Moist Chocolate Mug Cake (Vegan)

This post needs to start with a complete disclosure.  This is not my recipe.  I found this chocolately delight late one night when searching the inter webs for an easy late night snack.

Much love and credit to Julie at Table for Two.  She originally developed this recipe!

Moist Chocolate Mug Cake
makes 1

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp. baking powder
• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar (you can add 1 tbsp. more if you like it a bit sweeter)
• ⅛ tsp. salt
• ¼ cup + 1 tbsp. milk (soy milk or almond milk is fine)
• 2 tbsp. neutral flavored oil (I like canola but you could also use canola)
• Optional - 1 tbsp. hazelnut chocolate spread OR chocolate chips (not both - use one or the other)

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
2. Whisk in the milk and oil until all ingredients are combined and batter has no clumps.
3. Spray 1 mug with cooking spray. (I use Pam Baking spray but some people skip this step entirely)
4. Pour batter into a microwave-safe mug. Mine was a 14-ounce mug. You want enough head space for the cake to rise without pouring over.
5. Microwave mug cake for 70 seconds on high (PLEASE READ NOTES CAREFULLY BELOW)
6. Leave the microwave door closed and allow the cake to rest for 60 seconds.
7. Carefully remove from microwave and enjoy!

Top with ice cream, whipped cream or just eat it plain!

Notes:

Please note that ALL microwaves are different therefore can yield different results and can overcook this mug cake if you aren't careful. My microwave is 950 watts and I cooked mine on 100% power for 70 seconds. Knowing this information, it may help you better judge how long to cook yours for and at what power.

**This recipe is specifically made for the microwave.

More Mug Cakes

This post is courtesy of Mocha Kathy.

Wellness - Keeping the Holiday Spirit

Do you have the Holiday Spirit??!!! 

In the midst of the holiday season, there may be people who don't have any parties on their calendar, families to enjoy, or friends to celebrate with. There may be people having financial problems at this time of perilous spending, a loss of a job, a death in the family, an illness, or stress. Somebody might just be feeling down or unappreciated. 

We must remember and cherish these times to keep ourselves in good spirits and help lift other people's spirits. You never know what a person may be going through. The holidays are sometimes the toughest times of the year, but also can be the happiest times of the year!! 

Here a few ways to keep your Holiday Spirit:

1. Remember your higher being and the reason for the season!
2. Spend uninterrupted quality time with family & good friends!
3. Play Christmas music! And sing along to the songs!!
4. Decorate EVERYTHING! Deck the halls & trim the tree!!! 
5. Bake something!! Don't forget Santa's cookies! 
6. If you are invited to a party, GO!! Or better yet, host a party!! Any party! 
7. Do some shopping & start wrapping gifts! It's never too early! 
8. Watch a Christmas movie! (our favorite)
9. Mail your holiday cards
10. Call a family member or new & old friends just to chat! 
11. Put your feet up and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa!
12. Give back and donate, help someone in need, or show someone you care :-)

Because...this truly is the most wonderful time of the year!!!!!

This blog post is courtesy of Mocha Tiffany K. 

View all of our Wellness Topics HERE!

FUNdraiser Fashion Show

The Bergen County Mocha Moms hosted its "Wild About Winter" fashion show, and holiday party at The Fiesta this past Thursday in Wood-Ridge. A portion of the proceeds benefited the Shelter of Sisters.

Here are the pictures from this amazing night!

Many thanks to the event organizer Tiffany Kerr.  
Photo Credit: Robert Pytel  

This event was featured on 201 Magazine and on Bergen.com.

Menstrual Cups

Several of the ladies were having a conversation about menstrual cups over the weekend.  Here is a little more information.

Lydia Ojuka is a fan of the Daisy Cup for holistic/health reasons.  She has less cramping and shorter periods.  There's also the added benefit of avoiding the toxins  associated with disposable products.




There is a teenage girl in the UK named Bree Farmer.  She is basically the menstrual cup guru.  I'll let Bree explain everything you ever wanted to know about cups but were afraid to ask:

First, the Basics

How do you choose a cup?

You can find all of Bree's videos on You Tube.  Check out her YouTube Channel at Precious Stars Pads.

For more information you can also visit this blog.

House Helpers - Ending Bathroom Stink

We need to have a frank talk about an embarrassing problem.  The problem, my friends, is Bathroom Stink!

We are a family of 5 and trust me when I tell you that bathroom stink is a very real issue!  The good news is that we've solved the problem quickly and cheaply and I'll show you how!

The key here is to PREVENT bathroom stink rather than to try and cover it after the fact.

There are lots of commercial products on the market for this purpose.  Most notably a toilet spray called Poo Pourri.  I have nothing bad to say about Poo Pourri - it works.   The problem is that it is (in my opinion) needlessly expensive!

Poo Pourri Toilet Spray

No. 2 Toilet Spray

DIY Toilet Spray

First, let’s review the basic concept:

If you add scented oil to the toilet water before you add anything stinky to the toilet, the smell gets trapped under the layer of oil.

How it works

Based on that concept, you could ANY scented oil.   This, my friends, is a DIY opportunity!

Leaving the bathroom smelling clean and fresh!

Making a DIY Version - 
Because you're just adding scented oil to the toilet water, any scented oil will work.  Apply 2-4 drops of essential oil in toilet water before you make a deposit leaves the ladies room smelling clean and fresh.

My family likes Lemon oil best.    

Lemon Oil

If you'd rather have a spray - No Problem!

If you decide that you’d rather have a bottle for spray, no problem, add 40-50 drops of scented oil to a 2 oz bottle of water (or alcohol) and make a spray.  Add 2-3 squirts of spray to the toilet before you go and voila!  You’re all set!

Blogger and Super Woman Jillee has a Poo Pourri knock off too.  Here's her recipe!

Pro Tips: 

• Make a label with instructions for the drops or the spray.  It’s counter intuitive to spray the toilet BEFORE you go.  A few simple instructions solve this problem quickly.  **Instruction wording listed below.
• Also, in the spirit of being delicate and ladylike, we call these “Doo Drops” or “No 2 Spray”
• Make sure the drops hit the water.  If they hit the side of the bowl and have to slide down into the bowl, they take a little longer to work. 
• You can add the drops after you’re already begun to go, but for best results put the drops in as soon as you discover that you need them.
• Husbands or (teenage boys) might require a few extra drops.
• If you buy scented oil online, it might not come in dropper bottles.  You can buy glass dropper bottles online. They are called Euro Droppers and they're available at Amazon.com or Etsy.com.

Euro Dropper Glass Bottles

Other Helpful Tips:

*  Keep a little bottle of essential oil in your purse to mask "nature's call" when you're out and about or visiting friends.

*  If you've visiting friends and family and you don't have your drops on hand, check for bath oil, perfume or tea tree oil.  All three work well in masking unpleasant toilet smells.  Just make sure to add them to the bowl BEFORE you go.  

*  If you're having a party or gathering at your home, every hour or so add a few drops (or squirts) to the toilet for who ever visits the bathroom next.

Leave drops (with instructions) in the bathroom

** Words for Instruction Label:

"DOO Drops"  To reduce or eliminate bathroom odor: Add 2-4 drops of Doo Drops (to toilet water) before you drop a "doo".

Blog Post Courtesy of Mocha Kathy W.