Chocolate Pudding Cake

On this cold and blustery night, I had a craving for a childhood favourite. It's very fast and easy to make. We like it best hot; almost right from the oven: A light chocolate cake, with pudding magically beneath.

1 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp oil

3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa

1 3/4 boiling water

Mix together flour, powder, cocoa and optional nuts then stir in milk and oil. Spread mixture into a 9x9 pan.

Mix together brown sugar and cocoa. Sprinkle on top of cake batter.

Pour hot water over batter/topping.

Bake at 350' for 45 minutes.

Let cool slightly.

You can serve with ice cream.

Thirteen on the 13th - January

Instead of a 'Twelve on the 12th' series (that I did in 2012), I'm planning
to do a 'Thirteen on the 13th' series for 2013. This was created using
supplies from the Everyday Life digital kit from The Daily Digi that you
receive free for being a subscriber.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg

1 cup + 2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

chocolate chips
Skor bits (optional)
chopped pecans (optional)

Cream together shortening and sugars. Add vanilla and eggs. Mix well. Blend in dry ingredients. Add chocolate chips and, optionally, Skor bits and chopped pecans.

Drop by teaspoonsful onto parchment-lined baking sheets.

Bake at 350' for 8-12 minutes.

Enjoy!

I usually double or quadruple the recipe while I have everything out. I often make some with just chocolate chips, then add in some Skor bits and finally some with pecans too. It will depend on the preferences of those who will be eating them.

Peanut Butter Cookies

I donated a year's worth of tasty treats in a United Way fundraising auction at work. It went for over $200. Nancy's kindly volunteered to help. She'll do a few of the monthly batches. I made the November batch: peanut butter cookies; half with chocolate chips.

Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
chocolate chips (optional; mini or regular semi-sweet; mini Hersey's peanut butter cups are also a yummy addition)

Mix together shortening, peanut butter and sugars. Add egg. Mix together dry ingredients then add to moist mixture. Add chocolate chips. Form into 1" ball and place on cookie tray (I love using parchment paper-lined sheets so I don't have to wash the cookie trays afterwards). Flatten with fork. Bake at 350' for 8-12 minutes depending on your oven and how well you like them baked.

I usually double the recipe (just as easy since I have all the ingredients out).

I hope you enjoy trying to make some.

I package up 4 dozen of them and kept a few for my family to try. Neither Heidi nor Roland are fond of peanut butter, so it may just be Stefan that wants some, so I may have a few extras to share at work (since I'm trying to avoid sweets this month).

Sewing Pocketed Sheet Protectors

I'm making my own 6x8" divided sheet protectors. I have some old binders (surplus from the office) that they happen to fit in.

Get Fit - Stay Fit

One of my sporadic fitness pursuits is running. I did a few triathalons way back in the early 90s. I've participated in a few Running Room clinics over the years and have run a few 5k and 10k races. My most recent 10k race (a New Year's Eve Resolution Run) was 31 December 2009 followed on 24 January 2010 by my first (and only) half marathan - aptly called the Hypothermic Half. With my 50th birthday coming up in next summer, time is running out (no pun intended) to get my ass in gear - to get fit - and (this time) - to stay fit! Today a Big Idea Festival prompt challenged me to document a dream: one is to complete a marathon before I turn 50. My 20 minute run today is a step in that direction. (September 6, 2012)

Created using a bonus template from Jenn Lindsay that was available in the September 2012 Digi Files (at the Daily Digi) and paper from the August 2012 Digi Files Malihini Kit by Wishing Well Creations whose products are available at The Digi Chicks. The Big Idea Festival is a free 14 day workshop available at Big Picture Classes.

Cooked with Love by Oma

Oma is always cooking up a storm - at home and, most certainly, at the cottage when we're up for a visit. There is a good reason the children coined the name 'Castle Oma' for Kurt and Poldi's cottage on the Pickerel River. Oma lovingly spoiles us all, but mostly Heidi and Stefan. When they were young, she used to serve them breakfast in front of the television. I think she misses those days now that Heidi and Stefan sleep in and get themselves breakfsat. There aren't many 'eggie dogs' served these days. Homemade jam on toast still remains a favourite as do her homemade muffins. Whether Oma is cooking up Austrian specialities like rouladen, goulassh or snitzel, dinners disappear in a flash. Fish, sometimes caught by Stefan (or by their neighbour, Ron) is a recent addition to the menu. Desserts, featuring handpicked blueberries are always enjoyed. It's too bad that there have been so few berries to be found in her favourite picking spots over the past several years. Much of what Heidi and Stefan know about cooking and baking they have learned while up here at Castle Oma. (Photos 2003, 2004 and 2005. Journalling summer 2012)

Created using the Kitchen Tales kit (in June 2012 Digi Files) by Sherwood Studio whose products are available at Digi Chicks.