So I decided today to make something with chocolate in it…mostly because I wanted to give Gabey some…is that weird? I have been planning stuff for his 1st birthday, and there was a lot of talk about the kind of cupcakes I am going to make (because I don’t want to do a cake. I think it will be nicer to let Gabriel have his very own cupcake.) So yeah, I decided to bake. But I didn’t know what I wanted to make. I looked at some recipes. I thought about it. I looked some more. Then I said “screw it,” and threw a bunch of crap into a bowl. ***note: This is really dumb. You should never just make something up when baking. Baking is a science. Leave the experimenting for Organic Chemistry. Or..you know…dinner.
That being said…I am a genius. (Or just really lucky. ;)) First things first…this recipe made THE TASTIEST BATTER EVER. Seriously. I mean, like, you could trade out for those fake eggs, or, hell, omit the egg and just eat the batter. It’s that good. Anyway, I threw a bunch of stuff together, took a look at the batter and said, “hmm…it’s too thick for cake, and too thin for cookies…I think it seems like muffin batter.” So I threw some paper liners into my muffin pan and scooped the batter into the cups using an ice cream scoop. (This made 9 muffins. I know it’s a weird amount…but like I said…I made this up. Sue me.) Put it in the oven and voila! Really really good chocolate muffins. Here is the recipe:
Choco Muffins
Ingredients:
1/8 cup (or slightly more) dark chocolate chips (melted)
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 tbsp butter
1 capful vanilla
1/3 cup sour cream
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon black cocoa
pinch salt
Pre-heat oven to 350. Mix together wet ingredients. Add dry ingredients. Don’t over mix. Scoop into muffin cups. Bake for 17-20 min or until a cake tester comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 5 mins then remove and let cool on a rack. Eat.
(easiest recipe EVER.) They were so yummy – the tops came out almost marzipan-y…which is weird because there is no almond paste in this. But it was this nice chewy top. If you really like chocolate, you could add some chocolate chips to the batter at the end for chocolate chocolate muffins. You could theoretically sub regular cocoa for black cocoa but it won’t be the same. Black cocoa is super rich and strong and MUST be used sparingly. Also it is unsweetened. I kind of love it.
So that’s it. Gabey and I just shared one, and we enjoyed it so much I decided I needed to post the recipe. Enjoy!
–Marn
P.S. This is totally random, but does anyone find the ‘lessons’ in Ni Hao, Kai-Lan a little ridiculous? For example, if you are doing better than your friends at something, you should patronize them? I mean, they don’t actually say that, but in this one episode, the little Tiger guy was better at sports than the rest of the little friends, and made them all feel bad, so he decided to be nice to them instead of bragging. Now I don’t have a problem with that, but they were doing this sport where they had to roll an egg in a line and whoever got to the finish line first won. So when the Tiger won, he was “nice” by saying things like, “you’re going so fast” to the guy in 3rd place, and “you’re rolling in a really straight line” to the little guy in last place. I mean, really? Way to make me feel good, Tiger. (What’s his name anyway? ahh, Rintoo!) Thanks, Rintoo, really…i don’t mind losing a bit now! Ridiculous. (Sorry, total tangent.) I really like Wonder Pets though. Ming Ming rules. And with that… 😉
Mad as a March Hare 