The Kitchens Clean....Now What?

Do you ever feel if you clean your kitchen one more time you might lose your mind?.....or sweep up the same floor, vacuum that same carpet, pick up those legos and scrub that toilet…..clean the glass on the coffee table, pick up the same shoes, coats, backpacks, dolls …………AHAHAHAHHAHHAH! I think I just might go crazy….I may already be there.

All my kids are in school the entire day for the first time this year. At first I thought “the world is my oyster! I can do whatever I want!” And I guess in some ways that’s true. But the house still needs to be cleaned and groceries’ still need to be shopped for, the same laundry has to be done…..it’s endless. So day in and day out I do the same things I did when I had all my children at home….I just do it without company. At first I would blast my music (songs that I don’t want my kids listening to) and I thought this is great…as I danced around the kitchen. But I’m bored with the songs…and let’s face it I’ve never been much of a dancer.

I always thought I would have more children…but alas I think my eggs are old or I could blame it on Paul’s tight briefs…whatever the reason the baby isn’t coming and it’s time to find something to put in its place. I know I could get a job, (not a good one) but I want to be there when My kids need me…and financially I can do that so why not? The perfect job would be one where I could stay home and bake all day!! I LOVE BAKING!!

That brings me to my next problem…since December I’ve gained 10 LBS!! (Because of the baking.) I know I need to lose the dreaded weight…..I lost 52 lbs a year ago and I don’t intend on gaining it back no matter how tasty my cakes are. But If I take baking out of my life I’m just left with cleaning the kitchen…sigh.

So I’m trying this blog as a compromise. Instead of eating I will type…and exercise. And maybe in the journaling process I can figure out what to do with my days. I figure I will post some of the healthy recipes I will be trying, (because let’s face it for every one yummy low calorie meal there are 10 sick ones) So I will try them out on my family and bring only the good ones back to you. And then I was thinking every Friday I would allow myself to bake something sinful and I will give you that recipe as well. BALANCE IN ALL THINGS! I will fill you in on the weight loss or gain..gulp!

I’ll start my recipe sharing with something delicious but terrible for you…..enjoy

Chocolate Hi- Hats

I make these in mini cupcakes because I think It’s the perfect size for the major flavor.

Cake ingredients

1 package devil’s food cake mix

1 package chocolate instant pudding mix

1 8 ounce container of sour cream

4 large eggs

½ cup vegetable oil

½ cup warm water

Preheat the oven to 350

Combine cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, eggs, vegetable oil and water in a large mixer bowl: beat on low speed until just blended. Beat on medium speed for 2 min. fill the mini cup cake cups about 2/3 full.

Bake for about 8- 10 min. Cool in pans for 5 min and then remove to wire racks and cool completely.

Seven –Minute Frosting (big lie it’s more like 15 min frosting)

1 ¼ cups sugar

1/3 cup water

3 Large egg whites

¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

1 tsp teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon almond extract.

Make the frosting. Put the sugar, water, egg whites, and cream of tartar in a heatproof bowl or the top of the double boiler with at least a 2-quart capacity and beat with a handheld electric mixer on high speed until opaque, white and foamy, about 1 minute, Put the bowl over, but not touching, a saucepan of barely simmering water (or the bottom of the double boiler). The top container should sit firmly over the pan of hot water; be sure to keep the cord of the electric mixer away from the burner. Beat on high speed until the frosting forms stiff peaks, about 12 to 15 min (7 min is a freaking lie). Remove the container of frosting from the water add the vanilla and almond extracts’, and continue beating for 2 min to further thicken the frosting.

Put the frosting in a pastry bag and make a swirl on top of the cupcake. I put them in the fridge for a min before I dip them in the chocolate glaze.

Chocolate Glaze

2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips or chopped semisweet chocolate

3 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil

Melt in the microwave for one min then stir and a couple more seconds….make sure you do not burn the chocolate…let the chocolate cool for a min or two and then you can dip the tops of the cupcakes.

Enjoy chocolate heaven!!