Chocolate Rice Pudding

The other day, I was craving something chocolately, but I didn't have much to work with, so I decided to get creative. I started digging through the pantry and determined that I wanted to make chocolate rice because I've been experimenting with rice a lot lately with great success - cinnamon & sugar rice, Tony Chachere's rice, etc. So I went in search of chocolate rice... Unfortunately to no avail, haha. BUT! I did locate the following recipe for a chocolate rice pudding. I do have to add the following disclaimer: I really enjoyed this delightful treat, but the rest of my audience didn't seem to think much of it. Alana liked it, but Megan didn't eat much of it. Also, Danny and Jamie both declined to really indulge based off of their predisposition to disliking rice pudding. Anyhow, I guess the lesson here is: find out if people like rice pudding before you go to the trouble to make it to share with them, haha. :o)

Chocolate Rice Pudding Recipe

Ingredients:

1/4 c. cocoa powder

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

1 1/4 c. milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

3 eggs

2 c. cooked rice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cocoa, brown sugar, and salt in large mixing bowl. Add 1/4 c. of the milk and whisk until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, and milk. Whisk to combine. Stir in rice. Transfer to a baking dish or ramekins. Bake for 30 minutes for large dish (smaller dishes will take less time). When you take the dish out of the oven, it should still jiggle a little in the middle - but it will firm up as it cools. Let cool for 5 minutes.

Old Fashioned Yellow Cupcakes with Homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Tonight some of my best friends and I are house-sitting for another friend and we were so excited to have access to an actual full kitchen that we made ourselves a lovely little dinner and dessert. My contribution was the dessert and I made Old Fashioned Yellow Cupcakes with Homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. I must admit, there wasn't much to them as I used a box mix, but I did the dishes too to make up for it, haha. I am calling them "Old Fashioned" because we didn't have any muffin cups, lol. Also, I also just adapted my Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe to become chocolate, so it's super easy. And I didn't bring my decorating kit, so they didn't look as pretty as my last batch, but they sure were yummy!

Homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:

3 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. cocoa powder

1 c. butter (softened)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. heavy whipping cream

Directions:

Combine the butter, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar together in a large bowl and mix using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment on low speed until well blended. Then continue to mix on medium for another 3 minutes, give or take. Then add the vanilla and heavy cream. Beat on medium for another minute more, adding more cream as necessary to reach the desired consistency.

British Cookies

When I have a rough day, I like to bake to take my mind off things and to give me an opportunity to succeed at something - even if it is as small as in a cookie. So today, I made British Cookies. Admittedly, there really isn't a whole lot of "British" to them other than it's on my mind since a new friend of mine is moving to England in a couple of weeks and they have English Toffee in them, haha. But anyhow, I've really gotten into the swing of using packaged mixes for baked goods and then adding something special to perk them up! Kind of a Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade type deal. So, here is my newest creation. :o)

Ingredients:

1 pkg. Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

1 stick Butter (softened)

1 Egg

2 tsp. Vanilla

1/4 c. Chopped Walnuts

1/4 c. English Toffee Bits

Directions:

Follow directions on the package mix (which is basically combine the mix, butter, and egg). Then add the other ingredients. Bake on 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Enjoy! I like to eat all cookies with milk. These are good with it too, haha. :o)