Editor’s Note: We’re very happy to have one Debbie Carlos breaking onto our very own blog with a fun new cooking series: “A Sunday Ritual.” What follows is the first installment, which we’ve tried and is as good as advertised. Thanks Debbie! Take it away.
I have a problem. I suppose its not the most serious problem in the realm of problem-having, but it does eat at me. Being a food enthusiast and lover of cooking, I collect many food magazines, cookbooks, and clip recipes off the internet daily. I have stacks and piles of cookbooks and magazines stuck full of post it notes, marking recipes I will someday make. There are probably as many post it notes as pages in each book, if not more.
I have a folder on my desktop labelled “menu” (which is a weird name for a recipes folder) with recipes I’ve saved off the internet. Looking through it recently, I found that within the menu folder lies another folder named “menu” with even older saved recipes. What? I also always work with two open browser windows. One window of things I’m currently internet-ing and the other is just tab after tab of recipes. I have no idea what I’m thinking sometimes.
I want to change. I want to be better! Its sad to just have these recipes sit there in disuse, so I’ve given myself a project. Every Sunday, I will sit down and dig through my archives and cook something new. I will then present to you, dear reader, the best of what I’ve made. The kind and lovely Sarah and Brian of the blog you are currently reading have given me a platform from which to broadcast my experiments. I am so excited about this exercise and to be a guest blogger on Westervin!!
For the first “A Sunday Ritual” post, I am going to tell you about the quickest cake recipe you will ever come upon. Pulling out the ingredients will take more time than baking this cake, I kid you not. Its a chocolate cake for 1 (or 2, or 3 as this recipe is easily doubled and tripled) baked in a microwave. I’m not one to usually skimp on the cooking process. I am all about the home-made, slow food way of life but this recipe just seemed so compelling and has been on my mind since I saved it. It definitely hits the spot when you’re craving a chocolate-something late at night. So here goes!
60 Second Gooey Chocolate Mug Cake
adapted from the site, The Family Kitchen
- 1 egg
- ¼ Cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp cocoa powder
- the tiniest splash of vanilla
- a tiny pinch of salt
- Whipped cream, vanila ice cream, chocolate chips, mint chocolate chips, chopped nuts (optional toppings)
- Crack an egg in a bowl. Whisk in cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt. Mix until smooth and combined.
- Pour mixture into a mug and microwave for about 50 seconds until cooked but still gooey inside.
- Top with toppings of your choice & Enjoy!
Editor’s Note: this post is part of the series “A Sunday Ritual” by Debbie Carlos.