Chocolate Lava Cake

A couple of weeks ago I discovered The Pioneer Woman's cooking show.  The show popped up on Netflix.  I've heard of her before, but I had never seen her show because we do not have cable.  I had not ever been to her blog.  I had knew she has a cooking show and lives in Oklahoma.  Anywho, after I binge-watched five episodes, I asked my Facebook friends about her.  Apparently, everyone has heard of her and seen her show.  

My friend, Jenny, brought me one of her Pioneer Woman cook book today.  It's called The Pioneer Woman Cooks Food From My Frontier.  I haven't made anything from it yet, but I already like it because she has step-by-step instructions with pictures.  Very helpful for a person like me who is culinarily challenged.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that I made a corn casserole for Thanksgiving.  I found a recipe on Pinterest.  I wanted a crockpot recipe that would be easy to make and that I wouldn't have to cook or prepare at my mom's house.  It only called for a can of corn, a can of creamed corn, one package of Jiffy cornbread, one stick of butter and a cup of sour cream.  I doubled the recipe and threw it in the crockpot for four hours.  By the time it was time to eat, the middle had somehow liquified.  The outsides and bottom had burned to nice charcoal color.  My sister thought it was a cheese dip.  It was sad.  I redeemed myself a few days later when my friend, Mrs. Courtney, gave me her recipe for corn casserole.  Same recipe, just cooked in the over for 45 minutes instead.  Perfection.  I wish I had a picture of the first corn casserole.  It was horrendous.  

However, today's experiment was not horrendous at all.  It was a little bit of heaven.  I found the recipe on Pinterest when I was searching for Pioneer Woman recipes.  Actually, the recipe I found on her blog was a guest post so it isn't technically isn't a Pioneer Woman's recipe.  It's from Tasty Kitchen.  The Tasty Kitchen calls the recipe a chocolate cobbler, but it's more like a chocolate lava cake.  It is so delicious and easy to make.  If you bake even just a little, you'll most likely have everything in your pantry.  The last step in the recipe is different than any other cake recipe I've seen, but it turned out perfectly.  It was a hit for my whole family.  Of course, I topped it with vanilla ice cream. I could also see drizzling it with caramel sauce.  Mmmmm.

So you basically make a chocolate cake.

Then you make a cocoa, sugar and brown sugar topping you spread on top of your cake.  Next, this is the step that is a little different.  You add a some hot tap water on top of of the sugar topping.

Slide it into the oven and bake for 45 minutes.  When you pull it out, it looks similar to brownies.

However, when you cut into it, you see the chocolate goodness or "lava".

Scoop it out, top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and try not to eat the rest of the cake. 

Here is the original link on the Tasty Kitchen.  She has spectacular step-by-step pictures on the post.

Here is the recipe. 

Chocolate Lava Cake

Ingredients:

1 C. of all purpose flour

2 t. of baking powder

1/4 t. of salt

7 T. of cocoa powder, divided

1 1/4 C. of sugar, divided

1/2 C. of milk

1/3 C. of melted butter

1 1/2 t. of vanilla extract

1/2 C. of light brown sugar, packed

1 1/2 C. of HOT tap water

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Combine flour, baking powder, salt, 3 T. of the cocoa, and 3/4 C. of the white sugar. Reserve the remaining cocoa and sugar.
3.  Stir in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla to the flour mixture. Mix until smooth.
4.  Pour the mixture into an ungreased 8-inch baking dish.
5.  In a separate small bowl, mix the remaining white sugar (it should be 1/2 cup), the brown sugar, and remaining 4 tablespoons of cocoa.
6.  Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter.
7.  Pour the hot tap water over all. DO NOT STIR!
8.  Bake for about 40 minutes or until the center is set.

Let stand for a few minutes and serve topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Let stand for a few minutes if you can hold yourself back.

Transformation Tuesday

This is my very first Transformation Tuesday post.  A couple of weeks ago, I was looking through some pictures from the past couple of years to make a birthday slideshow for my son.  I was a little shocked to see some photos of me from last year.  I think perhaps two years ago when I went to Korea, I was at my heaviest.  I honestly didn't think that much about it and I'm not sure quite sure when the shift came for me.  It was a slow burn for me. 

In fact, I don't think it was until last year in March when I made the decision to do something different than what I had been doing.  

I knew at Disney World I would be walking a lot.  I decided that would be the beginning of my walking routine.  It helped to have a week when my body would get used to walking.  When I got back home, it was so much easier to do it.  At home, it started with two laps down the street and back, totaling 2/3 of a mile.  Every week or so I would add more laps.  

I had worked up to walking 5 1/2 miles a day.  This past June, I started to jog.  I ran my first 5K in September.  I did not ever think that would be possible.  Ever.  

So now, here I am.  Trying to set new goals.  Still trying to not eat the leftovers off my kids plates.  Trying to get over the hump of a plateau.  Trying to psych myself up to get up and run three miles every morning in 25 degrees weather.  Which actually isn't as bad as you'd think as long as the Oklahoma wind isn't blowing 30 miles and hour.  Trying to find boots to fit these big ol' calves of mine.  Trying to not get discouraged or make myself feel bad when I can't go run.  But....

Enjoying the added energy I have.  Enjoying bike rides with my kids.  Enjoying the officer looking at me with a smile on his face.  Enjoying shopping in regular stores for clothes.  Enjoying the sunrises I see on my morning runs.  Enjoying saying yes to things that used to say no to because I didn't think it was possible.  

I still have a long way to go.  I still haven't hit the very first weight goal I had set for myself last year.  However,  I only have 15 pounds to go instead of 60.  But, I'm not where I was.  I've made progress and I'm not giving up.  

My first Transformation Tuesday picture.  

Spandex Free Zone

I was able to use my birthday present for the first time today.  It's a bike rack that will hold up to four bicycles.  The officer attached it to his car last night so the kids and I could meet some friends at Lake Hefner..  The officer put one bike inside the car and mounted my bike and my daughter's bike on the rack.  It works perfectly.  I do not even have to take off the rack to raise the back door.  There is only 1/4 of an inch space between the rack and door.  It's tight, but completely doable. 

I have always wanted to ride bikes with the kids at Lake Hefner.  It's just under 10 miles all the way around the lake.  We couldn't do it because we had no way to transport all our bicycles, so the officer bought me a bike rack for my birthday.  

We met Mrs. Courtney and her kids this morning at Lake Hefner.  After the kids played on the playground for a while, we took a bike ride.  Except for Mrs. Courtney, who pushed a stroller.   All the kids did great.  They moved over for the runners and other riders.  They pulled over to the side when they got to a curve or couldn't see us.

After bicycling, we went to Freddy's for lunch and ice cream.  

I had to get a picture with the Freddy's concrete because.... well you know how I like unusually large (or small) things. 

Mrs. Courtney had to head back home after lunch.  The kids and I went back to Lake Hefner and rode another four miles.  I think we could have make it further, but there were some bottoms that were getting sore.  Not mine though because I have a big mamma-jamma gel seat on my bike.  This momma don't play!

The bike rack was very easy to use.  My daughter helped me load the bikes back on the rack.  Easy, cheesy lemon squeezy.  Until that is, I realized we loaded son's bike into the back of the car and our bikes on the rack but forgot to shut the back door of the car.  It won't go down with the bikes on the rack (remember that 1/4 of an inch space?)  So we had to unload the bikes on the rack, shut the door, and reload them.  Not too bad.  I see much more bicycle riding at Lake Hefner in our future. No spandex though.  There will be no spandex.

My First 5k - Makin' Tracks

Today was the day.  The day of my first 5k.  The officer and I ran the Makin' Tracks 5k in the Piedmont Founder's Day celebration.  The kids participated in the one mile fun walk/run with my sister and her children.  

Last night I looked at the weather forecast for the morning.  90% chance of rain.  High of 72 degrees.  Yay.  And I do mean yay.  I would rather run in the rain and cool weather than weather in the 80s.  The officer, however, was not looking forward to it.  

The race was scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. with check-in starting at 6 a.m.  It was going to be an early, early morning for this homeschooling family.  The officer wanted to be there at 6 a.m.  Later I found out he thought the race started at 7 a.m.  We woke the kids up at 5:20 a.m.  We left the house at 5:45 a.m. and headed to Piedmont.  It was raining.  At 6 a.m., we picked up our race packets.  And then.....  we waited.  We went to a local McDonalds to wait some more.  We were all nice, dry, and warm in there.  :)

Around 6:45 a.m., we headed back to the race.  We met up with my sister and her three littles.  We stood outside for about 30 minutes, getting a little more wet with each passing minute.  We'd all be soaked to the bone by the time we are finished.

The race official lined us up at 7:25 a.m.  I told the officer there was no need to get up in front and be in everyone's way.  All the 5kers were going to be running in one directions and the one mile fun walk/runners would be going in the opposite direction.

The starting pistol was shot and we were off.  The 5k was to help raise funds for the Piedmont cross country team.  My niece was volunteering during the race.  She was at the standing at the first turn directing runners.  She took this picture of the officer and me.  I was all smiles then.

It wasn't long before all I saw was an older gentlemen in front of me.  Most of the other runners were far ahead.  My only goal was to not stop running.  The officer stayed with me the whole time.  I know he probably got a little bored running so slow, but he hung in there with me.  He may have run some of the race backwards.  I may have even seen him skip a few times.  Maybe not.

It wasn't a difficult race.  I enjoyed the rain and cool weather.  In fact, about a mile into it I was getting hot and wanted to take off my sweatshirt, but I thought I would probably have to stop for that so I didn't do it.  As I rounded my last turn, I saw my niece, son and daughter running toward me to finish the last leg.  As I closed in on the finish line, the officer was encouraging me to finish strong and my sister and her children were waiting and cheering across the finish line.  I was terribly slow, but I completed my goal for my first 5k. I ran the whole thing - in 43:01 minutes. 

 

 

  

 

After I was finished, I stayed around for medals.  I was pretty sure since there were three people behind me there would be no reason to stay, but the officer said I may have done well for my age group (41-50 year olds). Turns out he was right.  I got third place for my age group. 

There may have only been five people in this age group and two of the five may have walked the entire race.  I think you can see them behind me in this picture.

The kids all had fun during the one mile walk/fun.  Son said he ran the whole thing.  I think they enjoyed walking and running in the rain too.

 

After the race, the officer and my son had to go help set up the Trail Life booth for Founder's Day.  They were going to help spread the word about Trail Life, sell cowboy cookers and vanilla ice cream topped with Magic Shell and bacon!  Daughter and I headed home to change clothes and pick up some more dry clothes for son.  We went back to Piedmont to watch the parade. 

Daughter was very excited to have her rain boots.

Son did a great job spreading the word about Trail Life.

Overall, it was a great day.  I never, ever thought I would run a 5k.  Like. EVER.  I didn't think it was possible for me.  If I can do it, anyone can.  It all started out with one little walk around the block about a year and half ago and a run around the blog this past June.  I will do another 5k.  The officer said we need to focus next time on doing it faster.  I agree, but I think I'd like to run another one, just to do it and enjoy it before I try for quicker time. 

I'm so thankful for the officer though.  He has encouraged me this whole time. Always acknowledging the hard work and encouraging me to keep it up.  He may have not enjoyed running slow in the cool, rainy weather, but he never complained.  He just encouraged and photographed along the way.  Love him.

Finally Doing It!

I am biting the bullet. In my last post I had written about wanting to run a 5k; however, the one I had originally chosen did not work out.  So I have found another 5k to run - this Saturday.

I have officially registered for my first

I have worked up to four miles a day this past week, but that's only been on my nice, flat neighborhood sidewalks.  The officer is going to run this one with me.  My kids are going to participate in the one mile fun run/walk along with my sister and her kids. 

I won't be running for time.  I'll just be looking for finish it without injuring myself or others.  I'm excited and looking forward to it.  

On My Way to a 5K

I'm doing it folks.  I'm on my way to running a 5k.  Several members of my family (husband, my kids, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews) are planning on running a 5k this fall.  I thought I found one in Norman, but apparently you have to be a student or faculty at OU to participate.  I am going to find another one around the same time period.  

In the meantime, I have been training for the 5k.  I've come a long way from my first attempt at jogging.  That wasn't pretty for anyone to see.  It was more than a year ago.  Earlier this summer, I decided to throw it out there that I wanted to run a 5k to make myself more accountable.  I started small.  Jogging 1/2 mile laps with walking breaks when I needed them.  I progressed to jogging the whole 1/2 mile laps with no breaks and then up to 1 mile laps with no breaks.  Currently, I can run 3.5 miles with stopping.  My goal this month is to work up to 4 miles with no stopping.  Next month I will work on getting my 1 mile lap time down from it's dreadfully slow pace.  

This morning when I went out to jog, I had a handsome running partner. 
 

He had to jog a lot slower than he's used to, but he stayed with me.  We pounded the pavement listening to our 80s cardio music.  I found running with someone was much more fun that I thought it would be.  I usually like to just put my earbuds in and go.  Today running with the officer, I had someone who made me pick up my pace and didn't mind if I sang "Jesse's Girl" out loud.  Can't ask more than that out a running partner. 

Great Finds!

I had a day or so to myself earlier this week.  I went to the Goodwill thrift store.  I enjoy going to the thrift stores.  That's where I found my shirt.  You see a lot of clothes you would never wear, but it pays off sometimes.  You can find something great hidden among the unwanted. 

I had no kids and time to rifle through each rack.  I found two treasures among the racks.  I found this cute black and white trench coat for only $4.50.  It fits perfectly.  The sleeves aren't too long and it's not too snug in the shoulders. 

I also found this cute green and white hobo bag for only $1.80.  It's my favorite shade of green.

The next awesome find was not from Goodwill.  It was from Crest grocery.  Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Oreos.  They were even on sale for two for $5 with a $1 off the purchase of two coupon attached to the package.  SCORE!  Yes, I purchased two packages.  And I have to say they are pretty good.  It's a good thing they are a limited edition. 

 

It has been unseasonable cool for July in Oklahoma.  Last night, my daughter thought Jetta was cold so she put one of her too small t-shirts on her.  She wore it all evening and to bed.  It didn't seem to bother her at all. 

While my daughter and I have been here, the officer and my son have been on their Trail Life campout in Colorado.  On Wednesday, they hiked up Mt. Bierstadt.  Mt. Bierstadt is 14,060 ft.  They climbed it in under five hours.  It was a first for both of them.  They are having a blast. 

I'm ready for my boys to be back home.  It seems like they have been gone forever.  My daughter has been pretty busy while the boys have been away.  She spent a couple of days at grandma and papa's and tonight she is having a couple of girls stay the night.  There has been a lot of high pitched giggling and screaming.  Next week both the kids go to Cousin's Camp at grandma's house.  And in just a couple of weeks Michael Buble will be in town!!!!!!!  Yay!!

FREEbie Friday

Today was a good day.  Not only was today Chick-Fil-A Cow Appreciation Day, but there were a few other perks today too.  You might be wondering why I was excited about Chick-Fil-A Cow Appreciation Day.  If you dress in a complete cow costume, you will receive a FREE Chick-Fil-A meal!  If you come in with say just cow spots on your shirt, you could get a FREE entree like a chicken sandwich.  Can't go wrong.  So the kids and I dressed up in our cow ears, cow spots, cow tails, and a cow cape and headed to our local Chick-Fil-A to meet my friend, Mrs. V and her family for some FREE food.

Don't worry.  If you missed this year's Cow Appreciation Day, you can participate next year.  Chick-Fil-A has already posted the date for next year, July 10, 2015.  And yes, we'll be there with our cow bells on.

After lunch, we headed to a local park so the kids could work on their American Ninja Warrior training.  It's a competition show where contestants try to complete an obstacle course in a quickest time possible. This is a show we watch every single week as a family.  We watched it last season and really enjoyed it.  This year the kids have decided they'd like to do some American Ninja Warrior training.  I think my son would like to go on the show some day.  So... we went to the park today so they could train in the:

Body Prop

 

 

American Ninja Warrior Body Prop

 

Jumping over things

 

Swinging from rings to improve grip strength

 

 

American Ninja Warrior Rings

 

More climbing and hanging to improve grip strength

 

American Ninja Warrior Upside-Down Rock Climb

 

Walking and balancing on fences

 

American Ninja Warrior Balance Bridge

 

Jumping through swings

 

American Ninja Warrior Red Ball

 

After working up a sweat, the perfect solution for cooling off is a FREE slurpee at 7-Eleven in honor of 7-Eleven Day. 

 

And to top it all off today was Kripy Kreme's 77th birthday.  Krispy Kreme had a great special going on today.  Buy one dozen, get a second dozen for only .77.  My son is leaving for a week long camping trip in Colorado very, very early in the morning.  I invited one of my friends to go along to Krispy Kreme at 9 p.m. to pickup some donuts for the camping boys.  I figured if we go late, they will be fresher and it won't be crowded.  One out of two ain't bad.  It was crowded, but not crazy crowded.  As we waited in line, we were given a FREE hot donut. 

 

The four dozen donuts I purchased were hot off the line.  Hopefully all four dozen makes it to all the boys before they are picked over. 

And that's the end to my day.  FREE Chick-Fil-A food.  FREE 7-Eleven Slurpee.  Yummy donuts.  Not bad.  :)