New Favorite: Molten Chocolate Cakes

We had this rich, dark dessert tonight...I love that it makes one small cake for each family member. No chance of overindulging with a second (or third) helping! We were wishing for some vanilla ice cream and/or some whipped cream and/or some kind of berries to top the cakes. But they were plenty good on their own. Mmmmmmmm.

Molten Chocolate Cakes

1 c. plus 2 T. cocoa powder

1 c. plus 1 T. butter

1 1/2 powdered sugar

1/2 c. flour

3 whole eggs

3 egg yolks

Grease 6 custard cups or soufle dishes. Place on baking sheet. [Deb's note: I used small coffee mugs.]
Melt cocoa and butter in double boiler or microwave. Stir until completely combined. Add powdered sugar and flour; mix well. Add whole eggs and egg yolks. Whisk or mix w/electric mixer until well blended. Divide batter evenly among custard cups.
Bake @ 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until cakes are firm around edges and soft in the middle. Let stand one minute. Run a knife around cakes to loosen [I did not need to do this...] Carefully invert onto dessert plates. Garnish as desired. [We dusted w/powdered sugar...]

Twenty-five Random Facts

A prompt to compose this list has been going around Facebook (apologies to fellow Facebook-ers who've seen most of this previously as '17 random things'). I thought I'd post it here too. I'd love to know twenty-five random things about those of you who are not presently on FB or who haven't posted theirs on FB yet. Send me an email with your twenty-five! Here are mine:

1. I heartily dislike dark cold winters, but love a good snowfall.

2. The person I admire most is my husband, David. He pretty much rocks.

3. I really like my butter bell. http://butterbell.com/

4. I'm HORRIBLE at most math. Except I'm good at figuring out the tip...no calculator needed.

5. Caramel has replaced chocolate in my favorites repertoire.

6. I love being near the ocean...(why am I landlocked?...oh, yeah, to be near my most amazing hubby...)

7. My home is full of deep colors - no neutrals here.

8. I paint almost all my ceilings the same color as the walls.

9. I have walked in two 'Race for the Cure's, done the running part in a team-mini-triathlon, and walked a half-marathon, and hope to do more races this year...not to win, but just to have fitness motivation.

10. I really like Listerine.

11. I stink at drawing, keeping up with housework & staying calm when our kids are hurt.

12. I really like our new French Press for coffee.

13. I play about 9 chords on the guitar and wish I owned one.

14. Stealing a line from Chariots of Fire: I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me a singer. And when I sing I feel His pleasure.

15. I gave my life to Jesus at a Bible club held at Dossin Elementary School (public), Detroit, MI, in 1969. (2nd grade)

16. Even though I've known Him for forty years now, (forty! shoo-wee!) I'm still amazed that the Lord loves me and has forgiven me.

17. I've lived in Virginia, New York, Michigan, California, Colorado & Nebraska.

18. Walnuts are part of my daily life...they are the protein in my morning oatmeal and if I have a bowl of ice cream, I love a small handful sprinkled over the top. Oh, yeah.

19. I'm thrilled and scared to death to be singing with the Omaha Symphony one night this coming summer.

20. I love art of all kinds and love to create (just don't ask me to sketch anything...see #11).

21. I hope to make a quilt someday. I've made rag quilts, but not yet a 'real' quilt.

22. That our two oldest girls are the closest of friends is one of the biggest blessings of my life.

23. Since I was little, I have been terribly motion-sick. I hate flying, riding in cars, boats, trains and playground swings, but I love rollercoasters. They do not make me sick. Go figure.

24. Not my forte: video games, tent camping, staying organized, sudoku.

25. I'm amazing at Balderdash, Speed Scrabble & Catch Phrase. Fear me.

Thanks for reading my randomness!

Farewell to Bella

We put Bella down on February 27th. We are missing her greetings - after coming in from our downstairs garage, she'd meet you at the top of the steps and wag her hiney and give her doggy smile. We are missing the way she used to sit on our feet when we sat on the couch! We are not missing her trash-picking or undie-eating ways! She was such a neurotic freak, but so much a part of our family for 7 1/2 years. Strange to dislike and love a dog so much. She was really the first dog I ever really learned to love just a few years ago. (see porque dogblog from 4/20/08) I'm glad we have lots of goofy pics of her. She was a sweet girl and it's tough getting used to being without her.