September 7, 2008



The Ultimate 5-Minute Quick-Fix

for Serious Chocolaholics

Plus, Freezing Salsa


Every once in a while I come across a recipe that sounds strange, delicious but decidedly strange. Such a recipe, called The 5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake, crossed my desk last week, sent by a long-time-but-never-met-friend. It's a recipe that just begged to be tried, and I'm telling you... this mug cake is a great idea! Definitely kid-doing easy, and perfect for drop-in company, or for dieters who absolutely MUST have some chocolate cake, but don't want a whole cake in the house tempting them.

You mix the ingredients, put in a coffee mug and microwave for 3 minutes. It's a cake, but the bottom is sorta soft and fudgy, almost like a molten cake. It firms up as the cake cools. Eat out of the mug or tip out on a plate. This would serve two if you felt generous, and most definitely wants some whipped cream or ice cream on top.

The 5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

4 TBSP flour
4 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP cocoa
1 egg
3 TBSP milk
3 TBSP oil
3 TBSP chocolate chips (don't skimp)
1/2 tsp vanilla
a coffee mug - your standard mug is 12 oz.

Put all dry ingredients in the mug and mix well, add egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil, once again mixing well, stir in chip and vanilla. Microwave in its mug for 3 minutes (a 1,000 watt microwave). Cake may rise over the top of the mug, but don't worry.

I'm going to make this tomorrow night for four of us, but I'll put all the ingredients (x4 of course)in a bowl, mix and pour into the mugs to cook. Thanks for sending this on to me, Gemma.

Freezing salsa...

This is the time of our harvest when I often have many ripe tomatoes, but not really enough to break out the canner and quart jars. So, I make a lot of salsa, and I freeze it. The first year we tried this as an experiment, we were happily surprised at the excellent results, and since then this is the only way I do salsa.

For my salsa, I just cut up tomatoes, green peppers, and onion in whatever proportion I have or that looks good. I add garlic and snipped parsley, a little vinegar and some oil, salt and pepper to taste. Mix well, and then I freeze in pint plastic containers. Since my husband doesn't like cilantro and I do, I clearly label those containers that I've added it to, AND also those batches I've made with hot peppers.

My favorite way to use this salsa, completely thawed or not, is to just put in a small fry pan, bring to somewhere near bubbling, layer good white fish on top and just simmer until the fish flakes.

And now, back to the Patriot's game!

Mary

8 comments:

North of Boston said...

The mug cake sounds wonderful! And . . . I have a question about the salsa. Do you peel the tomatoes before you freeze them?

Jenny said...

I definitely plan on trying out that 5-Minute Mug cake! I can't believe it's that easy. This looks like a perfect solution for me - there's two of us each night, so it's tough when I want to make dessert - if I make a full recipe, it'll cost too much for the amount that we'll eat. Do you mind if I put this recipe on my blog and credit you for it?

Mary Webber said...

Of course I don't mind... I'm not sure where this recipe came from originally - actually, I've come to realize that there may not be any such thing as an original recipe! - so help yourself.

I made this for four last night, mixing the ingredients in a bowl, then cooking in the microwave. It was waaaaaaay beyond good!

Mary

Mary Webber said...

Nope, North of Boston, I don't peel the tomatoes. I suppose you could, but....

Alice Goldsmith said...

Hi Mary
The friend you never met. I have put your blog on my madquiltmaker blog as one I follow. I want every one to check out your Frugal Family Kitchen book. I plan to get your latest edition when my budget allows. I have
one I got years ago, It is getting a little ragged. So it has been well used. Alice

DesignOnline said...

Mary, I LOVE the mug cake!!! Had a friend over and needed dessert for 3 (so we would not have dessert left over . . . which we would HAVE to eat, you know!) Made two mugs and it was perfect. Thank you so much!

For now,
Suzanne

Michele said...

I love to freeze salsa too! I like the fish idea, will have to give that a try, thanks for sharing :0)

Hellin Heels said...

I'm trying the mug cake tonight to go along with our French Onion Soup- it's gonna be a whole night of mug eating!
I just found your site and am addicted. Thanks!