Chocolate-Drizzled

I enjoy chocolate. So much so that I will go out of my way to get it. Some days I feel I simply must have it.

When I say I enjoy chocolate, I mean sweetened chocolate of course. Chocolate on it’s own tests terrible. Really terrible. I gave a taste of baker’s chocolate to the kids once during a unit study on chocolate. The looks on their faces were of sheer disgust. Can’t say I blame them.

One day recently I found that the only chocolate in the house was a tin of unsweetened cocoa powder. I really wanted some chocolate so it was time to get innovative. It actually took a few days to perfect this recipe but the result is quick, easy and very chocolatey.

Grease a loaf pan and fill with about 4 cups of flaky cereal, such as Special K. Cheerios might work, too.  Set aside.

Melt a stick of butter over low heat.

Stir in:

3        Tablespoons of granulated sugar

1½  Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder

Cook for about one minute until ingredients are well blended. Pour mixture over cereal. Refrigerate for 30- 60 minutes.

Enjoy.

We found it delicious. Let me know how you like it.

What’s your favorite chocolate recipe?

Is it a Mom thing?

OK. I have a guilty secret.

I like to eat chocolate. Before breakfast.

I thought it was just me. I mean, eating candy in the early morning isn't exactly a healthy habit. I didn't figure too many folks in my nutrition minded homeschool group would do such a thing.

But one time another Mom and I were talking about chocolate and she began telling me that she snuck candy bars before the kids got up. Then, the other day, I was chatting with yet another Mom and mentioned my AM indulgences. She said, "Tea and a chocolate truffle is the perfect treat first thing in the morning."

So, maybe there is an huge cohort of Moms nipping Hershey's just after they wake up.


Are you in the group?

What Jordan Thinks of His Mom, Take 3

My son is an amazing kid really. He's bright and funny and imaginative. Lately he's been doing extra chores and fetching and carrying. So what does he think of me?

I have done this little quiz with Jordan twice before. I am interested to see how his answers have changed, both for curiosity's sake and as a checkup on my parenting.

Here goes:

Jordan, age 13 years 2 months 27 days, answers...

1. What is something mom always says to you? Would you bring me my tea

2. What makes mom happy? Bringing her tea

3. What makes mom sad? When people don't do what they are told to do.

4. How does your mom make you laugh? By doing strange things and saying strange things.

5. What did your mom like to do as a child? Play outside

6. How old is your mom? 49

7. How tall is your mom? 5.2

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Play Peggle, eat chocolate and drink tea

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Play Peggle, clean

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Cleaning rooms and not giving up of the years of "No I don't think so."

11. What is your mom really good at? Drinking tea and eating chocolate. And Peggle, sometimes anyway

12. What is your mom not very good at? Not yelling at her children

13. What does your mom do for her job? She's a special education advocate consultant

14. What is your mom's favorite food? Chocolate

15. What makes you proud of your mom? Uh, cause she's my mommy

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Melinda Parry in the "Life of the Parry Family"

17. What do you and your mom do together? Mom plays Peggle, I watch. We listen to audio books

18. How are you and your mom the same? Same hair, same eyes, partially the same genetic material

19. How are you and your mom different? She likes to yell a lot.

20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? The Chocolate Shop

21.How do you know your mom loves you? 'Cause she does.

Right so, there you have it. In my defense, I am playing Peggle because I have a broken foot. Also, I don't really yell that much. 

Read his answers from ages 11 and 9 here.

If you have kids, why not give this quiz a try?




I am participating in the the January 2013 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

New Cookies

Recently my brother's girlfriend brought Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies to my house. They were yummy. Here's a link to that recipe if you are interested.

Oreo -Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies


My husband doesn't eat chocolate unless it is fair trade, but he was kind of intrigued by those cookies. So, for an anniversary gift (today's our 18th) I decided to try to make a similar cookie that he would want to eat. Here's my recipe.

• 1 cup plus two tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 /2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
• 1 egg
• 1 cup Hershey's cinnamon chips

1 package vanilla creme cookies

Cream the butter and sugars together. Add egg and orange extract. Beat. Mix in flour, baking soda and salt. Add cinnamon chips.

For each cookie put one spoonful of dough on cookie sheet, place a vanilla creme cookie on top, and cover with another spoonful of dough. Leave plenty of room between cookies as they expand quite a lot. Bake at 375 degrees F for 11-13 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on sheet and then move to a wire rack until thoroughly cool. Makes 6 cookies.

They weren't too hard to do and they look and smell good. We'll see how my husband likes them. 

What new recipes have you tried lately?

For the whys and wherefors of my husband's choice not to eat regular chocolate, check out Slavery: A Global Investigation.

This is my ninth post (all caught up!) in the Ultimate Blog Challenge. I'm going for 31 blogs in July,

What is it About Chocolate?

All you need is love. But a little 

chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.

Charles M. Schulz

I am, admittedly, enthralled by chocolate. I don't go a day without it. I am even planning a unit study on chocolate for the kids. It won't be just recipes, we'll look at the history of chocolate, the geography of chocolate-producing countries and the botany of cacoa plants. We'll also talk about fair-trade chocolate and modern day slavery. But sampling chocolate will be part of it. Definitely.

That's a ways off, though. For now, I am going to content myself with some jokes and quotes and a quick and easy chocolate recipe.


The problem: How to get 2 pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.


My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already. - Dave Barry

Eating chocolate can have significant influences on mood, generally leading to an increase in pleasant feelings and a reduction in tension. - Peter Rogers, Ph.D., Institute of Food Research


The Greek term theobroma (Latin name for cacao) means literally food of the gods. Chocolate has also been called the food of the devil, but the theological basis of this claim is obscure.


Don't wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty. Chocolate isn't like premarital sex. It will not make you pregnant. And it always feels good. - Lora Brody, Growing Up on the Chocolate Diet


Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done.

  Quick and easy chocolate recipe. Not reallly fudge, but it reminds people of the Chocolate-Marshmallow version of that yummy candy. 

Melt two 12 oz bags of dark or semisweet chocolate chips slowly over low heat. A double boiler works well. Remove from heat. Add one bag of mini-marshmallows, stirring until they are well coated. Pour mixture into a greased 9x4 loaf pan and refrigerate for two hours. Cut into squares and try not to eat all at once. 

       Chemically speaking, chocolate really is the world's perfect food.   

  - Michael Levine, nutrition researcher

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                   Arvind Balaraman                                                                    Salvatore Vuono                                      

Grant Cochrane