chocolate sauce!

 nothing says happy mothers day like having to plan and cook your own meals.  i guess i could have been more pushy about it, but i didn't want to.  i wanted a certain kind of beef kebab to bbq, but neither of the butchers that usually carries them had them.  actual steak is so expensive it should be a crime, so I reluctantly chose an alternative that was fine.  

dessert choosing was no better - i didn't want to make it but couldn't find any pre-made alternatives i liked, and then i didn't have the heart or the energy to make my own, so i let The Girl choose some ice cream from the store, and then last minute i decided to treat myself with some chocolate sauce for the top.

 we also had no heavy cream at home, so i needed a super simple recipe - and here it is - Homemade Chocolate Sauce from Bellyful.  A short list of ingredients you most likely have on hand, a few minutes at the stove, and boom!  you have a delicious sauce to top your store bought cookies and cream ice cream that had barely any cookies in it.  

 

 

Healthyish No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

 

This is one of the best snack/treats that I made this year - no bake peanut butter chocolate bars.

Made with just 4 ingredients - almond or oat flour, peanut butter, maple syrup or honey, and chocolate, they are sweet and satisfying.

cuban lunch squares - a canadian treat!

 

1 package chocolate chips

1 package butterscotch chips

1 package peanut butter chips

1 cup rice crispies

1 cup chopped peanuts

Melt the chips and stir in the rice crispies and peanuts.  Pour into a buttered 9x13 pan and let cool until firm. 

Olympic-ish Chocolate Muffins

 I genuinely LOVE the Olympics.  I will watch any sport, any time during the games, Winter or Summer.  So I was glued not only to my tv for this Summer's games, but also on the social meeds, following some athletes and news accounts.  I came across "The Muffin Man" on tick tok - the swimmer who fell in love with the chocolate muffins served in the athletes village, and not only did his posts and videos make me laugh, they also made me want to have a chocolate muffin.

I made this recipe, and my family went crazy for them.  They were gone in a few days, which doesn't happen often around here.  And - I only got one!  

 

3 really really good (and easy) desserts - Giant Chocolate Cookie, Biscoff Cheesecake and Double Chocolate Brownies

 

Sometimes I let my family pick out desserts they'd like to try for Sunday Dinners.  Mostly I don't, because I usually want to make something fast and hopefully cheap.  But The Girl picked out the giant chocolate chip cookie pictured above, and it was a winning move.  Baked just enough so it stays gorgeous and soft and chewy, it's super easy and delicious.

giant chocolate cookie with cacao nibs and flaky salt

Then, of course, it was  The Boy's turn to pick and he went with a traditional brownie.  So similar to his sisters pick, ingredient wise, and even taste wise, but different at the same time.

lee lees double chocolate chunk brownies

Lastly is THE BEST cheesecake possibly ever.  I would have to really really think if it's better than my mom's.  For now let's call it different, but just as good.  It's from Fitwaffle - 5 Ingredient Biscoff Cheesecake.

Base:

200g Lotus Biscuits, finely crushed

60g unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

500g cream cheese, room temp

150g Biscoff spread

100g icing sugar

Topping:

200g Biscoff spread, melted

2 Lotus biscuits, finely crushed

Tin size: 8x8”

 

Mix your crushed cookies and melted butter, and set aside 2 TB of the crumbs.  Please the rest into a parchment lined tin and press down firmly.  Refrigerate the tin while you beat together the filling ingredients until smooth.  Pour over the crust and smooth down.  Pour the melted biscoff over the top and sprinkle with crumbs.  Refrigerate at least 3 hours, until firm.

my sweet valentines gift

 what everyone needs for their desk, or car, or bedside table  -  a personal chocolate dispenser.

 

another energy bite recipe

 Oatmeal Peanut Butter Energy Bites

very easy and very delicious chocolate mousse

 

This chocolate mousse - one of my absolute favorite desserts ever - is so easy - just 4 ingredients! - and so so delicious that even my kids loved it. 

recipe - chocolate mousse