chocolate lava cake-like cobbler

My friend Nikol says that desserts aren't worth the calories if they include fruit.

(Translated illustration: no strawberry shortcake, no blackberry crumble, and no peach cobbler.)

On the other hand, I don't have the biggest sweet tooth in the world (well, unless it involves my mom's cakes), so I usually yield to guests' dessert preferences when I'm cooking for folks.

Last night at our Peru Reunion/Opening Ceremonies dinner, I was hunting for a dessert that had Nikol universal appeal, and I think I found a keeper.

Chocolate Cobbler?



Mmm, mmm, good.

I didn't say "cobbler" in front of Nikol, for fear it might have a bad connotation, or bring some tragic fruit dessert associations to her mind.  I told her it was sort of like a chocolate lava cake, which was the truth.

This recipe is super easy, and there's nothing not to like about it.  Trust me.

Chocolate Cobbler

1 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
7 Tbsp. cocoa powder, divided
1 1/4 c. sugar, divided
1/2 c. milk
1/3 c. melted butter
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 c. hot tap water

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
 
2. Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, 3 tablespoons of the cocoa power, and 3/4 cup of the sugar.  Reserve the remaining cocoa and sugar.
 
3. Stir the milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract into the flour mixture, and mix until smooth.  Pour the mixture into an ungreased 8-inch baking dish.
 
4. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining white sugar (1/2 cup), brown sugar, and remaining 4 tablespoons of cocoa.  Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter.
 
5. Pour the hot tap water over the top, and do not stir!  It will look like a hot mess when you put this in the oven, but respect the recipe, people.  On the other side, oh, it's so delicious.
 
6. Bake for 40 minutes until the center is set, and let it stand a few minutes before serving.*
 
7. Serve with vanilla ice cream, and use the ooey-gooey sauce to drizzle over the top.  So, so dreamy.

* I actually made this a couple of hours in advance of dessert time, and then zapped individual servings in the microwave for 15 seconds or so.

There you have it. 

Now it's a chocolate dessert, so it packs some sweet punch for sure, but it's not as rich as you might think.

And bless it, it doesn't win points for presentation-in-the-baking-dish.

But when you scoop it into invidiual bowls, and the ice cream and syrup are shining on top, your eyes will take the first delicious bite and your tummy will be happy and satisfied.

thankful thursday #88 on delay, compliments of at&t

Today was a big day.

An out-of-town friend I met in Peru last year is here visiting, following his return trip there last week.  We planned a little reunion with some others here in town, and I offered to host them at my place for dinner.

Coincidentally, these were kicking off tonight, too ...



... so we planned to tune in to the Opening Ceremonies.

You can imagine my thrill when last night, settling in to blog about gratitude and grasping for something to be thankful about (it was one of those days), my internet and TV were down.

Thanks, AT&T.

So today, I worked from home for the majority of the day while they spent five hours repairing a "line" that wasn't working.

I should be thankful that my TV was up and running for the big Ceremonies, and that I didn't have to be strapped to my office desk today.  And I am.

(If they slap a service charge on next month's invoice, that gratitude might very well fade right into thin air.  Stay tuned.)

Are you thankful the Olympics are here?  Go on, be grateful!

delaware

Delaware is a long way from home, but people I love happen to live there.

Delta Airlines, in all its glory, makes Delaware even further away, what with their inability to get anyone, anywhere on time.

I missed half a day with Little Man because of those delays, but truly, this toothy grin and these sparkling eyes ...



... melt that bitterness right away!  For.  Real.

We had such a big time this weekend.  Little Man tried his first pickle.  This is how he felt about that:



He explored the playground and was so thrilled with this little gem:



We played outside, took walks in the stroller, played with his nesting cups (a lot), and watched him contemplate walking, but opting instead to scoot around on all fours.

He thought about it so hard!  It will come soon enough.

And then we snuggled a little ...



... but not much, because he's a busy boy.  He loves a change of scenery!

And after a weekend with the prince, we said our goodbyes.



But not for long.  I'll be squeezing his belly again in one short month, and it can not come soon enough.

Thanks for spending your weekend with your Cubby, Little Man.  I just can't get enough.

thankful thursday #87

I'm a scripture underliner.

Sometimes it's a verse that gives me the warm and fuzzies, sometimes it's a verse that punches me in the gut, and sometimes it's a verse that straight cuts me off at the knees.

Tonight in some reflections on God's steadfast faithfulness to His people over hundreds of thousands of years, my accountability gals and I were reminded that He also wants us to remember that He is the source of all things good in this world (Deut. 8:18).

Flipping through the thin pages of the Old Testament, my mind and fingers drifted back just two chapters before, where I knew this verse waited for me, highlighted in blue:

"When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you -- a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant -- then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."
-- Deut. 6:10-12

That's like an old friend speaking a hard truth, isn't it? 

Just remember, anything good you ever experience sure isn't because of anything you did.

It was good to revisit that old friend, and to remember the season when the Lord spoke that verse to my heart.

There's nothing fancy about this Thankful Thursday; just a simple gratitude for a little blue highlighter that has guided me on some sweet walks down Memory Lane.

What are you appreciating this week?  Go on, be grateful!

seeing isn't believing

"Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?"
-- Romans 8:24b

A friend of mine doesn't believe in God, and while her unbelief is certainly complex, one of the hang-ups is that she can't see or touch him.

I put my faith only in the people and things I can see, feel, and touch, she says.

Although our faiths are different, I understand her struggle.  It's a hard discipline, even for Christians, to remember that there's a world of activity happening in the spiritual realm that we can't see.

Of course, if everything were happening before our very eyes, then faith wouldn't be faith, and if that was the case, then what would be the point anyway (thanks, Romans 8)?

The Israelites wrestled with God over this very thing even in the Old Testament.  For a lot of years, by the way.

Remember the golden calf incident in Exodus?  Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving nearly six weeks of instruction from God about the tabernacle.  (That tabernacle project was kind of a big deal.)  Chapter 32 gives the "back at the ranch" update, where the Israelites were losing patience and beginning to think Moses had checked out for good. 

They whined to Aaron, Moses' right-hand guy, and demanded that he make them a god.  They were done with the invisible God Moses was following, and they were needing to see, feel, and touch one instead.

Aaron, in his notorious Lapse-in-Judgement of the Year, fashioned a golden calf from a collection of earrings.  (Out came this calf, he told Moses in verse 24.  I'd expect more from Moses' Number Two, no?)

But, the Hebrews got what they wanted: a statue they could see, feel and touch.

During the time of judges, the Israelites begged Samuel to name a king, like all the other nations (1 Sam. 8:5).  Despite the prophecies of a coming King that would satisfy their every need and more, they were swayed by what the rest of the world deemed "right," and ended up with years and years of a leadership disaster.

They got what they wanted: a physical king they could see, feel and touch.

Sometimes I don't feel much different than the Israelites.  Instead of hoping for, and having faith, in the God who invests in me, loves me, and wants to fulfill me in every way, I settle for -- or worse, demand -- a temporary fix that I can see, feel and touch.

But oh, how it is good to be convicted of this!  Even though we can't see or touch our God in the way we might want to, we can feel Him working, if we look hard with our spiritual eyes, and listen hard with our spiritual ears.

There is that battle happening around us every day, where there is a Warrior, fighting to the death for our hearts.  He is working for our good, and He is begging for us to believe that on faith.

Sovereign Lord, grant me a faith that is full and unreserved.  Let it not be based on my experience and limited view, but in the hope of Your promises and the testimony of Your Spirit.

thankful thursday #86

Exactly one year ago, I was preparing for my first overseas mission trip.

I was running last-minute errands, praying my bag would weigh in under fifty pounds, and wishing I'd invested in Rosetta Stone (not really, but kind of).

I'm looking at quite the opposite this weekend: no errands, no packing, and no anxiety.

Friends that I made on that trip, however, are heading back there tomorrow, and they have been preparing and praying for this trip for quite some time.  Again. 

I'm so proud of them, and although I'm not going this year, I'm thankful they are willing and ready to get out there and get their hands dirty again in the name of Jesus.

I hope your weekend is a good one, friends, whether or not you're getting your hands dirty, and that you find much goodness to appreciate.

At the very least, thank someone who's working hard for the Kingdom.  Go on, be grateful!

all greek to me

I've noticed that about 90% of my posts over the last few months have been categorized under "munching."

This is not surprising, because a) I have a new kitchen that's great to cook in, b) I haven't had any really fun, out-of-the-ordinary happenings to do otherwise, and c) I did declare 2012 the Year of Hospitality.

But seriously, I need to show some evidence of areas of growth, other than that of my waistline.  I promise a post soon about something more meaningful.  Maybe.

In the meantime, another recipe!

Yesterday I was crazy for some spinach.  There are worse things to crave, but I really wanted some kind of spinach pie, or spanakopita ... something like this:

Spinach, cheese, onions, in a pastry shell?  Yes, please.

Naturally I couldn't find any one recipe that didn't totally stress me out, so this is a variation of many recipes combined.  It was de-lish!

Spinach Pie

2 boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 small onion, or half of a large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/3 c. chopped scallions
4 oz. grated cheese, any combination (I used Swiss and mozzarella)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1-2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed
EVOO
Salt and pepper, to taste

1. Sauté onion over medium high heat for about 5-7 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add garlic clove, and sauté another minute.
 
2. In a large bowl, mix drained spinach (really get after the draining ... use a dish towel and squeeze the mess out of it), onions and garlic, scallions, cheese, eggs, and mayo.  You just want the spinach mixture to have a little bit of stick to it, but not greasy or clumpy.
 
3. Grease an 8 x 8 square baking dish.  Roll out one sheet of puff pastry, just larger than the square dish, and place in the bottom.  (It will come up a little on the sides when it bakes.)  Pour the spinach mixture into the dish and top with the other sheet of puff pastry.  (I just used about 2/3 of the second pastry sheet, and cut it into 6 squares to top the spinach.)  * I think you can get creative on this pastry part.  I'd consider using it only on the top, to cut down on some of the carbs and cals.  Or, you could do a lattice topping, like an old-fashioned apple pie!  You really can't go wrong with puff pastry, so be fun and put your own mark on it.
 
4. Spray the top with cooking spray, or brush with an egg wash, and bake at 375 degrees, for 35-40 minutes.  Let sit 20 minutes before serving.

I ate this for dinner with a little cucumber-tomato-olive-feta salad, and enjoyed every delectable Mediterranean bite.

thankful thursday #85, the late edition

I am back from a spontaneous trip to the lovely Savannah, Georgia, where the Spanish moss covers everything, and our family tree has roots!



Growing up, Savannah was the place we went to see our grandparents -- Dad has the privilege of calling that great city home -- and I loved it back then for the smells, the azaleas, the parks, the uneven sidewalks, and the old house Dad grew up in.

I still love it for all those things, but it's good to go back now, and learn to appreciate the city as an adult, take in some gorgeous architecture, and gain ten pounds eat at some favorite food dives that are yumm-o.

We still stay in the old house, which is a treat, but there's no internet access there, and there's no ESPN, which is tragic during the Wimbledon semis and finals.

Fortunately for me, my smart Mom accompanied me on this trip and thought of a most brilliant solution to the ESPN quandary.  It turns out, Breakfast at Wimbledon was available at the Hampton Inn lobby right up the road!

Don't judge.  We're not proud.

Just thankful that we got to see the women's final!

In other ungrateful news, I go back to work tomorrow after virtually two weeks off.  This is how I feel about that:



Boo.

Let's look for something to appreciate in spite of Monday, shall we?  Go on, be grateful!

the problem with grace-stretchers

There are people in my life -- dare I say, in everyone's lives -- who are maddening.  You know these people, these grace-stretchers.

He has a quirk that frustrates me.

She never thinks before she speaks.

He's so inconsiderate.

She talks so loudly. 

She's so impatient.

And on and on.

When I feel annoyed, I usually cue the old hymn "Grace Greater Than Our Sin" in my mind to inspire me to take the high road.  To remind myself that it's not about me, and to sieze the opportunity to extend grace to these people who are seemingly oblivious.

Grace, grace, God's grace ...

That's the spiritually mature thing to do.

Except it's not.  At all.

There isn't one person on the earth who needs a bigger dose of grace than me, or anyone else.  The grace of God isn't rationed out, based on how challenging we are at a given time.

He isn't discriminatory in how he grants his unmerited favor, and if, as followers of Christ, we're being transformed into His likeness, then we shouldn't be either.

So the problem with grace-stretchers isn't that they require more work from me.  The problem is that they hold up a flawless mirror to my own face, revealing a nasty pride disguised as a willing grace-giver.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
Amazing love, now flowing down
From hands and feet
That were nailed to the tree
Grace flows down and covers me
-- "Who Am I/Grace Flows Down", Watermark