[delightful} a chocolate hug

Another summer is over! Sob, sniff, ok WAaaaaaa! Really I love the easy of summer. The lazy mornings, the long nights, a good book or two. During the summer I actually get to see my kids play! I have more time to think ... to be inspired. I love summer.

I also love summer because I have time to go to the farmers market. Pick through the best produce, grill meats, chop and mix, well lets face it I just get to spend more time in the kitchen. I actually plan and execute meals for my family are they are around to eat them. Brilliant.

So ... it is time for a big hug to say good-bye to summer. Now you would think I would pick a farm fresh item - a juicy fruit, or some sort of wonderful ice cream to hail the end of summer.

No not this time. This time it will be my good friend chocolate that does the trick. I have been searching for my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe for some time ... well folks I am happy to say my search has ended. This rendered unending praise from my most sought after judges - my kids of course. They loved them. Their friend that was over - loved them. The cake is moist and rich and the frosting is a whipped dollop of everything good. I think I even heard a collective sigh when they all bit into their cake.

These are good. They stop you in your tracks. I literally sat down to enjoy (not just the small little intended bite of cupcake), I sat down and savored an entire cupcake. Bite after bite ... and then it happened ... I could feel the chocolate hug ... how happy!

It was funny at the same time I came across this .... the Derek Trucks Band "Sweet Inspiration". I am suggesting that you whip up a batch of cup cakes, pour a tall glass of milk and sit down, slow down and play this song and experience it all!

So farewell summer old friend. Now its time for soup, pumpkins, wonderful robust colors, and cooler weather. Hmmmm ..... see ya summer!

chocolate hug cup cakes & everything good whipped icing by ann west

4 oz good quality semisweet chocolate

1 1/4 cup hot brewed coffee

3 c sugar

2 1/2 c all-purpose flour

1 c unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/4 tsp salt

3 large eggs

3/4 c vegetable oil

1 1/2 c buttermilk - shaken

2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 325. Prepare your pans. Chop chocolate in a bowl and pour the hot coffee over to melt. Stir. In a large bowl sift all of the dry ingredients. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat eggs until thick then slowly add oil, buttermilk and vanilla. Then slowly add the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Add the dry ingredients one cup at a time. Mix until just combined and let sit. Scoop into cup cake liners up to 3/4 full. These will rise but they stay a little flat. Cook for 25 - 30 minutes. And cool.

everything good chocolate icing by ann west

1 brick cream cheese - room temp

1 1/2 stick unsalted butter - room temp

1/2 cup sour cream

(now you know why it is call everything good)

pinch of salt

1/2 cup dutch cocoa

2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Cream all of those yummy ingredients (cream cheese, butter, sour cream). Sift cocoa and powder sugar and add mixing well. Add salt and vanilla. And whip. You will have to slap your hand away from the bowl at this point because it smells and looks like a dream.

Ice and enjoy!

{just for you} thanks teach!

a sweet 8 year old had to wish his teacher happy birthday today!

a note was written

and a gift given!

ps. I dumped a whole tray of cupcakes on the floor last night. Ruffer snuffer I exclaimed. In the middle of my fit I thought how lucky I was to even be able to make cup cakes... perspective. I am grateful for teachers who care and kids that care enough to give!

chocolate cup cakes - a good recipe from Martha Stewart here. I am still searching for the perfect chocolate cupcake!

{secret indulgence} -drive by dipper

Hi, my name is ann, and I am a drive by dipper. "hi ann.".

Ok - yesterday I posted hot fudge ... as it sits on my stove I wish I could count how many times my kids and myself have indulged in the "drive by dip". I admit it ... I am a drive by dipper. I am sure there is a meeting, a support group that I could join. I mean it is right there ... and it's hot fudge really how can I resist. Pretzels, a cookie, banana, nuts and yes a spoon and occasionally (a finger.) An addiction of sorts. Hope you have some drive by dipping going on in your house!

cheers.

{delightful} - Kitty's Hot Fudge Sauce

I have the bug. I have been in the kitchen doing my thing. Prepping for Christmas Eve, cookie decorating, and making some other fun stuff - hot fudge sauce, pickles, and gumbo. - Now what a combo. Tonight we are together as a family for the first time since the kids got out of school on Friday. I think we will have our gumbo, eat cookies - possibly dipping them into the fudge and go look at the Christmas lights in the area. Maybe rent a movie or just hang out. Easy, fun and warm... family!

kitty's hot fudge sauce

in a double boiler melt:

6 squares unsweetend chocolate

1/2 stick butter

3 cups sugar

3 tbls corn starch

pinch of salt

stir and let the sugar start to melt then stir in:

1/2 cup corn syrup

1 can evaporated milk

1 tsp vanilla

Just thinking this might be my great grandmothers recipe. I will check on that and give credit where credit is due. Enjoy!

{thanksgiving favorites} - chocolate cream pie

This sweet pie plate was the home to many pies made by love. My husband had the most dear grandparents I knew. His grandmother always was giggling, always had a stash of peanuts and gum drops under the coffee table, always made the best chocolate chip zucchini bread and a fabulous pumpkin roll. I now am so very honored to have this beautiful and very sentimental pie plate. And although "grandma" made fabulous pies ... this pie dish was always filled with cookies - oatmeal and peanut butter I remember most. I love those memories of getting to know her, checking out her garden and enjoying her cooking. I feel so fortunate that my kids not only were able to meet their great grandmother but they also were able to know her. Thanks grandma we love you!

...

Sometimes after all the dinner is done I am ready for a different taste. I have had cinnamon in the sweet potatoes and nutmeg in the mashed potatoes and the fragrant herbs in the stuffing. I need a new flavor... well not new but always a good ending to me - chocolate. We adore this pie. BUT warning. Let some time pass between the big meal and the pie. This is a rich lovely pie ... and if you are still too full there is always the next day!

chocolate dream cream pie by ann west

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup corn starch

1/2 tsp kosher salt

4 large egg yolks

3 cups whole milk

6 oz semi-sweet or bitter sweet chocolate (I believe in good chocolate!) - melted

2 oz unsweetened

2 tbls unsalted butter - soft

1 tsp vanilla

1 flaky pie crust

Melt your chocolate. I do this in the microwave by placing the chocolate in a bowl and heating at 50% of power for 30 seconds at a time - let sit for a couple of seconds stir and heat again until melted. - stirring after each heating until melted.

Whisk corn starch, salt and yolks in a heavy sauce pan. Add the milk in a slow stream. Brink this mixture to a boil and immediately reduce heat to a simmer and cook until thick. Force the pudding through a fine mesh sieve. Whisk in the melted chocolate, butter and vanilla. Place wrap over the top and let cool until room temp. Once cool spoon into pie shell and chill for at least 3 hours. Serve with soft whipped cream. delecious!

{delightful} chocolate pots de creme

Really - nothing beats creamy chocolate topped with whipped cream. Am I right? And Pots De Creme - well the name is almost as good as the product. These little cups of pure heaven are rich - I warn. Don't skimp on the chocolate, buy the best you can it is well worth it. (I like Valhrona). These pots store well and are so easy you will make this a go to recipe for entertaining or just a special treat for the family. enjoy!

chocolate pots de creme Bon appetit, october 2000

serves 6

2 cups whipping cream

1/2 cup whole milk

5 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chopped

6 large egg yolks

1/3 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degree. Bring cream and milk to simmer in a heavy saucepan. Remove from heat. Add the chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. In a large bowl whisk yolks and sugar together. Gradually whisk in hot chocolate mixture. Strain mixture into another bowl.

Divide custard among six custard cups ( I make these small and get 8 out of it - so rich). Cover each with foil. Place cups in a baking pan with hot water to come halfway up the sides of the cups. Bake cups until the center is jiggly and the sides are set. 45 -55 min. Remove from water remove foil and chill. These can be make up to 2 days ahead - covered and chilled.

I like these topped with whipped cream and a berry to garnish. Yum. See the dollop logo for finished product!

{secret indulgence} - chocolate malt

really who can't love a dog that is turned upside down just because they like it. Or maybe it is for extra attention. That feeling of all the weight of your body going the opposite way. I think dogs have it on us. What has my attention is a chocolate malt. Oh yeah... it is right up there with a good piece of homemade pie. I must say after years and many a malt I think I have it down. Some day I hope to have one of those fancy malt blenders with the stainless cup but until then my blender does just fine. This is one of my ultimate secret indulgences... enjoy!

chocolate malt by ann west

vanilla ice cream - 3 scoops

milk

chocolate syrup

powdered malt mix - 2 tbls

vanilla syrup - (like the kind they use for your vanilla latte)

top with whipped cream and a cherry if you are feeling fancy

Blend it all together. For me ... the consistency should be thick enough to use a spoon. No great secret recipe here just delicious!