Dark Chocolate Molten Cakes

Once a week Ricky and I like to experiment making fun desserts. For his birthday I got him some custard cups. We tested them out last night and found a new favorite. We made our own version of molten cake from various recipes we've seen. It was so yummy! The perfect ratio of cake to "molten" chocolate. It was perfect served straight from the oven with a scoop of ice-cream (or two or three) on top. It was even better than Chili's molten cakes. We had to dump the boys in the tub immediately after eating this because they were both covered in chocolate.


1 - 6.8 oz Dark Chocolate Hershey's Bar (milk chocolate would probably work too, but the dark was excellent)
1/2 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
3 eggs
6 Tablespoons flour

1. Preheat oven to 425. Spray four custard cups with cooking spray. Place cups on baking sheet.
2. Microwave chocolate and butter on HIGH one minute or until butter is melted. Stir with a whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in powdered sugar until blended. Blend in eggs. Stir in four.
3. Bake 13 minutes or until sides are firm but centers soft. Let stand one minute. Run small knife around edges to loosen cake. Invert cakes into dessert plates or bowls.
4. Serve with ice-cream.
   

How to Shop a Dollar Store

In our quest to live within our limited budget Ricky and I try to be as frugal as possible. We have found that shopping at the local dollar store saves us a lot of money. However, dollar stores are only great bargains if you know how to shop them. Here are the tips we've discovered for shopping dollar stores:

• Make a list before you shop: We like to keep a running list of the supplies we are running low on. That way when we head to the store we only get the items we actually need. Since everything is so cheap at a dollar store its easy to end up buying a lot more things than you need. Even at $1 a piece it can add up.
• Buy cleaning supplies: Most dollar stores offer name brand cleaning products for much cheaper than other stores. We buy window cleaner, dish soap, furniture polish, and other cleaners at the dollar store. Avoid cleaners with weird names like "LA's Totally Awesome stain remover" and things like that. Stick the names you know.
• Buy bath supplies: You can get great deals on shaving gels, bubble bath, hair brushes and combs, hair gel, toothbrushes, bath grips (so kids don't slip and fall), bath toys, etc. Dollar stores tend to carry most of these items in name brands. We buy our toothbrushes at the dollar stores and see the same brushes in the regular stores.
• Buy children's seasonal toys: You can find cheap sand pails, water toys, big rubber balls, Christmas toys, books, etc. Just make sure they are age appropriate and look sturdy enough for your child to play with.
• Buy craft supplies: Thing like felt, thread, coloring books, construction paper, finger paints, and other art and crafts supplies are cheap at dollar stores. We have used them for numerous projects.
• Be careful about buying food: Usually dollar store food isn't as fresh as buying from the grocery store. If you want to buy food, drinks, or candy just make sure to check the expiration and use-by dates. Make sure you can use the food quickly. We like to buy dollar store candy to make homemade ice-cream.
• Never buy batteries.
• Buy holiday decorations: If you want your house to look festive, but you don't have a lot of money dollar stores are the way to go. They have cute decorations for the right price. You can buy Christmas stockings, wrapping paper, garland, figurines, window clings, etc. You can also buy birthday banners, fun tablecloths, balloons and more.

Happy Shopping!

Cookie Dough Brownies

If you love brownies and cookie dough - you will love this!

Bottom Layer:
1 (9x13-inch size) brownie mix and ingredients listed on the back of the box
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Filling:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour

Topping:
1 Tablespoon butter
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Make brownies according to package directions. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into greased 9x13 pan. Bake 25 minutes or until done. Allow brownies to cool completely.
3. For the filling, mix butter and sugars together. Stir in milk and vanilla. Mix in flour. Spread filling evenly over cooled brownie layer.
4. In a small saucepan, melt butter and chocolate chips. Spread melted chocolate over filling. Refrigerate at least two hours. Keep refrigerated. Makes 24 brownies.

I'm a slacker

I know I've been a huge slacker this summer, but never fear, I will be back in business now that school is in session.