I usually make, however it is more caloric (not always a bad thing, but for me it is) and with the chocolate far messier on children.

I tweaked the muffins a little by reducing the sugar and oil and using whole wheat flour. So I am sure that if you followed the recipe exactly the muffins would be even tastier (but far more caloric if you care about that). When I have made these I ended up with twenty muffins rather than eighteen, but that is okay because they never last more than 24 hours anyway.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate

Why is that combination just so good? My husband loves peanut butter M&Ms and I have mentioned how I like this dessert. Matilda has repeatedly posted links to Puppy Chow and every time I click on it I think, "Yum! I need to try that." Peanut butter and chocolate make such a great couple, someone should right a cookbook devoted to them. Maybe someone already has, but I haven't been able to find it.

The Loveliness of Comfort Drinks

The first weekend in autumn it starts to cool down my husband always says, "I'm cold. Let's have some cocoa." Then he gets out the saucepan and makes a scrumptious batch of hot chocolate. The recipe comes from his favorite cookbook. It is a wonderful treat he makes for us during the winter and my cleaning the pan is a small price to pay for it. :)

Hot Chocolate

4 C. Milk
¼ C. Powdered cocoa such as Hershey's (or use 2 squares of unsweetened baking cocoa, chopped)
¼ C. Sugar, or to taste
A pinch of salt
A dash of vanilla

Blend the dry ingredients with about ½ C milk over very low heat in a small saucepan, stirring until smooth. Stir in the rest of the milk, beating with a fork or wire whisk.

Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot. Add the vanilla, pour into cups and serve.

The Healthiest Cookies in the World

Or so my husband bills them. He calls them such because they have no sugar, only ¼ cup of honey, and the only fat is from the peanut butter and the oats. Of course, the raisins and concentrate also raise the fructose level of the cookies.

No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Mix these ingredients and bring to a boil:
¼ C. Honey
¼ C. Cocoa powder
¼ C. Orange juice concentrate
¾ C. Water
⅓-½ C. Raisins

Turn off stove and mix in:
⅓ -½ C. Peanut butter
½ tsp. Vanilla
2 ¾ C. Oats

Pat the mixture into a large pie pan, slice and enjoy.

Rocky Road

I found this recipe online a long time ago and liked it because it was so quick and easy. It is extremely sweet and rich so don't eat too much at once!

Rocky Road

2 C. chocolate chips
1 C. peanut butter
4 C. marshmallows

Heat chocolate chips and peanut butter in pan over a low heat until melted. Place chocolate chips in 9x9 inch pan and pour chocolate mixture over them. Stir thoroughly and enjoy.

N.B. This will be a very gooey dessert. If you would prefer it firmer, refrigerate for a couple hours before eating.

Starbucks Frappuccinos

Although neither my husband or I are coffee drinkers, we both like an occasional frappuccino from Starbucks. Between the milk, sugar, and chocolate or caramel syrup, the coffee flavor is diminished enough to enjoy it.

Given, however, that these cost more than three dollars each it is a rare treat for us. The blogger at It's Just Money was also lamenting the cost. He linked to this nifty site where they have a basic frap recipe as well as several Starbucks recipes which can be downloaded as an ebook. Similar recipes can be found here.

The best imitation frap site looks like it can be found at GourmetSleuth.com. It has a large collection of imitation Starbucks recipes which include other drinks and sweets that either are or have been sold there. I am sure that with all these options, my husband will be happy running the blender to taste test some of them.

Mocha Brownies

I found this recipe on Recipe*zaar and decided to try it because it is something that I have done before (brownies) and something new (mocha flavored). It was rated extremely well, which was added incentive since sometimes one has to be cautious about unrated or low rated recipes.

These turned out to be very moist and while the mocha flavor was definitely there, it wasn't too strong either. Most people who tried them thought them to be very good.

Mocha Brownies with Coffee Frosting

½ cup shortening
½ cup butter
1 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon hot water
4 teaspoons instant coffee
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup flour
½ teaspoon salt

Frosting
½ cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups confectioner's sugar
1 ½ tablespoons milk
2-3 teaspoons instant coffee

1. Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a 13x9 inch pan.
2. Melt shortening and butter over low heat or in the microwave.
3. Remove from heat and add cocoa, blend well.
4. Add sugar and mix well.
5. Dissolve instant coffee in hot water and mix into creamed mixture.
6. Add eggs one at a time, beat well, by hand, after each addition.
7. Stir in vanilla, flour, and salt.
8. DO NOT OVER BEAT!
9. Bake 25-30 minutes.
10. Cool completely before frosting.
11. For frosting, cream butter and vanilla.
12. Add powdered sugar and mix in well on medium speed.
13. Dissolve instant coffee in milk and add to mixture.
14. Beat on high until light and fluffy.