Serves: 4, or 8 servings of 1/2 cake each

Ingredients:

1 pkg dark chocolate bar (or approx 4 squares)

1/2 cup butter

1 cup powdered sugar

6 tbsp flour

2 whole eggs

2 egg yolks

Preheat oven to 425F. Generously butter 4 ramekins or small custard cups and place on baking tray.

Melt chocolate and butter on double boiler (an easier way would be to microwave on HIGH for about 1 minute, or until butter is melted). Whisk until both ingredients are well incorporated. Add the sugar. Add the whole eggs and the egg yolks, stir and mix well. Carefully incorporate the flour and stir. Spoon the mixture into the ramekins.

Bake for 13 to 14 minutes or just until the sides are firm but the center part remains soft and wiggly. Let stand for 1 minute. You can choose to serve them in the ramekins or invert them into dessert plates by loosening around the cakes with a spatula or a small knife. Serve with whipped cream, powdered sugar or fruits on top.

Photo courtesy of: Marco Barisione

Moist Chocolate loaf is a yummy recipe which you can prepare anytime. It can be eaten as snacks or you may serve it as a dessert. This plain loaf can be spruced up with some fruit or icing. You can also serve it with a scoop of ice cream if you feel like having a sinfully sweet treat.

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients:

70g polyunsaturated margarine

1/4 cup caster sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

2/3 cup self-rising flour

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1/4 cup buttermilk

3 teaspoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon icing sugar

Preheat oven at 180C. Slightly grease a loaf pan with melted margarine and line the base and sides of the pan with baking paper.

Place the margarine and sugar in a small mixing bowl and then bet it using an electric beater until it becomes light and creamy. Gradually add the eggs as you beat the batter. Fold in the vanilla essence and continue to beat until well combined.

Transfer the batter to a large mixing bowl. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking soda into the mixture. Pour in the buttermilk and stir the mixture until it becomes smooth. Pour the prepared batter into the loaf pan. Smoothen the surface and bake it for 30 minutes or until a skewer or toothpick comes out clean when inserted at the center.

Remove the loaf from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and place it on a wire rack. Let it cool. Dust it with sifted cocoa powder and sugar before serving. Refrigerate if desired.

Photo Courtesy Of: FamilyNature

Frozen mocha mud pie is a yummy dessert that is for all ages. Prepare mini pies for parties or for a classier presentation. You can also make these ahead of time and keep them for those days when you are craving for something sweet.

Serves 8

Ingredients:

For the crust:

1 cup crushed chocolate cookies

1/4 cup butter, melted

For the filling:

2 pints coffee ice cream

Maltesers chocolate candy

For the toppings:

1 cup semisweet chocolate

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon brewed coffee

Combine the crushed cookies and melted butter in a medium sized bowl. Mix well. Transfer it to 9 inch pie plate or springform pan. Press the mixture onto the bottom and the sides of the pan. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Place the ice cream on a bowl and soften it. Pour the coffee ice cream over the chilled crust and top it with candy. Cover it and freeze it overnight.

Next, prepare the toppings by putting the chocolate chips, butter and coffee in a mixing bowl.  Place the bowl in the microwave or double boiler to heat it for 6-8 minutes or until the chocolate melts. Mix well until the mixture is smooth. Let it cool completely. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the frozen pies and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set. Slice and serve.

Photo Courtesy Of:  punzy

Cheesecake brownies are lovely treats. They are sweet and a bit salty too. They make good snacks or desserts.

You can also turn serve it as a cake. All you have to do is pull the hanging baking paper on the side to be able to carefully remove the cheesecake brownie from the pan without slicing it. Use a round pan if desired.

Makes 16 slices

Ingredients:

Melted butter, to grease

150g butter, chopped

300g good-quality dark cooking chocolate, chopped

3 eggs

1 cup caster sugar

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1/4 cup sour cream

1 250g pack cream cheese room temperature

Preheat the oven at 180°C and then lightly grease a 20cm cake pan with melted butter. Line the base with non-stick baking paper and let it hang on the sides.

Place a small pan over low heat. Melt the butter and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat. Cook it for 5 minutes or until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat and let it cool for 5-10 minutes.

While waiting for the chocolate to cool, place 2 eggs in a small bowl and whisk them. Gradually add it to the chocolate mixture while stirring. Fold in the flour and the sour cream. Mix well.

Cream the cheese in a mixing bowl using an electric beater and then add the sugar. Continue to beat it until it becomes smooth. Add the remaining egg and beat until all the ingredients are well combined.

Place some chocolate mixture in the greased pan. After, spoon some cream cheese mixture. Layer them alternately until you use up all the ingredients. Use a skewer or even a chopstick to make a swirl effect. Bake it in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until it is cooked. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick or skewer. It must come out clean.

Once it is ready, remove it from the oven and let it cool for one hour. Cut it into squares and then serve.

Photo Courtesy Of:  _Fidelio_

What is an Antioxidant?

The newest diet fad involves getting large amounts of what scientists call antioxidants. This is just a fancy name for a molecule that has a specific function. If you know anything about science, you will realize from the name that anti- means, more or less, “against”. Oxidation is a process that moves hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent, or a substance that yields oxygen. Ok, that sounds all wordy and scientific, so lets just say that an antioxidant keeps oxygen from being seeped out. If this process isn’t inhibited, it can cause a chain reaction in cells that will eventually kill them. Thus, antioxidants can help your cells live longer.

Many fruits, especially berries, contain antioxidants. Acai berries, strawberries, and blueberries are some examples. However, dark chocolate contains almost 8 times more antioxidants than strawberries. If you combine the two, a square of dark chocolate with dried berries in it, you will be loading yourself with the good stuff.

What other health benefits does dark chocolate have?

There is a whole list of possible health benefits that can come from including a portion of dark chocolate into your daily diet. First and foremost on that list is that chocolate releases endorphins. Endorphins are our bodies natural way of inducing feelings of “happiness.” Thus, dark chocolate can literally make you feel happy, not just emotionally but physically. Dark chocolate also contains serotonin, which is another important hormone in our bodies that keeps us from feelings of depression. Caffeine and theobromine are also present in dark chocolate, which can give us a boost of energy.

Besides those above, scientists have been able to prove that dark chocolate may have added benefits in lowering the blood pressure of people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. It can also lower cholesterol, LDL (the bad kind!) by up to 10 percent, depending on how much chocolate you include in your diet.

The evidence is before you. Whether man or woman, chocolate is good for your health. But not just any chocolate, dark chocolate. It can help you live longer and, frankly, is just plain tasty. So go out and get a piece. Enjoy!

About the Author

Tiffani Azani is a freelance author for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps students determine if an online education is right for them as well as helps them understand which online colleges they can choose from to reach their educational goals.