Homemade Chocolate Sauce

We have had the craaaaziest weather here in Dallas the past week.  Last night we got about 7 inches of snow, on top of an already 2 inch layer of ice, and it's still coming down.  Of course, this had to happen during Super Bowl week.  So, now the rest of the country's image of Texas has been confirmed.  We, Texans, have absolutely NO idea how to drive in snow and ice, nor do we have sufficient winter weather gear for even getting out in the stuff.  I'm not going to lie, I am one of these people.  However, I am aware of my inabilities,  so my car has not moved from the driveway since Monday. 

After my boys played in the snow for a bit, they were frozen to the bone.  Dax asked for hot chocolate.  I got out the cocoa powder, but then realized I didn't have any marshmallows.  I can only imagine the reaction I would have gotten if I had given my 2 and 3 year-old hot chocolate without marshmallows. So, I scrambled around the kitchen to see what I could cook up for my boys, out of the ingredients I had on hand.

 I ended up making a sinfully delicious chocolate sauce!  This was one of those times when your experiment ends up better than a recipe.

The first batch I made, I got off the internet and it called for cocoa, sugar, water and vanilla.  I made that, and it was ok......BUT THEN, the Paula Deen came out in me and said, "I bet this would be really good with a stick of butter in it!"  The following recipe is my tweaked second batch and will make you cuddle up in a blanket and eat about 4 bowls of ice cream while watching the snow fall!

Melt a stick of butter in a saucepan.
Throw in 2 giant blobs of Vanilla Ice Cream.  Yes, "blob" is a technical measuring term.
Add 1 2/3 cups of white sugar.
Add 2/3 cup of Cocoa Powder.
Add 2 Tsp of Vanilla.
Cook over medium heat until sauce is smooth and sugar is not grainy anymore.
Spoon it piping hot over vanilla ice cream!
Watch your little boys forget they ever said anything about wanting hot chocolate!

Enthusiasm Soup

Post-marathon.  Day 2.  My well deserved rest break has turned into a lazy binge fest.  It's cold outside, my legs are sore, and I have been laying in front of the fireplace, for a solid 48 hours, popping m&m's like they're candy.  Oh wait, they are.  Anyway, after I scoop out one more handful, the rest of the bag is going in the trash!  No really, I bought the ingredients today for my super yummy and healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup that I will make tomorrow afternoon so I can feel healthy and human again.

Tomorrow morning, I teach my Creative Movement class.  It's a youth fitness class full of 2-4 year olds.  I teach them extremely important things like "The Sprinkler" and how to balance on one leg like a flamingo.  Since it's December, we'll probably also do some Rudolph races, then roll down the mat like we are Santa that ate too many cookies!  I love my classes!  Nothing like a bunch of little munchkins (including your own) doing "The Sprinkler" to Michael Franti that gets your day off to a FANTASTIC start!!!  There is just something about the un-hindered enthusiasm of a child that is so contagious.  The Greek word  for "enthusiasm" means "having God within".  There is much we can learn from the pure and simplistic excitement of a room full of 2 year olds all hopping like kangaroos!  I can't think of a more perfect way to start back to healthy normality....I'm done with resting!  Look....I'll even rename my soup...

Enthusiasm Soup:

1 rotisserie chicken (de-boned)
1 onion
1 green bell pepper
3 cloves of garlic
1 1/2 carton chicken broth
1 can stewed tomatos
2 small cans green chilis
1 can Rotel
1 can corn (drained)
1 can hominy (drained)
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 packet of dry taco seasoning mix
1 packet of dry Ranch seasoning mix
juice of 1 lime
1 bunch fresh cilantro (chopped)
1 bunch fresh green onions (chopped)

In a large soup pot, saute' garlic, bell pepper and onion in a small amount of olive oil 'til tender.  Add the remainder of the ingredients and heat through.

Serve with:
a dollop of Greek yogurt,
a sprinkle of shredded cheese,
and a few slices of avacado on top,
.....and a few tortilla chips on the side!