I got bored with proof reading yesterday, so I started thinking about cooking tips that I want to include in the book for the less experienced cook. Looking at other books and online, I quickly found topics like 100 Things to Avoid in the Kitchen, or 25 Mistakes Most Cooks Make, and my personal favorite, Recover from Eight Cooking Disasters. (What if you had nine or even ten?) Wow! That’s enough to drive anyone out of the kitchen permanently.
Since cooking skills are no longer required to survive or to attract a mate, I think cooking should be shown in it’s best light. Cooking is creative, it’s not hard, it’s a wonderful way to do something nice for a friend, it allows you to excel at skill that’s quite useful, it’s healthier, cheaper, and, unless you dine in 5 star restaurants every night, tastier. Cooking is a way to be independent, to take control of your life, plus, it makes your home smell good! Best of all, it doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious and satisfying. A two-egg omelet, with a bit of cheese, has an ingredient cost under a $1.00, requires three minutes of your time, and provides you with a gourmet experience! It was good enough for Julia Child.
So I think I’ll call my cooking tips 25 Things to Do Right in the Kitchen. Doesn’t that sound happier? Speaking of happy, here is a cookbook recipe as promised. Drum roll please for: Warm Chocolate Mess!
Richard and friends came over to watch the Titans and Richard put this together at half time. By 7:30 that night we were all enjoying big fat bowls full. The best part was it made the house smell like, well - heaven, which must smell like warm chocolate don’t you think? Make this soon. You won’t be sorry.
Ingredients
1 pkg. chocolate cake mix
3 oz. pkg. instant chocolate pudding mix
4 eggs
1 c water
2 c sour cream
1 stick butter, melted (you can do this in a small bowl in the microwave)
1/2 tsp salt
1 c semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
Spray crockpot with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine the eggs with the water, then add the sour cream and butter and stir until smooth. Add to the dry ingredients and beat well. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Pour into crockpot. Cover and cook on Low for 5-7 hours, until top springs back when touched very lightly with finger.
8-10 servings
This tastes like the chocolate stuff called Chocolate Stuff, my nephew, Phelps, loves at Barbara Jean’s on St. Simon’s Island. We also discovered that it reheats beautifully in the microwave. Sammy says it’s his favorite too. Good with ice cream.
