A Scripture verse about food...

"Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them."
~I Corinthians 6:13

Mexican Lasagna

Okay, so there is no chocolate involved in this recipe. But it is a wonderful dinner to precede chocolate!

8 medium flour tortillas
1 1/2 to 2 lb. ground beef
1/2 green pepper, minced
1/2 medium onion, minced
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can chili beans
1 can chili-ready diced tomatoes
4 c. shredded cheese (Chedder/Monterey Jack/Mozzarella/Colby-Jack)

Chop pepper and onion, and cook with ground beef while browning it. Drain fat; add soup, beans, and tomatoes. Heat until warmed. Tear 4 tortillas and place in bottom of a greased 13x9-inch dish. Place half of meat mixture on top of tortillas, then half of cheese. Repeat layer using remainder of ingredients. Bake at 350 degreese for 20-25 minutes.
This can also be prepared ahead of time and baked right before serving.

Mocha Truffle Cookies

My most popular recipe to date.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
OPTIONAL 1 Tablespoon instant coffee crystals (my family doesn't like coffee; the cookies are still amazing without it)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
In large saucepan melt margarine/butter and 1/2 cup chocolate chips over low heat (can also be microwaved). Remove from heat. Stir in coffee crystals (OPTIONAL). Cool 5 minutes. Stir in sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Mix cocoa, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into chocolate mixture. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake @ 350 F. for about 10 minutes (not nearly as good if overbaked). Let cool 1 minute and remove from sheet.
These only make maybe 3 dozen; if they won't be eaten in 2-3 days, refrigerate or freeze--they dry out quickly.

--K

No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake

1 prepared 9" chocolate pie crust (oreo cookie, chocolate graham cracker, etc.)
1 1/2 c. real chocolate chips
1/2 c. white sugar
11 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. butter, softened
2 c. whipped topping
extra whipped topping and shaved chocolate for garnish

Melt chocolate chips over low heat in saucepan, stirring frequently, until smooth. Set aside. In a large mixer bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and butter until smooth. (If you wish to do this by hand, you ought to start it sooner; because the chocolate will cool too fast, and you will have chocolate-chunk cheesecake! Trust me--I speak from experience.) On low speed, blend in melted chocolate. Fold in whipped topping until blended. Spoon filling into crust. Cover and chill until firm. Garnish with whipped topping and shaved chocolate.

Blueberry-Banana Muffins

1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. quick oats
2/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. oil
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 to 3/4 c. blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F). Place paper liners in 16-18 muffin tins. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, and soda; stir in oatmeal. Combine sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla; beat until bubbly. Stir blueberries into flour mixture. Mash bananas and add to liquid mixture. Add flour mixture to liquid mixture and gently stir until dry ingredients are moist. Fill prepared muffin tins 2/3 full. If desired, sprinkle tops with sugar. Bake for about 25 minutes or until lightly browned and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove to wire rack to cool.
Yeild: I always get 17 muffins out of this.
Note: If desired, substitute chocolate chips for the blueberries. =)

Why stir the blueberries into the dry ingredients? I've read that it keeps them from turning the muffins green with their juice. If you wish to add them to the wet ingredients, or add them after combining everything else, go right ahead and do so. It probably doesn't matter. =D