Microwaveable Chocolate Cake

A literal cupcake, this has become my 'go-to" recipe

whenever I want something chocolaty. It is fast and easy to make and better yet, involves little clean-up. This recipe has a minimal amount of sugar (helpful for fighting off the freshman 15) so the chocolate flavor can be a bit weak. To enhance the chocolate flavor without adding more sugar, I simply substitute a few tablespoons of cocoa powder for the hot chocolate mix. During midterm or finals week, when I am stressed out and up late studying, I take a 10 minute break to make this treat and satisfy my chocolate cravings.

Ingredients:
4 tbsp. flour 

9 tbsp hot chocolate mix

3 tbsp water
3 tbsp oil
1 egg

Instructions:

In a standard sized mug, combine all ingredients and mix until it becomes a batter. Make sure to completely stir in the egg and to stir slowly so as to avoid spilling ingredients. Microwave the mug for 3 minutes on high. 

No Bake Chocolate Cookies

When a friend of mine, who goes to school far from home, began to feel homesick, I decided to send her a care package to cheer her up. What is more comforting than a homemade treat? Along with a few other things, I included theses tasty chewy, chocolate cookies, which are her favorite. Making these cookies took almost no time out of my busy schedule. I was able to make the dough, shape the cookies on the wax paper, and clean up my few dishes in about a half hour. Though I had to wait an hour before packaging them up, this time allowed me to throw in a load of laundry and to finish my chem homework.

 

Ingredients:

2 c. white sugar

makes about 24 cookies

1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder 

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. butter

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract 

1 pinch of salt

1/2 c. peanut butter

3 c. instant oats

Instructions:

Combine the cocoa, milk, sugar, and butter into a saucepan over medium heat. Heat this mixture until it comes to a boil (remember to stir it occasionally to prevent it from burning and sticking to the pot). Let it boil for a minute and then remove from the heat. Stir in the oats, vanilla, salt, & peanut butter. Quickly drop spoonfuls of the dough onto a piece of wax paper or onto a lightly greased baking pan or plate. Let the cookies cool for an hour and then eat and enjoy!

Classic Brownies

Ingredients:

makes about 20 brownies

1 stick of butter
4 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. nuts (optional)        


Instructions:
 Melt the butter over low heat in a saucepan and add cocoa. Next, mix the sugar and eggs together and then add them to to mixture in the saucepan.  Then add flour, baking powder, vanilla, and nuts to the mixture. Grease an 8x8 inch pan and bake in an oven for 20-30 minutes at 325 degrees.

Brownies are my favorite baked treat and I have made them several times already this year. These brownies are dense (but not fudgy) and rich in chocolate flavor. Nothing compares to the heavenly scent that fills the kitchen while these are baking. All it takes to make theses incredible brownies is to melt some of the ingredients in a pot, stir in the remaining ingredients, and then pour the batter into a pan. It almost seems unfair to have such a reward for so little effort (not that I'm complaining). A  boxed brownie mix is no rival for this recipe!