Molten Chocolate Cakes {and champion mom}

 

I took both kids to the doctor by all by myself the other day.

I’m still in the early stages of two-kid parenting where I need to publicly announce that I did something all by myself, two kids in tow because these are proud moments for me.

My little baby girl is still fresh and new so I like to keep her in her car seat covered when we go out in public.

My two year old son has reverted a little bit since “beebbee seeester” was born and “must be held” if baby sister is also being held.... even if sister is being held in her car seat.

So, picture me, with a nest of hair that hasn’t been washed in 5 days, black leggings that have kid-induced grease spots, an oversized white sweater that sheds fuzzies (this was an on-purpose upgrade from my usual grey sweatshirt), $15 pink target sunnies and a swipe of bronzer on each face cheek to make me feel human - carrying my 2 year old son on one side and my baby girl in her huge car seat on the other.

HOT.

We weren’t late but we were barely on time and I was rushing to make it.

Myles (my son) always has to press the elevator button and I cringe at the thought of how many hands have touched those buttons when he insists.

The silence was welcomed as the elevator doors closed and I took a deep deep breath ignoring the ache and sweat running down my back.

Still holding both children btw.

After we signed in and got sorted, we all sat down.

I felt like a freakin’ champion.

Did you see that world? I just took my two kids up however many flights of stairs to a doctors appointment and we freaking made it ON TIME.

Then I looked down at my son.

“Where’s your other shoe?” I asked him.

He put his hands up to his face and said, “Oh no mommy! Shoe gone!” 

Did he not have two shoes on when we left the house, I thought. No, he totally did. I’m not that mom, I’m not the mom that let’s her child leave the house without shoes on.

Am I?

After hearing fellow moms in room with me say they’ve waited over 2-5 hours to see the same doctor we were seeing I ran up to the secretary and asked how much longer we’d have to wait, explaining my son’s shoe was suddenly gone and I wanted to go retrace my steps.

She said we’d have time.

So I dragged both children with me (why are car seats so big and awkward and HEAVY I cursed in my head) and we retraced our steps down several floors all the way to the parking lot.

Still carrying both kids btw.

Ugh. No shoe.

We kept looking and asking people passing “Excuse me have you seen a shoe?”

No shoe.

We went back.

Ignoring the fact that my child was now walking around the doctors office with just a sock I tried to remember if he was really wearing two shoes when we left the house.

How could I NOT feel it fall off? I was in a hurry but like, wouldn’t I notice that?

It was finally our turn.

I felt the need to explain the fact that my son was only wearing one shoe to our doctor as if I was looking for a diagnosis, ie “You’re not a bad mom, you’re an amazing mom. Look at you leaving the house with two kids and trekking it all the way here! Are those real clothes you’re wearing? Is that dry shampoo I smell? Your kids a so lucky to have you! It’s just a shoe. It happens to everyone. You’re still a champion!”

Actual diagnosis: Our doctor was kind about it and didn’t make me feel like a bad mom and told me her own motherhood-how-did-this-happen stories.

She is a good person.

 

Hours and lots of sanitary wipes later we rode down the elevator. My baby daughter was still crying from her shots (I hate shots) and my son was whining about his missing shoe.

I noticed the gift shop slash pharmacy on our way out.

Nah, I’ve already asked so many people about this dang shoe they’re not gonna know anything about it either.

Next thing I know I’m at the counter of the shop.

Real quick-

“Excuse me, but did anyone happen to turn in a shoe?”

“THE SHOE!” three people behind the counter said almost in unison. “We’ve been wondering who this belonged to! THE SHOE! Here you go!” She handed it to me the same way a runner would receive a first place ribbon.

It was like they knew.

Awkwardly carrying both kids out of the sliding glass doors and into the parking lot, an old, kind-faced grandpa looked at me raising both eyebrows and with a big smile said:

“Hell of a job isn’t it?”

I laughed, “It sure is!”

It was then I queued the crowd-cheering-roars in my head:

Champion mom.

Still carrying both kids btw.

Molten Lava Cakes

These are amazing, easy and you need to make them. The end and amen.

• ½ cup / 4 ounces / 113g salted butter (unsalted is fine!)
• 1 cup -ish / 6 ounces / 170-175g bittersweet chocolate (try to get 70% cocoa)
• 2 large eggs (preferably organic)
• 2 large egg yolks (preferably organic)
• ¼ cup / 50g granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2½ teaspoons coffee or 1 teaspoon coffee flavor
• 1 pinch sea salt ((only if using unsalted butter))
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour or 2 tablespoons almond flour (gluten free option)

1. Preheat oven to 450 F/ 230 C. Butter and flour (I used cocoa powder instead of flour) four, 6 ounce ramekins.

2. Using a double boiler over a medium-low heat, melt chocolate and butter together. (Double boiler: Take a glass bowl and put it over a small pot filled with water. Make sure the water doesn’t touch your bowl.)

3. Tip! Turn off your heat before the chocolate and butter are completely melted. The heat of the water will continue to warm the chocolate + butter together, and by turning your heat off early, you won’t overheat your chocolate.

4. Set aside to cool.

5. In a standing mixer with the whisk attachment, beat together egg yolks, eggs and sugar until mixture is fluffy (about 5-7 minutes) . The mixture will be pale yellow, thick and foamy when done.

6. Add vanilla and coffee (and pinch of salt if needed) to melted chocolate.

7. On low speed, slowly stream in the cooled melted chocolate. Until combined. 

8. Add 2 tablespoons flour (or almond flour) and mix until barely combined (this should take like 30 seconds).

9. Pour batter into each prepared ramekin and bake for 8-9 minutes, no more. Cakes will puff up and be slightly cracked, and appear wet in the middle when done.

10. Let cakes cool for a few minutes before eating.

11. Serve with ice cream. (My favorites are vanilla bean, coffee and peppermint.)

The whole recipe can easily be doubled to make 8 small cakes if feeding a crowd. 

The batter can easily be made a day ahead of time and kept in the fridge. I actually prefer to the batter to be chilled and baked cold to ensure a melty center. 

It's easy to over bake these so always err on the side of under baking them if you want that molten center. I suggest sticking to the 8 minute baking time frame, because they'll continue to cook as you pull them out of the oven. 

I include a gluten free version here too for you - and honestly both are fantastic, if you have gluten sensitive peeps, just go that route -  no one will ever know the difference. 

Remember: Timing on these is important, so try not to over bake them or you wont have that magical melty center. They'll appear puffed, slightly cracked and still very wet in the middle when done. They'll deflate a little when they come out of the oven, but don't worry about that. The sooner you can tip them out of their hot ramekins the better. But be careful if you attempt to tip them out fresh out of the oven -  use hot pads and a friend to tip them into a plate.