Craving Chocolate? 20 best chocolate recipes

Last night I was having an insatiable craving for chocolate and I couldn't find anything in my house. So I googled best chocolate recipes, just to see what I could find. Google sent me to the 20 best chocolate recipes from allrecipes. Look how many 5 star recipes are on their list - and they're rated by hundreds of cooks!

Here are some of the ones that looked yummy to me...

Too Much Chocolate Cake - I make this cake often - it's easy and so yummy!
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Chocolate Ganache
Chocolate Mint Candies Cookies
Fudge Truffle Cheesecake
Chocolate Bar Fondue
Easy Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake

Time to Make a Pie

My husband will be thrilled to know that January 23rd is national "Make a Pie Day". You see, he grew up in a pie-making family and I grew up in a cake-baking family, so I'm still struggling to learn how to make him pies!!!

FamilyFun.com has lots of recipes for families to try making, so maybe they'll be easy. Here's a sampling of their many suggestions:

Chocolate Chess Pie
Swedish Apple Pie
Classic Apple Pie
Retro Peanut Butter Pie
Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie
Pumpkin Ice-cream Pie (I have a friend who makes this & it's so yummy!!)
Spiral Apple Tart

Of course you can also look at www.allrecipes.com, where you can see readers reviews on all the recipes. I like to choose the recipes with 4.5-5 stars, so I know it's a pretty fool-proof experiment!

So will you be making pie this week?

Great Resource for Moms

My favorite 'mommy' magazine is Family Fun. It is full of practical ideas that really work for my family. Recipes, games, crafts, creative activities, parenting tips and strategies for raising children.

My sister-in-law gave me a subscription this year, and I'm tickled pink to read it each month!

Even if you don't subscribe to the magazine, you can find a lot of ideas on their website - www.familyfun.com.

Favorite Bible for tweens?

Do you have a favorite Bible for 3rd-6th grade children - boys or girls? Not a book of Bible stories or devotionals, but the complete Bible.

Here are some that I've heard good things about, but I haven't investigated any of them. I'd love to hear your feedback about these Bibles, or others that you think are fantastic for children.

Student’s Life Application Bible
NLT Young Believer Bible
NIV Adventure Bible
The Message Bible
NIrV Discoverer's Bible for Young Readers
NIrV Kids Study Bible
NIV 2:52 Boy's Bible
NCV Livin' Out Your Faith Bible

Thanks!

Easy and yummy dinner tonight - Alfredo Ravioli.

20 oz package frozen cheese ravioli
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
10 oz jar light Alfredo sauce
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper to taste

Cook ravioli according to package instructions, then drain.

In a separate skillet, sauté garlic and mushrooms. Add in the alfredo sauce and red pepper and heat ‘til warm. Toss cooked ravioli into the sauce.

Serve with parmesan cheese.

(The children enjoyed the ravioli either plain or with red spaghetti sauce, but my DH & I enjoyed the pizazz of red pepper in the alfredo sauce!)

If you're getting snow today, make snow cream!! Here are 2 recipies from all recipes:

Recipe One:
12oz can evaporated milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup white sugar
1 gallon snow

In a large bowl, combine evaporated milk, eggs, vanilla and sugar until smooth. Gradually stir in snow until mixture reaches desired consistency. Eat at once.

Recipe Two:
1 gallon snow
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups milk

When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. Serve at once.

Enjoy making memories with your kiddos!