Chocolate and Writing....and Chocolate :D

When life gets hectic and projects beckon, sometimes a writer can use a little pick me up. And what could be better than chocolate? :) However, we've been trying to be a little more healthy at my house lately, so there is nary a piece of chocolate to be found. So I looked around (hey, a writer trying to push through the last half of a tough revision NEEDS her chocolate!) and found Chocolate-Covered Katie and her healthy dessert blog who had a wonderful recipe for...wait for it....healthy chocolate! Well, at least sugar-free chocolate :D

For this recipe you need exactly three ingredients:

• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 4 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil (melted)
• 1/4 cup agave or Katie suggests you can also use NuNatural vanilla stevia drops (she uses 10 drops. Triple or quadruple that amount if you don’t like extra-bitter chocolate.)
• optional: extracts, cocoa nibs, or other add-ins

• Combine coconut oil with agave or stevia drops. 
• Stir, then add cocoa powder (and add 3-4 T water or nondairy milk if using stevia.). 
• Stir until it gets thick. 
• Pour into any flat container (or candy molds or smush between layers of wax paper or in ziploc bags). 
• Fridge or freeze until solid.

And enjoy :)

(recipe and picture came from Katie's blog. Click the links for the original info and to visit her awesome blog)

Lost in Translation - and some Sugar Cookie Cupcakes

You know, sometimes it's hard to get all the gloriousness that's in my head to translate correctly to the page. At least the first time. It takes a lot of time to get that perfect, movie-like story in my head recreated on the page. It's a lot like (please excuse the lame food tie in) watching Cupcake Wars and trying to get my own to look just as pretty :D

My kids both had their holiday parties yesterday. And I volunteered to make cupcakes. I have the yummiest recipe. It tastes like sugar cookies (and you can't get much more Christmasy than sugar cookies). But it's a cupcake. And it's utter deliciousness. But they don't always look all that great when they come out of the oven. It takes a little time and tender loving care to get those babies looking gorgeous :D

Here's what you'll need:

Sugar Cookie Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup milk

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla. Combine the flour and baking powder and add to the creamed mixture. Mix well. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth. Bake 30-40 mins for a 9x9 cake or 20-25 mins for cupcakes.

Icing: (I use the buttercream recipe you find in the Wilton's ready-to-use fondant box)

1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/2 cup butter
Cream together

Add 1 tsp vanilla

Gradually add 4 cups sifted powdered sugar

Add 2 tbsp milk to reach desired consistency.

Decorate to your heart's content :) Happy Holidays!!