S'mores Bars

I have been on the hunt this summer for my favorite s'more treat! Yes, they are best when made traditionally . . . but I wanted an easy way to make them indoors at home. I have tried several recipes and even thought I could make up my own recipe (which turned out okay, but not great . . . what was I thinking)! Finally, I stumbled upon this recipe and tried it out. I LOVE it! It is a basic s'more treat you can make inside. Enjoy!

2 C. graham cracker crumbs

1/3 C. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 stick (1/2 C.) unsalted butter, melted

1 lb. milk chocolate

2 C. mini marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine crumbs, sugar, salt and butter. Press crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown and let cook on a rack.

Melt chocolate in microwave on 30 second intervals, stirring in between. Pour melted chocolate over crust, spreading evenly. Sprinkle marshmallows over chocolate; press lightly. Broil under preheated broiler for about 30 seconds or until the marshmallows are golden.

Allow to cool on countertop for 1 hour. Refrigerate until chocolate is set, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Cut into squares.

Thanks Shine Your Light!

Marshmallow

Chocolate Cake in a Mug

I don't have too many recipes that I like to make with kids, but here is one of the few that I have. If you have little kids, this will be SUCH a BIG HIT!

My grandma sent this recipe to me a year or two ago. We gave it a try, and the kids LOVE how the batter looks like it will completely overtake your microwave. The batter literally rises SO HIGH up above the top of the mug! I was nervous the first time I made this . . . thinking about all the mess I would have to clean up. Suprisingly, there was NO mess, and never has been!

Usually, I leave out the chocolate chips, and it turns out fine. But last night, we decided to make one cake using chocolate chips, and one using mint chips. Now that I have made this super easy chocolate cake with and without chips, I recommend using them! I think the cake tasted better. Both chocolate chips and mint tasted great! Have fun!

You'll need:

1 coffee mug

1/4 C. flour (plain, not self-rising)

1/3 C. sugar

2 TBS. cocoa

1/4 tsp. salt

1 egg

3 TBS. milk

3 TBS. oil

small splash of vanilla

3 TBS. chocolate chips (optional)

Add dry ingredients to mug, mix well with a fork. Add egg, milk, oil, and vanilla. Mix well.

Add chips, if using. Put mug in microwave, and cook on 1000 watts for 2 minutes and 45 seconds. (3 minutes, cake will be dry).

Cake will rise over top of mug, and look like it will spill over. DO NOT BE ALARMED! Allow to cool a little; tip onto a plate if desired.

Note: This can serve two if you want to feel slightly more virtuous!

Thanks Grandma!