My mom turned 50 on Sunday. She’s pretty young for a grandma of six, just as she was young (19) when she was first a mother to me. Last year my sisters and I held a tea party for her with homemade scones, Mary Poppins costumes, and hot chocolate, the works.
This year I thought of fun 50th birthday stuff: black balloons, black roses in a coffin. Luckily I’m a procrastinator, because a week before her birthday she told me she was going in for a biopsy.
Black balloons seem a bit inappropriate when someone’s in the middle of a cancer scare. Chocolate, however, is always a good thing (especially if you’re my mom). Food is a comfort when we’re worried or sick and a way of rejoicing when we’re not.
Mom’s biopsy came back benign, and we celebrated her birthday with the usual summer fare: hamburgers on the grill, corn on the cob, and chocolate. I offered to make her whatever dessert she wanted, and she requested brownies and ice cream. Now, you know I have NOTHING against a good brownie (i.e. one made from Duncan Hines mix), but there are one or two things in life that are even better than brownies.
And since Mom is just about my (counting on fingers) 5th favorite person on earth, I wanted to make something just a little extra-special. So I called up Tara and asked her what she’s made that’s special, and chocolate, and has easy-to-find and cheap ingredients. She read me this recipe from Allrecipes.com, and the rest is . . . chocolate bliss!
I had to take extra photos, because in the first ones I put the actual amount of whipped cream we like, and then you couldn’t see the cakes. So this picture is highly misleading, dairy-wise.
Here’s what “cakes puff but centers jiggle” looks like:
The first time I made this I accidentally used 4 tablespoons of flour, and they were still good, but they’re better with the right amount. The original recipe calls for making this in a regular muffin pan with jumbo-size liners, but I’ve been wanting some ramekins for baked custard (and I don’t have jumbo liners).
I’d tell you these were a big hit, but that’s pretty obvious, right? The best thing is that you can mix up a batch and then refrigerate the batter for up to three days (maybe more, but we’d eaten it by then). Just bring it up to room temperature before baking.
The best, best thing is that I think Mom will be around for another 50 years to enjoy these with us.
Stumble This!For more posts like this, subscribe to What About Mom.
Natural Mommy’s Recipe Swap.
Tags: birthdays, chocolate, fifty-years old, molten lava cakes, recipe box swap, recipes, summer
Subscribe by email
Sarah (1)
vanessa (1)
Those look delicious!!! Can’t wait to try ‘em. Also hoping that everything comes back clean with the biopsy.
[Reply]
Oh I am sooo making this over the weekend.
And glad to hear things are okay with your Mom
[Reply]
Oh, wow! I’m drooling . . .
. . . and checking the clock to see if it’s too late to go to the store and get stuff.
Thanks for sharing!
~ Annie
Annies last blog post..Summer in Seattle . . . Finally
[Reply]
Those look amazing! I definitely have to try them.
[Reply]
Yummy!!
[Reply]
This post is cruel and unusual. It’s a good thing I just made a buttload of chocolate chip cookies.
I’ve seen recipes for this before, but yours looks a lot simpler than others I’ve seen. I’ll definietly try it, once I find some of those jumbo liners (never heard of them????) or ramekins.
Memarie Lanes last blog post..Cheap, Easy and Delicious II
[Reply]
What’s a ramekin?
I was thinking not 5 minutes ago that I would make myself some brownies tonight. You have changed my mind. My keyboard is covered in drool.
EMamas last blog post..Solid Gold Minivan
[Reply]
STOP.
IT.
Oh, MY Word these look delicious. They are low cal, right?
[Reply]
I’m glad to hear all turned out okay with your mom!
These look yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Gingers last blog post..WFMW: Cool & Creamy Cucumber Salad
[Reply]
Marie — by jumbo liners, I meant (what I think it means) is extra-big muffin liners; so you put the jumbo muffin liner in the regular size muffin tin, so the cakes are easier to remove.
EMama — Ramekins are just glass or pottery bowls that can go in your oven (not broiler or stovetop). I’ve bought them at the Dollar Store before, but found these (Pyrex?) 4-packs at Walmart for about 6 dollars.
[Reply]
oh my gosh… i love love love a chocolate molten lava cake. YUM.
So glad everything is ok with your young, sassy mom.
the mama bird diariess last blog post..simple ways to save the environment - ditch the plastic bags
[Reply]
Those look wonderful! I’ve saved the recipe on my computer and will try it as soon as I get some ramekins or something to resemble ramekins.
Julies last blog post..Works for me Wednesday - Orange salad and Chocolate!
[Reply]
These look delicious! I can’t wait to try them.
Mrs Bs last blog post..WFMW: 5 Ingredients or Less Edition
[Reply]
These are a big hit over here, so glad the recipe turned out well for you. They also reheat very well too - not that you would have leftovers. But let’s say you were home alone and made a whole batch for yourself, and could only eat half of them that night… The next day you can pop them in the microwave for like 20 seconds and they come out great!
Taras last blog post..Sticky Rice with Mangos
[Reply]
YUM! YUM! YUM!
Lalenas last blog post..Tasty Tuesday on Wednesday…again
[Reply]
Oh, yay! We had these at our church for our Mother/Daughter banquet, and it was seriously just about the best dessert I’ve ever had. I am so glad to have this recipe!
SmallWorlds last blog post..Recipe Box Swap: Spicy Noodles
[Reply]
wow, thanks for sharing. I am so making these this weekend!
Irinas last blog post..Readings
[Reply]
My MIL has the same dishes as you! I should mae ome of these to go on them…..
[Reply]
For all those who commented on who good and wonderful these look, I’m happy to report that they live up to their image. They’re the perfect chocolate dessert. Especially with loads of whip cream.
Dicks last blog post..Approaching Help as Solutions to Problems — An Interesting Format from the CSS Cookbook
[Reply]
[...] join Pensieve’s BlogHop ‘08. If we were getting together for real, I’d make these Molten Lava Cakes for [...]
lava cake has always been my favorite dessert to order in restaurants. yours has inspired me to get off my butt and try it myself!
megans last blog post..well hello there, weekend
[Reply]
[...] for Mother’s Day I write a tribute to my mother (who, like most mothers, is the best mother ever). But this year I keep thinking about Rory’s mother. I don’t have boys. I may never [...]