Mom on the Make

Finding fun amidst the chaos of Motherhood

Chocolate Delight Cookies

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One of my most favorite Christmas cookies growing up were the Chocolate Delights that my Mom would whip up every December.

These special cookies were only for Christmas time.

The combination of different textures including corn flakes, candied dates, and pecans create a very unique cookie.

You do not need to turn on the oven for this recipe.  They only require a refrigerator, so they are very convenient to make at the same time as your other Christmas cookies.  There will not be a line for the oven.  🙂

chocolate delight cookies

Mix cornflakes, dates, pecans, and salt.

Add melted chocolate to dry mixture, and mix.

All mixed and ready to drop onto cookie sheets.

Place cookies in refrigerator.

Chocolate Delights

 
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Prep time
Total time
 
Ingredients
  • 1 lb sweet milk chocolate (Large hershey bars work great)
  • 2 squares unsweetened chocolate
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (I always use pecans0
  • 1 cup chopped dates (usually found in the produce section on the end displays)
  • ¼ t salt
  • 5 cups cornflakes
  • 3-4 drops of peppermint oil
Instructions
  1. Melt chocolate over warm water.
  2. Add peppermint.
  3. Combine nuts, dates, salt, and cornflakes. Pour chocolate over and stir until well mixed.
  4. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls on waxed paper (I use parchment paper) and chill until firm, for about an hour.

Hope your family enjoys these cookies as much as we do.  🙂

The Best Rocky Road Brownies Ever

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rocky road browniesThese are my favorite brownies, hands down.

This special rocky road brownie recipe came from my Great Grandmother. My Mom gave me this recipe on a card many years ago, and up at the top, she wrote “Given to me in 1964 from Grandma”.

When you look at the card, you can tell, it has been well used.

The card is a bit wrinkled, has some food stains on it, and some of the ink has smeared.

In other words, this has been a well loved recipe for quite awhile now, and I have made it many, many times.  I think its because these brownies offer such a unique and rich taste, that I haven’t really found in other brownies.

They taste to me like a mixture of a delicious chocolate walnut brownie with rocky road fudge on top.

Yes, they are rich, but so so good.

Rocky Road Brownie Ingredients

Gather ingredients

Rocky Road Brownies

Melt butter, stir in sugar and milk, bring to a boil, remove from heat, add in chocolate chips and vanilla.

rocky road brownies

beat in eggs

Beat in eggs one at a time. I used a very simple hand mixer. No need to get out the big equipment.

rocky road brownies

Stir in flour baking soda and salt

Pour dough in pan and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees

rocky road brownies

Melt remaining chocolate chips and shortening in a pan over hot water (not boiling). It melts fast!

rocky road brownies

Pour delicious melted chocolate on top of cooled marshmallows. Spread with a spatula. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

rocky road brownies

best rocky road brownies

best rocky road brownies

I wanted to note that I used a 13×9 inch pan for the brownies above. I actually doubled the original recipe that you see below. I was making them for a block party, so we needed lots of gooey and delicious brownies this time.

The original recipe below is great for a family of 5-6. The brownies are so rich, they go a long way.

Enjoy!!

5.0 from 1 reviews
The Best Rocky Road Brownies Ever
 
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Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • ½ cup margarine
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 T milk
  • 1 pkg (6oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • ¾ cup sifted all purpose flour
  • ¼ t baking soda
  • ½ t salt
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 cups miniature marshamallows
  • Melted Chocolate Topping
  • 1 pkg (6oz) chocolate chips
  • 1 T shortening
Instructions
  1. Melt butter in saucepan.
  2. Stir in sugar and milk.
  3. Bring to a boil.
  4. Remove from heat.
  5. Add chocolate chips and vanilla.
  6. Stir until smooth.
  7. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
  8. Sift in flour, baking soda, and salt.
  9. Stir in nuts, mix until well blended.
  10. Pour into greased 9 inch square pan.
  11. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
  12. Immediately cover top with marshmallows.
  13. Cool in pan.
  14. Melt chocolate chips and shortening over hot (not boiling) water; pour over marshmallows, spreading if necessary.
  15. Chill for at least two hours in fridge.
  16. Cut into squares and enjoy!

 

Decadent Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Homemade Vanilla Frosting

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Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting

Decadent Cupcakes

Oh my goodness, these are so good.  I love homemade frosting and I love moist cupcakes.

So, when I found this recipe, it went on my “to make” list about a month ago.

Finally I made them a few days ago.

The family raved and raved.

Poor Mountain Man only got two of them.

I need to make them again soon.

They’re pretty easy to make and the few extra steps are so worth it.

Here’s the scoop:

Ingredients for Hershey's Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting

Gather Ingredients: sugar, flour, Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Cocoa, eggs, baking soda, salt, butter, vanilla, vegetable oil, milk, water

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes Dry Ingredients

Mix sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl

Cupcakes wet ingredients

Add eggs, oil and vanilla to dry ingredients and blend on medium for 2 minutes

Add Boiling Water

Add 1 cup boiling water to bowl and stir in

The boiling water will create a very moist cupcake in the end.  At this point, the batter will feel a little runny, but there is no need to worry.  It is supposed to somewhat runny at this point.  This step makes the texture of the cupcakes perfect and very moist.

Scoop out batter

Scoop out batter. I used a 1/4 cup and this was perfect to fill the cupcake liners halfway full.

cupcakes ready for oven

Fill cupcake liners halfway full and they are ready for the oven!

 

cupcakes in oven

Place cupcakes in oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes

Homemade Vanilla Frosting Ingredients

Homemade Vanilla Frosting Ingredients: 2 sticks softened unsalted butter, 4 cups powdered sugar, 2t vanilla

mix butter

Blend butter until broken up

add powdered sugar

Add 4 cups powdered sugar little by little, then add the 2t of vanilla and blend for 2-3 minutes until the frosting is at desired consistency. You can add water, but I did not need to.

cooled cupcakes

After cupcakes have cooled on wire racks, you can frost them

All done

Aren’t they beautiful?

cupcake

And then there was one. They disappear quickly. 🙂

I want to thank Aly at 17 Sirens for sharing this recipe. I did not add coffee as Aly suggests, but I’m sure that would add a nice flavor kick too!

Enjoy!

For print out:

Decadent Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Homemade Vanilla Frosting
 
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Ingredients
Dark Chocolate Cake:
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water
Vanilla Frosting:
  • 2 Sticks Softened, unsalted butter
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla (or more to taste)
  • 1-2 teaspoons water (optional)
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 2 cupcake tins with paper liners.
  2. Gently mix together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
  3. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla to dry mixture and beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water. Your batter should be somewhat runny or pourable.
  4. Use a ¼ cup measuring cup or liquid measuring cup to scoop out dough. Fill each cupcake liner about halfway full.
  5. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
  6. Vanilla Frosting
  7. Place your butter in a bowl and mix for a minute to break up the sticks.
  8. Add powdered sugar a little at a time, completely incorporating into the butter.
  9. Add vanilla. Mix for 2-3 minutes. If you frosting is too thick, add 1-2 teaspoons of water to thin.
  10. Frost your cupcakes and ENJOY!

 

Five Things I Could Not Live Without Daily

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Daily Must Haves

Daily Must Haves

I found this idea for a post on MomDot.  This is such a fun question because you will be forced to think about your favorite things and that’s always a happy thought. 🙂

These favorite things could be products or actions (hugs) or people.

I decided to make my list about the products I need each and every day.

With these types of lists, I try to jot down the first items that come to mind, rather than thinking too much about it.

1.  Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Granola

This granola really gets me going each morning.  A few weeks ago, there were no granola bags available in the cereal section at TJs, and I panicked.  I tracked down a TJ employee and asked them to make sure this had not been discontinued.  He assured me they were just sold out, not discontinued.  So, for about a week, I had to go without.

For some reason, I’m just very addicted to this stuff.  Its the perfect start to the day for me.

The granola did indeed show up on the cereal shelves the following week, and I bought 8 bags.  Please Trader Joe’s, hear my plea – do not ever discontinue these morsels of goodness.

Trader Joe's Gluten Free Granola

Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Granola

2. Green Tea

At this point, I drink about 3 mugs of green tea per day.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I really enjoy the TAZO Green Zen Tea that I buy at Starbucks on occasion.  At home, I drink all sorts of green teas, from Lipton to Yogi, to Celestial Seasonings to Stash.  I usually will choose one that is on sale at Safeway or try a new interesting looking one at Trader Joe’s.

I really like many different types, and know how great this tea is for me, so don’t feel guilty drinking as much of it as I want throughout the day.

I used to drink orange juice in the morning, but I kicked that habit to the curb a few months ago, when I decided to make better beverage choices.  There are so many drinks that are loaded with hidden sugars.

And, for me, eating a chocolate chip cheesecake is totally worth the sugar, but its not worth it for a glass of orange juice.

Green Tea

Green Tea

3. Sephora Waterproof Retractable Eyeliner in Brown

I have discussed this eyeliner in a previous post, but I will say again.  This is, hands down, the BEST eyeliner I have ever used in my life.

I have red hair, so my eyelashes are blond.  I really rely on my eyeliner and mascara in the morning to highlight my eyes.  This eyeliner goes on so smooth and the brown color has a very slight sparkle to it.  SO perfect.

Sephora Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner

Sephora Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner

4. Lancome Hynose Doll Lashes Mascara

As mentioned in item number 3, my mascara is very important to me.  I think if I were stranded on an island, and I could only choose one beauty product, this would probably be it.

I have tried COUNTLESS mascaras, and have finally settled on this one. I will probably always be up for trying the latest and greatest, but as of right now, this is the only mascara that gives my lashes lift and volume, without flaking or smudging.  I think flaking is my number one pet peeve, and this mascara simply does not flake.  I just love it.  Thank you Lancome!

Lancome Hynose Doll Lashes Mascara

Lancome Hynose Doll Lashes Mascara

5. A Sweet

Let’s face it.  If we’re being honest with ourselves, it is very difficult to get through a whole day without a sweet.

I try to hold out until the afternoon to have a sweet.  I like all sweets: cookies, cakes, chocolate etc.. If I have made a homemade sweet, this is my ultimate sweet treat.

Below are pictures of recent homemade sweets I’ve made and thoroughly enjoyed.

Honey Roasted Peanut Butter Cookie

Honey Roasted Peanut Butter Cookie

Oreo Cookie Cheesecake Cupcakes

Oreo Cookie Cheesecake Cupcake

I’m sure I will think of other important daily items, but these were the very first items to pop into my mind.

What are your five items you could not live without daily?

 

Cinnamon Banana Raw Food Shake

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Cinnamon Banana Raw Food Shake

Cinnamon Banana Raw Food Shake

So, after downing about 8 pieces of dark chocolate almond toffee yesterday, I was feeling a bit sluggish. 🙁

I have been wanting to incorporate more raw food into my every day diet, so I started researching tasty raw food meals.  I wanted something pretty tame so that I wouldn’t get frustrated with raw food in the beginning, and give up.

While perusing food.com, I found a Cinnamon Banana Shake recipe composed of only raw food items.

I thought that with bananas, cinnamon, almond milk and sea salt, I simply could not go wrong.

Mixing up my Raw Food Shake

I think the key to the delicious taste of this shake is that there are so many different and rich flavors that complement each other so well.  Also, the recipe calls for frozen bananas, which makes the texture nice and thick, and so, so delicious.

Banana Cinnamon Raw Food Shake

Banana Cinnamon Raw Food Shake Ingredients: almond milk, sea salt, vanilla, cinnamon, agave nectar and frozen bananas

I put three bananas, wrapped in saran wrap, into the freezer the night before.  The next morning, they were perfect for the shake.

Steps to your Healthy Shake:

2 cups almond milk (or any nut milk)

3 cups bananas, sliced and frozen

3T  Agave Nectar

1t  Vanilla

1/2t Ground cinnamon

Pinch of sea salt

Throw all of the ingredients into your blender (I use a Vitamix), and blend until smooth.

SO refreshing and healthy.  I started my day with this shake, and felt great.  The recipe above yields two servings.  Mountain Man wants to try this new creation, so he will have the second serving tonight.

Raw Food Diet Rules

I thought it would be interesting to learn the main guidelines for following a raw food diet.  They are listed below:

Foods Allowed on 100% Raw Diet

1. Uncooked fruits and vegetables

2. Nuts

3. Seeds

4. Sprouted Beans

5. Filtered or Distilled Water – Rawists believe that tap water can contain contaminants which will mitigate the benefits of a raw food diet.

Foods Not Allowed on 100% Raw Diet

1. Refined Sugar

2. Food cooked over 116 degrees Farenheit- Rawists believe that by cooking food over this temperature, you are destroying essential enzymes.  This process makes the food less nutritious and less digestible.

3. Animal Products, including dairy and eggs

This is a short explanation of the components of a raw food diet.  To bake foods like crackers, rawists will use a food dehydrator.

I have read countless testimonials of how followers of the this diet experience a surge of energy, they sleep better at night, and they have glowing skin and hair.  Everything that you consume on this diet is pure and natural, so these benefits would be expected.

I am not even close to being ready to trying a raw food lifestyle, but I am willing to add at least one raw meal per day to my daily routine.  After today, I already feel better after my shake and making sure to eat some freshly cut green and yellow peppers.

I’ll let you know how my raw food journey goes, and, of course, share the recipes that are delicious. 🙂

 

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