Shelby's Life and Whatnot

5-Minute Chocolate Cake!

To step away from politics for a second, I thought I'd share with you a very cool recipe I found on the web: 5-Minute Chocolate Cake! Yes, you can create a single serving of chocolate cake in 5 minutes right in your own kitchen, and not by buying those microwave mixes (which are good but expensive). Someone on a message board I frequent posted this recipe and I just had to try it right away. I figured I would document it Pioneer Woman-style (if you haven't read the Pioneer Woman's blog, you simply must do so now. I'll wait). Back from the Pioneer Woman? Okay, let's get started!

First off, the recipe:

4 Tablespoons cake flour
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons milk
3 Tablespoons oil
1 Mug
1 Microwave

Now the process. Presenting...the cast of characters:

I set out all of the above ingredients. Although the recipe called for an egg, we don't happen to have any in the house right now, but we did have some store-brand Egg Beaters (egg whites) so I used that instead. I also happened to have some leftover frosting sitting around, so I figured what the hay (for you camp people, I used the frosting to make Pooh Food). Also pictured, but not featured in the recipe: dishwashing liquid, jar of peanut butter, two bottles of Robitussin, and a salt shaker. Our counter tends toward the random.

First, measure out 4 Tablespoons of cake flour into your mug. My mug has beagles on it, which I am convinced made the cake that much yummier. If you don't have a beagle mug, use another mug and hope for the best.

Then add 4 Tablespoons sugar

Then add 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder. Notice the spilled cocoa powder on the counter. This part is very important, so make sure you spill some yourself.

Mix together the dry ingredients. I used a fork. THIS WAS A MISTAKE, as we will soon see. USE A SPOON.

Add your egg or egg equivalent

Add 3 Tablespoons of milk and 3 Tablespoons of oil. Stir

See that nasty lump? This is why you should use a spoon. There should be no nasty lumps, and although I thought I did a good job with the fork, about 3 minutes and 30 seconds later I learned that I didn't and should have switched to a spoon. Hey, I'm a first-timer. Live and learn.

Make sure everything is all mixed together. Again, no lumps or white spots, as they will just show up later.

Pop the mug into the microwave (remove your spoon, or if you're being stubborn and using a fork, remove that) and microwave it on High for 3 minutes

The cake will rise like a souffle' during cooking

But will settle down when it's done

Let the cake settle for a second, then tip it upside down onto a plate.

Oh gross! What is that nasty stuff on top??? That, my friends, is why you should use a spoon and not a fork. There were lumps at the bottom I didn't get out. Fortunately I took my handy butter knife and cut that part off. Then I added a nice dollop of frosting.

Grab yourself a fork and dig in

NOM NOM NOM!!!

In summary, this was a great little cake. It actually had the texture of an English pudding rather than what we would expect from a cake, but it was really quite good. Next time I'll definitely use a spoon, and I might up the cocoa a bit more to make it more chocolatey. Maybe I'll try a dash of vanilla too. At any rate, I'll definitely be making this again when I need a sweet little snack!