Lava Flow Chocolate Cake

I have been tempted not to share this recipe since we have been able to wow so many dinner guests with this amazing yet simple cake, but it’s really too good not to share. While Mark and I were on our honeymoon in Costa Rica we spent a few nights at the Four Seasons Papagayo. During our stay we made one of the best decisions of our lives (or maybe just our culinary lives) and took a cooking class. In that class we learned how to make their mouth-watering lava cake.

Four Seasons Lava Cake, with our adaptations
Ingredients
-2 c semisweet chocolate chips or 1 c chocolate chips and 1 large dark chocolate bar
-1 c butter, sliced
-1 c powdered sugar
-3 egg yolks
-4 whole eggs
-1/2 c flour

Melt chocolate and butter in a glass bowl in the microwave at 30 second intervals. Stir until smooth. Fold in sugar. Fold in flour. Add eggs little by little. Divide between 6 ramekins greased cups. Bake at 375 degrees until outside is cooked and center is still gooey. The recipe says 10-15 minutes but it usually takes ours about 20. Let cool for a minute, go around the edge of the cup with a knife to loosen. Place a plate on top of the ramekin and turn upside down until cake falls out on plate. Top with powdered sugar.

Chocolate Croissants- the easy way

Growing up we went to Disneyland at least once a year. We would arrive early, before the park opened, and go to the bakery on Main Street for chocolate croissants. My mom has a degree in nutrition so chocolate croissants were a real treat for us.Mark and I end up having breakfast for dinner quite a bit when we are trying to use up eggs. These easy chocolate croissants are the perfect addition to our breakfast for dinner.Simple Instructions:Open package and lay out crescent roll triangles.Put approx 1 Tbsp chocolate chips at the wide end.Roll and pinch ends/holes so chocolate will not melt out.Bake as instructed on the crescent roll package.Enjoy with eggs and sausage! ***New tip*** Mark made these this morning and added cinnamon and sugar with the chocolate.  I know, makes them even worse for you but so yummy! 

Moonstruck Chocolate

I was introduced to these delectable chocolates by my dear friend Bethany a few years ago. They are based out of Portland, Oregon and during one of my visits there she took me to one of their chocolate cafes. I have since seen Moonstruck in Oprah’s Magazine, as favors for the Oscars, and on the Williams-Sonoma Website.

Shortly after my husband and I started dating he had the Mayan Collection box from Moonstruck sent to me at work. I think it was then that he won my heart. Yes, sometimes my stomach is the way to my heart. =) We were in Portland on our 1 month anniversary last summer and bought ourselves a box of Moonstruck chocolates to celebrate.

On a recent trip to San Diego, we happened upon boxes of Moonstruck on sale (buy one, get one for a penny) at Hotel Del. We couldn’t pass up such an amazing deal, and purchased 2 boxes a stocking stuffers for each other.

Moonstruck has so many delicious truffles I feel like we have so many left to try. My absolute favorite is the Conquistador Hazelnut Praline Truffle. I have heard great things about the sundae truffles. Hopefully I can try them on our next trip to Portland.