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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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Dangerous Chocolate Cake-in-a-Mug

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.18.2009

I got this from my friend and fellow Love Inspired author Missy Tippens. I tried it twice and it's not bad.

It doesn't quite have that cakey crumby texture of real cake, but it's close. It's more like chocolatey bread pudding, which I also like. Try it and let me know how you liked it!

DANGEROUS CHOCOLATE CAKE-IN-A-MUG***

1 coffee mug
4 Tbsp. cake flour (plain, not self-rising)
4 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 egg
3 Tbsp. milk
3 Tbsp. oil
Small splash of vanilla
3 Tbsp. chocolate chips, optional

Add dry ingredients to mug, mix well with a fork.
Add egg, mix thoroughly.
Pour in milk and oil and vanilla, mix well.
Add chips, if using.
Put mug in microwave, and cook for three minutes on 1000 watts.
Cake will rise over top of mug--do not be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little; tip onto a plate if desired.
Eat!

(This can serve two if you want to feel slightly more virtuous.)

***And WHY is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only five minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night!!!***

__________________________________________________________


This is GREAT!!! Got the recipe from a friend, and tried it out immediately. It works! I see multiple applications for this gem: With kids; grandkids; 4-H cooking classes; college dorm room when there's only a microwave; late-night cravings; just enough for one or two servings instead of an entire cake..........ha, ha! My kids added some drizzles of chocolate syrup and some Cool Whip (we didn't put in the chocolate chips). You could add canned frosting, too. The batter does rise up 'way over the top of the mug, but doesn't run down the side. Fun to watch! Be careful not to overcook--our microwave is higher than 1000 watts, and three minutes was a dab too long--dried the cakes out a little bit. Anyway, give it a try! And be sure to watch it the whole time it's baking in the microwave!!!)

Missy

Faith, Family, and Finding Mr. Right
Her Unlikely Family, Steeple Hill Love Inspired, Feb. 2008
His Forever Love, Steeple Hill Love Inspired, June 2009
www.missytippens.com
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Comments

Anonymous said…
I am trying this out today and sending my college kiddo the recipe as well. Thanks!
Wed Mar 18, 10:04:00 AM 2009
Anonymous said…
It sounds good, but I think I'd better not try it. Sounds like it could be murder on my diet!
Wed Mar 18, 08:21:00 PM 2009
Danica Favorite said…
Oh yeah, this was exactly what I needed. Thanks Camy and Missy!
Sun Apr 19, 09:51:00 PM 2009
Jan Kern said…
This is definitely dangerous--I have all the ingredients. But I want my bod to look like the girl on the cover of Only Uni!
Sun Apr 19, 11:11:00 PM 2009
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