Cheap? Fast? Chocolate? Heaven!

I'll start out with the obvious: women love chocolate.  We need it.  We crave it.  We will walk across miles of barren desert for it.  We will even selfishly hide it from our children so we don't have to share it.  Sometimes, though mind-boggling to the men in our lives, the craving for chocolate can strike us fast and hard.  We need chocolate now.

This proved to be a very big problem in my early frugal living days.  I stopped buying cookies, cakes, candy bars, and ooey-gooey boxed deliciousness because it is quite obvious that prepared foods are grocery budget killers.  If I wanted a yummy treat, I had to make it from scratch.  This was all well and good since I enjoyed baking cakes and brownies.  But then the moment came; I wanted chocolate now and a cake would take 45 minutes to bake.  Now what?

I found these two recipes and my problems were solved.  I wanted to share with you my secret to the instant chocolate fix.  In under 10 minutes you can have an ooey-gooey, chocolately, from scratch treat with these two recipes.  Just use caution, because when you know you can have it now, it's easy to go calorie crazy.  So enjoy (in moderation) my two favorite fast treats!

Cake in a Cup

• 2 T. flour
• 2 T. cocoa
• 3 T. granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 T. vegetable oil
• 2 T. milk
• Splash of vanilla

Combine flour, cocoa, and sugar in a coffee mug.  Add egg and beat with a fork.  Add oil, milk, and vanilla and mix.  Put the mug in the microwave and cook on high heat for 2 to 2-1/2 minutes.  Cake may rise above mug.  Let cool slightly and enjoy!  If desired, top with chocolate chips.

No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies

• 1/2 c. butter
• 2 c. granulated sugar
• 1/2 c. milk
• 4 T. cocoa
• 1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
• 2 t. vanilla
• 3 c. dry quick-cooking oats

Melt butter in saucepan.  Add sugar, milk and cocoa.  Bring to a rolling boil.  Remove from heat.  Mix in peanut butter and vanilla.  Stir in oats.  Drop by tablespoonfuls onto wax paper or aluminum foil.  Let cool until solidified.  Enjoy!

For more great chocolate recipes, check out: Life As Mom