What Says I love You More Than Chocolate.

I've been thinking lately that I never bake anything anymore, or cook, or read anything, or do any fun projects. Then I remember I'm doing this pretty intense project:

...and then I feel better.

However, I decided I should cook for Valentine's Day, as we decided to stay in this year. Charlie not even being two months, and besides, it's always nuts when you go out, we just decided it would be better. When I'm planning some event or whatever, I just surf then internet for my inspiration - I have a few sites for reciepes and desserts that are my mainstays...and I ran across these Individual Dark-Chocolate Pudding Cakes, from Martha, of course. I decided they looked delish, and they were pretty different for me, and very 'loveish'. :)

For me, they were interesting because you start with a cake like mixture (minus an egg actually) which you spoon into the ramekins, and then you make a topping which is like sugars and cocoa and sprinkle it on the chocolate cake mixture. That seemed normal to me, well maybe except the lack of an egg in the cake mixture. But I'd never done the next step before in anything I've made, you pour 1/4 cup boiling water over top of each filled ramekin and then put in the oven. I was a little skeptical actually, but I did it:

Twenty five minutes later my obedience was rewarded with the cakes looking just like they showed in the picture:

A note from me: The recipe says to serve immediately, topped with vanilla ice cream. This I will tell you is a complete must. A) They are meant to be devoured hot -so awesome. B) They are SO very rich, they must be eaten with something creamy and light, and ice cream is also perfect to cool the heat. So if you make them, don't decide the ice cream is optional!

And another 'PS' - the link is for 6 ramekins - it is very easily halved to be three, which is what I did.

Dang.

Babies are expensive!!! Watching the bills scatter in kinda takes your breath away... If he weren't so dang cute... I might have to return him. ;) Not wanting to start any arguments here, but I don't even want to KNOW what the uninsured, self employed, most private insurance(which doesn't cover maternity), but making just slightly too much to receive assistance are doing when they have babies... selling their organs? You'd have to be making a H#$% off a lot of money for these bills to not require a loan. A loan to have a baby... that's probably what you have to do. Crazyyyy. I'll just be glad I only have a deductible and 20%, even if that 20% takes my breath away.

(This is what the fog did to our bush out front a couple weeks ago... so cool.)

I typically do not mind winter. I don't moan about how it's gray, or cold, or whatever. I don't start wishing it was spring in January... I don't know, I'm usually just happy to go with the flow with the weather... and if it's cold, I make hot cocoa and stay inside. In fact, you're A LOT more likely to hear me moan about heat - I get mega headaches when it's too hot. However, having a little baby makes me anxious for winter to be over... One, to get out of the dangerous and scary cold and flu season, and two, just so I could get out more with the baby and not be exposing him to the really cold temps.


That is all. :)