Velvet Chocolate Pudding

I really wish I could spoon some of this into your mouth.

I don't think you'd believe me otherwise.

This pudding is rich and decadent and super duper chocolatey and actually, shockingly very low carb...

I want to eat this pudding every night. And luckily, since it's quick to throw together, I could...

Garbanzo Bean Chocolate Cake

I know this sounds soooo weird, but I'll tell you what.

The fireman said this is one of the best chocolate cake's he's ever had. It did not last long in the house.

It's so moist and delicious.

It's total craziness. It's so good you can't stay out of it. I literally ate half the batch the first night. Then, my parents came over and between them and the fireman and I, we polished it off.

Congo Bars with Sea Salt a/k/a Unspeakable Badness

My new goal is that I'm allowing myself once per week to eat some unspeakable badness called dessert. I'm not going overboard here, but I'm gonna eat what I want, just once per week. It still follows the Dukan Diet, 1-2 celebration meals per week. And I'm going to try to stick to that, but once a week?

Unspeakable badness.

Gooey Brownie in a Mug

This is one of those diet inventions. I needed a chocolate infusion and didn't want a pan of brownies in the house.

This is a typical chocolate cake in a mug recipe. But, I substituted the flour for cornstarch, which produces a silky finish with much less carbs and I substituted the butter for fat free mayo. This lowers the fat, but the big thing it does is turns it from a cake like texture to a heavy, dense brownie texture.     

So, it's a dessert, not diet food, but it's one that's not going to break the bank. The diet bank. That made more sense in my head. Oh, and it actually tastes good. Like rich, decadent good.

Low Carb Chocolate Pudding Cake

By the way, did I mention that I made it to my diet goal? Well, that's not entirely accurate. I stopped 2 lbs away from my goal. But in my defense, I sat at that weight for 3 weeks without movement. And during this time, I increased my workouts and was super strict.

So, I think that's as far as I can go at this time. Maybe my workouts will continue to improve tone. But honestly? I'm quite happy with my results. So, I don't feel like I'm quitting by stopping 2 lbs short.

Girls' Night Chocolate Chip Cookies

Why are these called Girls' Night Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Because we made them on a girls' night.

Duh.

My Valentine & Pots de Creme

I'm happy to say that my fireman is still the love of my live. And I don't say that just because he did really good this Valentine's Day.

I say it because he's still my friend. We have fun together. I still have a hard time getting to work on time because we are sitting at the table gabbing. At night, we are up late chatting.

Sure, he makes me all tingly with his manly muscles and that look in his eye, but I enjoy him, and I enjoy spending time with him.

Low Carb Dark Cocoa Cupcakes

I've been working on these cupcakes for a month.

At least.

I was seriously dying for something cake-like to put in my mouth without making my diet run for the hills. I came up with a few recipes that I thought were pretty good. But after having children test them, and wrinkle their noses, I knew. It had been a while since I've had a good muffin/cupcake. Long enough that I didn't even realize how incredibly incredible a chocolate cupcake is.

So, here's my last version. What I came up with after trial by....chocolate?

Hot Cocoa on the Stove

Do you remember snowy days as a kid?

The first snow, it was absolutely necessary to run outside and play in the falling snow, even if it didn't stick. You bundle up, with scarf and hat and gloves. Then, running around outside, it's like you're in a magical land.

At least it was for me.

Hot Cocoa Cupcakes and a Parade

*Hot Cocoa Cupcakes*

Saturday, our town had their annual Christmas parade. The youngest boy was in it with the high school band and the girl was in it with her girl scouts troup.

After that, the girl and I had signed up to do a She & Me event at a local church. It was a girl scout event, and a cupcake exchange! They were also having a cocoa tasting and some crafts.

Championship Chocolate Chip Bars

As a kid, my mom made us Magic Cookie Bars. They are the reason for my existence. I dream about them.

When I make them, I tend to eat half of the pan, then snack on it the next day until it's gone.

Obviously, I try not to make them often.

Magic cookie bars are like the layer bars with sweetened condensed milk and corn flakes. But I bastardize it by removing the pesky coconut and pecans, cause I never liked them as a kid.

Date Night Dessert

So, Friday night, the fireman and I decided we needed a date night.

We decided on Chili's. Seriously, one of my favorite places. I ate chips and salsa till I burst, then tried to eat my Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers. I haven't had any fried food in ages, and just CRAVED something fried. I also ate fries and was in heaven.

I really need to try to replicate that honey chipotle sauce. Amazing. They had a great Blackberry Margarita as well. Yu-um.

I was too full for dessert, although I was dying for the Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie. A big slice of chocolate chip bar with ice cream and drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce. *sigh*

We couldn't decide on a movie to go see. Nothing looked that great. A few good things, but not 'theatre material'.
So, we ran by the video store and rented a few movies instead.

We ended up watching Love, Wedding, Marriage with Mandy Moore and Kellan Lutz. It was sweet and cute. I like Mandy Moore much better now that she is older. She's relateable and believable. And Kellan Lutz? Have you seen the guns on this guy? In a button down shirt, no less. Fuhgetabout it.

We also ran by the grocery store and I picked up some pre-made chocolate chip cookie dough.

Late night grocery store shopping is funny. It's funny when you're with the fireman. The store is mostly empty and he likes to ask questions of the fine folks working there.

Questions like, "does a candy bar count as dessert?" "What about chocolate oranges." Then he had to describe what a chocolate orange is. He meant the orange-shaped chocolate in a box.

Sometimes the grocery store ladies are funny and tease him right back and ask him funny questions.

Other times? They just look confused.

Anyway, I bought cookie dough. I know. I'm a sell out.

It is the only cookie dough that I can't find a good recipe for. I've tried it countless times, but nothing is as good. Must be the preservatives...

I did this thing with it. I know. It was baaad. But if this is bad? I don't wanna be good.

Toffee Bars and Caramel Corn

Friday night, the girl and I went to a Halloween function at our community center. It was very cute!

On the way home, we stopped by the grocery store and made treats for our big Halloween party we went to Saturday. You know, the one we got all dressed up for?

I brought these.