I wasn’t sure if I should share this recipe right now, seeing as I started the Put An Egg On It series, but it’s such a good recipe I couldn’t resist. Besides, my mom said it qualifies, since there are eggs in the cakes. ;) So there you go, Put An Egg IN It.

These are a quick favorite around here for dessert. They really do only take a few minutes, and are ridiculously good. They’re rich, so I fill the cups about halfway full, and top it off with some ice cream. The original recipe suggests salted caramel ice cream…so I’m going to have to make some more Bi-Rite Salted Caramel and try that out…any excuse to make that stuff! Sometimes I’ll also just halve the recipe, when it’s just Luke and I or when I don’t have a ton of chocolate. If you make the full recipe and only are cooking a few of these, just stick the extras in the fridge without cooking them. They’ll last a couple of days in there…if you have the self-control. I have none, just so y’all know.

3- MINUTE CUP CAKES

Michael Symon for Cooking Channel

8 oz. butter

8 oz. dark chocolate, chopped, or dark chocolate chips

3/4 c. all-purpose flour

3/4 c. sugar

1 tsp. orange zest (or use extract; I’ve also switched up the flavor)

1 tsp. kosher salt

4 eggs

Melt the butter and chocolate together in the microwave, let cool slightly.

Whisk the remaining ingredients together, then whisk in the chocolate and butter mixture. Divide the batter among 4 or 6 microwavable coffee cups.

Microwave on high for 50 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on how many you’re cooking, and the power of your microwave. I start with 50 seconds, then microwave in 10-second increments. My microwave cooks one in 70 seconds. You want them to look shiny, and cake-like on top, but it should have some give…they’re supposed to be molten at the bottom. Top with ice cream!

And try not to eat them all at once. ;)

P.S. Paprika is my favorite recipe app for my phone. I can upload recipes, type in my own, or save from the internet. They have a Mac app as well, which I need to buy!

I love my boys. I love how drastically different they are from girls. We love action movies and superheroes these days. We have several thousand matchbox cars. (Okay, I exaggerate, but it seems like that many.) Every pair of pants Jackson owns has the left knee blown out from sliding around, driving the cars. They’ve started “pretending” a lot more, mostly a cops-and-robbers type scenario. Derik likes to “fight,” a.k.a. pretend wrestling and MMA. They are boys, through and through, and I love it.

These are all things my boys would love!

1// Big Words Flash Cards ($14) – They love learning new words. This is a fun set of flashcards, for big words. I’ve never believed in talking down to kids…you’d be surprised at what they can learn!

2// Old Navy Cargo Shorts ($22.94) – Lots. Of. Pockets.

3// Superhero Mask ($4) – I think if my boys had these, they’d never take them off!

4// Chalkboard iPhone ($18) – A low-tech way for kids to have their own “phone”…what a cool way to encourage creativity and imagination!

5// Refuse to Sink Sweatshirt ($24) – I have a hard time convincing them that it’s too hot for sweatshirts…they love wearing them. Luckily, it gets chilly most nights here, even in the summer.

6// Q&A For Kids ($16.95) – I would love to have this to record all the hilarious things they say, and get them thinking! 

Luke has been working all weekend and has to work the rest of the week. But even though he’s been away a lot of the week, he’s spoiled me just like he always does. :) On his last day off, he took me to the movies, and let me escape for a few hours to go thrifting and bargain hunting. He got me a new bathing suit when we were out grocery shopping, and on Saturday, he called me from work, telling me I’d never believe it, but he had gotten me a kitten. I thought he was joking, since he’s not overly fond of cats, but he came home on his lunch break with a little fluff ball of a cat! The boys helped me pick out her name today from a whole list of literary names…Daisy it is! (To be honest, I think it was because it was the only one they could pronounce.) ;)

It never ceases to amaze me how much he spoils me, and how much he loves me. :)

1// Shopping haul! I found a backpack for the trip, and managed to add a few splashes of neon into my wardrobe!

2// Ironman movies with the boys. We saw Ironman 3 with the family on Mother’s Day, so it prompted the boys to want to watch the older ones.

3// Daisy! She’s stayed curled up with me and follows me around the house and fluffs up at every shadow. It’s ridiculously cute.