Chocolate Melting Cake { EZ Recipe } 2die4

If you love Chocolate than this dessert is for you!!!  It is the easiest and most amazing cake I have ever made, (and I have made it many times). It my my husband and my absolute favorite favorite favorite dessert (did I say favorite?).. Yum!!!  You don't even need a beater or mixer on this one.  It is flour-less, which also means it's gluten free... and it is oh so so decadent, amazing, awesome, to die for (okay, so you get the point).

As I said, this recipe is easy!  It is quick, requires only six basic ingredients and it can be made in a short amount of time (less than 10 minutes from scratch to the oven)... and it takes only 30 minutes in the oven.  Yet people will think you are a gourmet chef with this totally easy peasy dessert :)

We went on a cruise a couple of years ago and for dessert one night with tried their Chocolate Melting Cake  with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  I was in heaven, well as close as I could get to heaven on earth.  I loved it!  Needless to say I ordered it the next night too :)  Of course the cruise line was not going to give me their recipe, but I knew that it was a flourless cake.  Shortly after we got home I searched the internet for flourless cake recipes.  I stumbled upon a receipe that I tried and then tried again tweaking it slightly so it turned out amazingly meltey and oooooie gooey in the middle.  It is a huge hit with everyone I have ever served it to. I highly highly recommend it!!!

I like to try to make my recipes as organic as possible so I use organic butter, organic sugar and farm fresh organic eggs (however you can use white sugar and whatever butter and eggs you like).

Recipe -


Ingredients:


1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar 
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2. In the top of a double boiler over simmering water (NOTE: I use two sauce pans, see below) Melt butter and chocolate chips.
3. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, cocoa powder, eggs and vanilla.
4. Pour even amounts into 4 oven safe dishes (fill about 1/2 full - dessert will rise)
5. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes
6. Let cool 15 to 20 minutes before serving

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I like to serve this dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.  However, this chocolate dessert is also very good on it's own!

Step by step photos (with helpful tips) -


Make your own double boiler by using two sauce pans.  Place the small pan inside of the larger one as shown.  Put one or two inches of water in the lower pan. Turn burner on medium low.  The double boiler method keeps the butter and chocolate chips from burning. 

Melt butter and chocolate chips...

Remove from stove-top...

Pour in sugar, give a quick stir (will melt into hot butter mix)..

 Add cocoa powder and stir

Add eggs and vanilla then stir well (takes about one minute)... I  own a beater and a stand mixer... However, this stirs so quickly that I just use a wooden spoon to mix.

 The mixture will look like this...

Pour equal amounts into four dishes. Only fill dishes about half way because dessert will rise. I use CorningWare 7 oz. stoneware crocks  (ramekins) that I purchased at Walmart.  They can also be purchased through Amazon (Free shipping with $25 purchase) at this link: CorningWare French White 7-Ounce Ramekins

  I like the crocks (ramekins) because they are ready to serve, just add ice cream or whip cream to the top (depending on your preference)... With these, there is no greasing necessary, (Which I LOVE).  


Note:  If you prefer, you can use an 8 inch round cake pan, just be sure to grease and dust your pan with cocoa powder first.

Place crocks on a cookie sheet and put them into your 300 degree preheated oven for 30 minutes.  

Note:  If you prefer your cake be more traditional and not be gooey inside, just increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees and still bake for 30 minutes.

When you first remove them from the oven they will be puffy on top (sorta like muffins)...

As they cool they will collapse a bit, which makes them perfect for putting a scoop of ice cream on top! You can serve them about 20 minutes after they come out of the oven.  Warm, but not hot...  

Optional, after they cool, cover them with foil and serve them at your convenience.  I like serving them warm, so I heat them in the microwave for 20 seconds on high before serving. (Adjust micro time depending how powerful your  microwave is).  

This dessert is just as amazing on day two and day three as it is on day one.  However, I admit that, in our house they don't last past day two!!!  I swear I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner... (hehe).

I like to serve with Breyers Smooth & Dreamy 1/2 fat Ice Cream because it is natural... and I feel a little less guilty :)  But, whatever ice cream you like is fine!

Yummy... this amazing Chocolate melting cake makes a great treat for Valentine's Day and for any day!

All you need is a spoon :)  Enjoy!!!

Link parties I'm attending: 

 

My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia

Blessings,

Baby Nursery - Under $500 Complete

Recently this post for "Complete Baby Nursery Under $500" has been requested as a share on a few other blogs.  This was the very first blog posting that I ever posted.  Being that I was a total newby to the blog world, it didn't get too much viewership.  So here it is as a re-share for you all to see :)

This entire baby girls room was decorated for less than $500.  The crib and mattress were purchased new. The Bellini dresser/changing table was found at a garage sale for $60, to which I added furniture appliques and re-finished in an antique white.  The rocking chair was found at a vintage shop for $25 (it used to be a neon yellow).  I added the furniture appliques to the rocker then painted and distressed it.  The bedding set and mobile were purchased new from eBay.  The canopy I made with a half round piece of plywood and L-brackets, with sheer fabric and trim simply attached around the edging of the board with a staple gun. The chandelier was designed by me and assembled by my hubby.  The table lamp, wall shelves, bulletin board, wall hooks, wood organizer box and wall cherubs were all old vintage pieces from flea markets and garages sales that I refurbished/painted for the room. It is amazing to see how much can be done on a a limited tight budget.  We started with a completely empty room and when we were finished it looked like we had spent thousands.

The chandelier above is dripping with teardrop crystals and petite pink roses.  I designed it from scratch using a combination of both vintage and new lamp parts.  It is painted with Rustoleum satain spray paint in Heirloom White. My amazing hubby wired this beauty and hung it for me.  We added the ceiling medallion to add to the sweet cottage chic look.  We used silicone dipped light bulbs for a soft glow. The floral pillow on the rocking chair is from Target, from Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic line.  We later added a soft sage green, cream and rose colored area rug to the floor in front of the crib.
  

The bulletin memo board was made from a vintage wooden frame.  I painted it with the same Heirloom White spray paint as was used on the chandelier. I used a little sandpaper to distress the edging details.  This was an easy DIY project.  I had my hubby cut a piece of fiber board the size of the inner frame..  I just added a layer of batting, then wrapped the fabric around it and used a staple gun to fasten everything to the rear of the board.  A pretty pink floral girly fabric and lace ribbon in a criss crossing pattern across the front finish this board.

Sweet Dreams Baby Girl !!!

Link parties I'm attending:
Between Naps on the Porch    Simply Sweet Home

         

Until next time,
Happy decorating!

Big News For Google Friend Connect Users!

Most everyone knows that Google friend connect is being discontinued.  This morning I came across a great piece of information for all bloggers and blog followers.  There is a new reliable "follower" service available to all of us for free.  It is called Linky Followers.  It is super simple to use and very easy to install on your blog.  I added it to mine in just a few minutes.  See it at the top right of my blog.  Below is a link to the site and post where I found the information.  Many bloggers are already using and are familiar with Linky Tools who's creator also created  Linky Followers

Here is the link to the complete post where I found the information:
At The Picket Fence: Big News For Google Friend Connect Users!: We have some exciting news to share for all of us concerned about the discontinuation of Google Friends Connect!


As you’ve probably heard, the popular Google Friend Connect (“GFC”) is going away March 1^st for non-Google blog platforms like Wordpress, and the scuttlebutt is that it will be eventually phased out completely to be replaced by  Google+.  (now don't panic yet!!)  Read more...

Chandeliers I've Made

For those of you that don't know, I used to design chandeliers and lighting fixtures and sell them on eBay.  Some were designed from all new raw lamp parts and then others, my  favorites, were from vintage and antique pieces that I found and re-worked.  They were all hand made.  For over three years my husband and I had an eBay store called Unique Chic Designs where we sold my creations.  In addition to lighting we manufactured furniture appliques and also created one of a kind home decor items.  For those wondering, an eBay store or and Etsy store can be very profitable, in fact for a time we made our entire living via eBay.  But I can tell you, it can also be a LOT of hard work!!!  Especially if you hand make everything yourself.

We stopped doing our store about three years ago.  My husband was working full time, and although he was a huge huge help, I was pretty much burnt out on the day to day manufacturing, posting, shipping, work work work cycle.  Once my hubby was steadily working full time, I no longer HAD to do the store, so we stopped. I was finally able to focus on fun crafting projects and my own home decor stuff again... (Yeah me!!!).

Now we have this big house, which is pretty much my big canvas.  I am working at making it beautiful, one space at a time.  I love blogging about my adventures and am passionate about decorating on a budget.  I have yet to make one chandelier for our current home, but I do have space and ideas for a few.  In time, I hope to create a few one of a kind beauties for us... For now, I thought I would share with you some of the creations we made and sold in our store.

We had a few different table chandeliers.  We offered them in black, off white and pink.  I did a distressed finish, with sandpaper, on every light we made after they were painted... Needless to say, I was always dusty!

Here are a couple of one of a kinds... They are definitely taste specific!  The one of a kind creations were always sold via auction and they always sold for the most!  Some of the craziest designs sold for several hundreds of dollars.

This next one is actually a floor chandelier and is over five feet tall.  It was definitely difficult to ship, but somehow we managed.  Once FedEx Ground rammed a forklift through the huge packaging box and bent the whole thing in half... Luckily we had it insured and FedEx reimbursed us for the damage and I got to make another for the customer.  It was a bit of a nightmare to rush make a replacement, but it all worked out in the end.

This was another of my one of a kind creations... It is definitely a bit unique.... but, as usual, the more unique the more the bidding went crazy on it.   Making these crazy one of a kinds was my favorite part of our business because it got my creative juices going. The only limit was my imagination.  My husband thought I was pretty much crazy.  He would ask, "Are you sure you want to make that"... and I would just tell him, "trust me".  Whenever he would ask that question, the most unique and bazaar creations would be the highest priced sellers with full blown bidding wars.  It was fun to see!  After awhile he stopped asking and would just wire up whatever design I gave him :)

Here are a couple of funky pendant chandeliers...  They were a big seller with Shabby Chic being so popular at the time!  Adding sparkle and crystal everywhere seemed to be all the rage.  We couldn't make these fast enough.

This next cherub chandelier was done custom as a one of a kind for a friends baby girls nursery...  In addition to crystal prisms dripping from it, I added petite pink roses.  We also did a custom ceiling medallion to match the chandelier.  After this chandelier, I started selling prisms with porcelain pink roses on them.

This next lamp was known as a waterfall lamp... It was an item we manufactured to order from all new parts.  We offered custom color choices and a variety of prism types and designs...

Although we had many more chandelier styles and one of a kind creations, this is just a sampling of the different designs we made.

I've been going to the flea market quite a bit lately.  I'm just waiting for a great old chandelier to come along that I can refurbish and/or rework for our dining room.  I like to find bargains, so I will wait for the right piece and the right price.  I saved several old lamp parts that I can use with my new creations.  I am looking forward to making some again!

Link parties I'm attending-

 

Between Naps on the Porch

Until next time,

Happy decorating!

From Adorable to Romantic - Valentine's Ideas

This is an absolute favorite of mine... I DIG YOU!  Valentine's shovels with a bag of candies tied to the handle.  This is an easy DIY, you can get the kids involved on this one!  Finding the plastic shovels is probably the hardest part. You could probably find them at a party supply or a craft store.  A little Valentine name tag tied to each handle would be a cute way to personalize them.  Soooo sweet !!!

 source: familyfun.go.com

How cute are these?  Valentines lunch bags.  You can do these for your kids so they have a special lunch or the kids can give out Valentine treats to their friends this way.  They are adorable and so easy to do!  The kids will love them <3

 source: starfish.net

I love bunting banners... I posted the one I made for Valentine's a few days ago.  Here is one that I thought was super cute.  Any little girl would love to have this in her room, especially if her mommy made it!

source: unknown

This connected hearts chain is sweet and it is a pretty easy DIY.  All you need is strips of paper and a stapler.  I think it would look pretty to alternate colors too.  I'd like to see it in pink and white or red and white (just my preference)...

source: unknown

And now for a little romance... Roses inside of ice cubes.  I would just die if my husband did something like this for me.  I love when the men come up with something creative and romantic!  To do these, just use a large ice cube tray.  Make sure you get roses that will fit inside the tray (a rose with a smaller size head).  Note: I've found that grocery stores and also Costco/Sams Club usually have inexpensive deals on roses (like $7 to $10 a dozen).  Where we live there are often guys on the freeway offramps selling them around Valentine's day for reasonable prices too.  Nothing against the higher end flower shops, but if I'm going to freeze them, I don't way to pay too much for them.. (hehe).  Cut off the stems and place the rose heads facedown in the tray, then fill it with water and freeze.  The rose heads will want to float up.  I suggest putting  a second ice tray with water for weight on top of them to hold them submerged while they freeze.  These are perfect for an ice bucket!  

Side note: Although many roses are edible, for obvious reasons, I wouldn't actually put these ice cubes into drinks..  Unless you know for a fact that your roses are edible and were grown free of chemicals and fertilizers and such, you don't know what they've been through, so you probably don't want to ingest them.  Therefore, I think they should be used as decorations only.

source: Jonathan Fong Style

I think this is the ultimate romantic gesture for Valentine's... My hubby drawing an amazing bath for two ;)  Fill it with roses or rose petals... light a few candles, pop a little bubbly and then spend a romantic evening in it together.

 source: about.com

When it comes to Valentine's day there are many creative and easy DIY ideas out there.  This has been a small sampling of a few that I found that have inspired me.  I would love to hear from you about your plans for Valentine's day and any DIY projects that you are doing to make your day special.

Blessings,