'Mug' Chocolate Cake

Most of us like (or love!) chocolate cake, but unless it's a special occasion, if you're anything like me it doesn't get made very often - you might make the odd batch of chocolate cupcakes to appease your chocolate cake hormonal gods, but that's about it.

Well now you can have your chocolate cake and eat it, every day if you want!!
I came across this recipe in a new cookbook that I bought recently and wanted to try it because basically I didn't believe that it would work or that it would be any good - well, I couldn't of been more wrong.  If you're looking for a fast, last minute, warm, moist, delicious chocolate cake then look no further. You may be as sceptical as I was when you read it, but go on, give it a try and you'll be thanking me, I promise :o)

I have some large Christmas mugs that I use, and quite honestly just making one is enough for hubby and I with a couple of scoops of vanilla ice-cream for dessert.  I usually make it and eat it while it's still warm, but we had a couple with friends a few weeks ago and they're just as nice once they've cooled down.

'Mug' Chocolate Cake
makes 1 'large mug' cake

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
5 Tbs sugar
2 Tbs cocoa powder
1 large egg
3 Tbs milk
3 Tbs vegetable oil
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt

• whisk everything together in a large mug until smooth.
• microwave on full power for about 2 minutes until puffed (1 min, 50 seconds is good for my microwave)
• either eat straight from the mug, or tip out and enjoy with vanilla ice cream.  
• if you want a little bit of molten 'sauce' on top of the cake when you tip it out, reduce the cooking time by a couple of seconds.

 'Mug' Chocolate Cake ingredients.

put everything into a large mug and whisk....

...until smooth.

microwave for about 2 minutes until puffed.

tip out and if you've got the timing right you'll have a delicious molten 'sauce'.

we find that just one 'mug' serving is enough for two people alongside some good vanilla ice-cream.

Nachos

Christmas Eve is definitely the time for a quick and easy dinner.  Hubby worked today and I wasn't entirely sure what time he would be home, so I wanted something that I could throw together without too much effort but that was warm and filling - it's done nothing but pour with rain for the last 3 or 4 days so we're all feeling decidedly damp at the moment, and who doesn't like nachos?  As usual I made a huge batch, and froze the remainder of the beef mixture in a couple of servings each for other times.

Nachos

1 kg ground beef
1 (430ml) jar of salsa
1 (127ml) can of chopped green chillies
a couple of splashes of Tabasco sauce
pinch of salt and pepper
bag of your favourite tortilla chips
grated cheese (I cheated and bought a pre-grated Taco/Nacho blend)
sour cream (to serve)

• in a large skillet over medium to high heat, fry the ground beef until no longer pink.
• add the salsa, green chillies and Tabasco sauce; mix together.
• turn heat down slightly and simmer for 10-15 minutes until liquid has reduced; taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, add more Tabasco if desired.
• on a large plate arrange a layer of tortilla chips.
• top with a couple of large spoonfuls of the beef mixture, followed by some grated cheese (to own personal preference).
• follow with another tortilla, beef and cheese layer.
• microwave the nachos in the microwave for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese and enjoy :)

 Nachos ingredients

even if you use extra lean ground beef (like I did) you won't need any extra oil, you'll get enough from the beef.

add the salsa and green chillies once the beef is no longer pink.

simmer for about 10-15 minutes to reduce the liquid and thicken; it will also darken slightly.

start with a layer of tortilla chips on the plate.

add a layer of the beef mixture.

then some grated cheese.

carry on making as many layers as you want (we just had two of everything)

pop in a microwave for a couple of minutes just to melt the cheese.

finally grab a big serving in a bowl, have lots of napkins on hand, and enjoy!! :o)