Microwave Mug Lava Cake

Every once in a while I have a real hankering for some rich ooey-gooey chocolate.  This recipe takes care of that hankering.

MICROWAVE MUG LAVA CAKE
(servings: 1 large or 2 small)

Ingredients:
*1/4 cup all-purpose flour
*1/4 cup granulated sugar
*2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
*1/2 teaspoon baking powder
*1/16 teaspoon salt
*3 tablespoon butter, melted
*3 tablespoons whole milk
*1 medium egg
*1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
*1/8 - 1/4 cup chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet or dark)
*1 tablespoon water

Directions:
~In a large (2-cup) microwave mug, whisk with a small whisk or fork, the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
~Add melted butter, milk, egg and vanilla.
~Whisk until mixed well.
~Put chocolate chips in center of mug over cake mixture.
~Drizzle water over mixture.
~Microwave on full power for 75-90 seconds, or until the cake rises to the top.  The edges will be set, but the center will still be wet and shiny.
~Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5-6 minutes before eating.

Mock Fudruckers Burgers & Buns

I must admit that Fudruckers buns are my all time favorite hamburger buns.  The burgers are pretty good too.   Now I can make them at home, rather than taking the 1/2 hour trip to the restaurant.  Add a fried egg if you want it to be the hangover burger.

FUDRUCKERS BURGERS & BUNS
(serves 6, with extra buns)

Burger Ingredients:
*1 1/2 pounds ground ground beef (80/20 is best)
*1 teaspoon olive oil (optional)

Seasoning Ingredients:
*2 teaspoons paprika
*1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
*1 1/4 teaspoons salt
*1/2 teaspoon, packed light brown sugar
*1/4 teaspoon onion powder
*1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
*1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Bun Ingredients:
*5 teaspoons active dry yeast
*1/4 cup warm (not hot) water
*2 teaspoon granulated sugar
*2 cups whole milk, warm
*1/4 cup granulated sugar
*1/2 cup butter, semi- melted (warm not not)
*2 large eggs, beaten slightly
*3/4 tablespoon salt
*4 cups all-purpose flour
*2 cups all-purpose flour
*1 large egg
*1 tablespoon water
*1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)

Extra Ingredients:
*6-12 slices of cheddar or American cheese (or use your favorite cheese)
*1 tomato sliced
*lettuce
*pickles
*onions, sliced
*12 slices bacon, cooked
*ketchup, mustard or/and mayo

Burger Directions:
~Mix ground and olive oil tougher.
~Form 6 patties and place on a plate.
~Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
~Once you remove the patties from the refrigerator sprinkle desired amount of seasoning both sides of patties (you will have extra seasoning to use another time).

Seasoning Directions:
~Mix paprika, pepper, salt, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper in a small bowl
~Cover until ready to use.
~I store my in an airtight container.

Bun Directions:
~In a large mixing bowl, stir together water, 2 tablespoons sugar, and yeast tougher.
~Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy.
~Add warm milk, butter and 1/4 cup sugar into yeast mixture and mix on low speed (just for about 15-30 seconds) with paddle attachment.
~Add eggs and mix until well combined.
~Add 4 cups of flour and mix at medium speed for 1 minute, scraping down sides as needed.
~Dough will become very smooth.
~Remove paddle attachment and add dough hook.
~Add last 2 cups of flour, and mix on medium for 5-6 minutes (the dough will be sticky).
~Butter the sides and bottom of a large bowl.
~Place dough into bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
~Allow to rise in a draft free area for 2 1/2 hours (I put it in my oven as long as i'm not using it)
~Spread butter over 2 large baking sheets.
~Punch down dough.
~Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface into a about 1/2 inch thick (I roll mine into a circle, but you can do it into a rectangle if you choose).
~Using a round cookie cutter, biscuit cutter, or drinking glass and cut out as many buns as you can.
~Place on prepared pan about 3-inches apart.
~Cover buns loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a draft-free area for 2 hours.
~Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
~In a small bowl, mix egg and water.
~Using a pastry brush, brush egg mixture gently over top of buns.
~Sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional).
~Bake for 15-20 minutes or until tops and bottoms are golden brown and it has a hollow sound with you tap it.
~Transfer onto cooling racks and cool completely.

Time To Make The Burger:
~Grill burgers to desired doneness, only flipping once (I cook mine about 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on how thick the burger is).
~Cut buns in half horizontally.
~Spread the insides of buns with a little butter.
~Grill until golden brown and remove from heat.
~When burgers are almost done, put 1-2 slices of cheese.
~Cover with lid until cheese melts.
~On bottom half of bun place lettuce and tomato.
~Place burger over top of tomatoes.
~Add bacon, pickles, onions, and desired condiments.
~Place top bun on and enjoy.

**If you don't have a kitchen aid mixer or sand mixer, do everything as listed above in a large bowl.  Knead dough until smooth and elastic or 8-10 minutes.

Congee

This is a Chinese Rice porridge.  You can make this on top of the stove, but making it in the instant pot is so easier.   I like that I don't have to check on it when cooking it in the instant pot.  You can also leave out the chicken if you want.

CONGEE 
(serves 6)

Ingredients:
*1 cup jasmine rice
*6 1/2 cups chicken stock for instant pot, 9 1/2 cups for stove top method
*4-6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (can use a couple chicken breasts if you prefer)
*2 green onions, sliced
*1/2 inch fresh ginger, sliced thin
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*steamed broccoli, chopped (optional)
*sesame seed oil or soy sauce (optional)
*green onions, chopped

Instant Pot Directions:
~Rinse rice 2 or 3 times and drain.
~Put rice, chicken stock, chicken thighs,  2-green onions, ginger, and salt into instant pot liner.
~Close lid and seal.
~Pressure cook for 30 minutes.
~Allow to do a natural release (I will normally allow it to do this for 30 minutes or more, even if the pin drops earlier.  I've even left it for 2 hours on natural release and it comes out fine).
~Remove lid.
~Remove chicken and shred and put back into rice.
~Add in steamed broccoli and stir.
~Stir and allow to sit for a few minutes to thicken up a little bit.
~Serve into bowls and drizzle a little sesame seed oil or soy sauce over the top if you want.
~Sprinkle chopped green onions over the top.

STOVE TOP DIRECTIONS:
~Rinse rice 2 or 3 times and drain.
~In a large stock pan, add rice, chicken stock, chicken thighs, 2-green onions, ginger and salt.
~Bring to a boil, then reduce heat.
~Reduce heat to simmer.
~Stir occasionally so the rice does not clump or stick to the bottom.
~Simmer partially covered  for about 1-1 1/2  hours or until the congee is thickened and creamy (the congee will thicken more as it cools).
~Take off from heat.
~Remove thighs and shred meat.
~Return to congee.
~Add steamed broccoli and stir.
~Serve into bowls and drizzle a little sesame seed oil or soy sauce over the top if you want.

**To warm up leftover congee add a little liquid to it first.  

Butterscotch Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

This cake was a big hit.   Easy to make and the flavors go so well together.

BUTTERSCOTCH CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING
(serves 12)

Cake Ingredients: 
*2 cups light brown sugar
*1/2 cup butter, softened
*1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
*2 eggs
*2 cups flour
*1 teaspoon baking soda
*1 teaspoon baking powder
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*1 cup buttermilk
Frosting Ingredients:
*1 1/2 light brown sugar
*1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon flour
*1/4 cup butter
*1/4 cup heavy cream
*1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
*2 tablespoons butter
*1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Cake Directions:
~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
~Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
~In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together until smooth and fluffy.
~Add vanilla and mix.
~Mix in eggs once at a time, beating on low until they are just mixed in.
~In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
~Alternate mixing in  the flour and buttermilk into the sugar mixture starting with the flour.
~Mix until smooth, scraping down sides of the bowl when needed.
~Pour batter into prepared pan.
~Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted in the middle of the cake comes clean.
~Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

Frosting Directions:
~In a small saucepan, mix together all the ingredients except the vanilla, 2 tablespoons of butter and sea salt.
~Heat over medium heat to bring mixture to a boil, stirring often.
~Once mixture comes to a full boil, allow to boil for 1 minutes, stirring continuously.
~Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and remaining butter.
~Allow the mixture to cool from hot to warm.
~Stir vigorously every 3-5 minutes, until it becomes warm (do not allow to cool to much or it will set before spreading it).
~Spread evenly over cake.
~Sprinkle sea salt evenly over frosting.
~Allow frosting to set completely before cutting into cake.