Oh, the Sin! The Decadence!

In 2016 we took a cruise, and personally, it was pretty good. For me it was a great way to get away and relax. I did fall down on the first day and develop a concussion.   It is a long story to tell another time.

Even so, the food was super excellent and every night for dinner I had this most amazing dessert. I had the dessert that many people enjoy when they go on a Carnival Cruise, I had their chocolate melting cake that just cries out to be eaten. You may know this as chocolate lava cake, and honestly it is amazing. It didn’t matter what else they were serving for dinner, this is what I wanted.

Did you know that these are very easy to prepare, and if you are hosting a dinner party, you will look amazing when you serve one of these chocolate desserts. Jean-Georges Vongerichten may not have been the originator of this recipe, but he certainly made this dish popular in the 1980s. This cake is done on the outsides, but the inside a filled with melting warm chocolate batter that you will love.

A lot of people serve this dish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. While it does add something nice to the dish, I have served this many times without that scoop of vanilla ice cream.

TIPS FOR MAKING CHOCOLATE MELTING CAKE

Use only the ingredients as listed. You can’t use margarine, it won’t turn out as well. You need to buy a good quality bar of dark chocolate. I find this chocolate in the baking section of the grocery store. Don’t use milk chocolate, you will end up with enough sweetness to throw everyone into a sugar comma. I also like to start out with all of my ingredients at room temperature, I think it makes mixing everything up together go better.

If you are concerned about the eggs, please consider using eggs that pasteurized.

You really do need to let this rest in the refrigerator before baking. The texture will be better. I really suggest using ramekins for this dessert. This way you can make individual portions. These dishes are inexpensive, and you can also do things like bake eggs in them as well.



INGREDIENTS 

6 ounces baking chocolate (ideally 60% cacao)
2 whole eggs
2 ] egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons butter for ramekins
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

INSTRUCTIONS
In a small bowl melt together chocolate and butter in the microwave. Melt for 30 seconds and stir, and repeat until chocolate and butter are melted. Whisk together eggs and sugar until they are lighter in color and foamy. Add melted chocolate to egg mixture. Stir in vanilla extract, salt, and flour. Spread butter in ramekins to grease the dishes. Pour batter into dishes.
Cover dishes with plastic and refrigerate for about 30 minutes, you can refrigerate these for up to 4 hours. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 12 to 15 minutes. The tops will be firm, but the insides will be melting. Dust with powdered sugar, and serve with a scoop of ice cream if desired.
NUTRITION
Calories: 759kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 61g | Saturated Fat: 37g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 509mg | Potassium: 393mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 1245IU | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 8.2mg

Yes, I know the nutrition write up is utterly sinful. It is a once in a few days fest of eating.

Who wins?? Who won??

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights was a highly successful TV show that ran five seasons and followed the drama of a coach and a high school football team in a small Texas town. Friday nights in schools are filled with passion and loyalty from an enthusiastic community. BUT...  

Real life high school football is different. Real life football high school is deadly.

The thing is I know those boys' names. 

Their families are part of the community. Their high schools were within walking distances of our former home. Two young men needlessly suffered nearly fatal brain injuries that have taken away their futures.

Here is what happened:

Vu's injury happened in 1992, and Scott's in 2007. Both had had untreated concussions the week before the game, and were told to "lie down for a while".

Both were sent into the game despite their clearly expressed information that they had excruciating headaches. Scott even told the trainer that his vision was blurry and he couldn't focus his eyes. He came off the field and told the trainer again that he was dizzy, his head was throbbing. 

The coach said some inappropriate words that sent Scott back onto the field.

Many years later..

Doctors have confirmed that if they had been treated and allowed to heal after the first concussion, the catastrophic injury would be a non-issue. "Second-impact syndrome" is the term used.

Scott

Vu was down in the first play. His eyes rolled back into his head and he stopped breathing.  He died twice on the field, was resuscitated, then died again in the ambulance.  

Immediate surgery to remove a part of his skull and repair injury to the brain saved his life. 

Scott collapsed on the field in the first quarter, and immediately suffered catastrophic brain injury. He, too, had the same surgery in which a portion of the skull had to be removed.

Both were comatose for a lengthy time. Vu awoke, and spent years in 24 hour care initially, then years in physical recovery. 

Scott eventually became conscious, but remains unable to speak and to stand or move on his own. His mind is keen and alert, communicating on iPad or computer with someone supporting his arm. His health is improving and he has finished requirements to graduate from high school.

Recent lawsuits have been settled. Vu was award about $4 million, and Scott about the same.  Due to lengthy treatments involving full time care, Vu is virtually broke. He owns yoga studio with his wife.

Scott and Vu, now

Although Scott's lawyer and family were suing for $25 million (an amount estimated to provide for his life-long care), Scott received $4.4 million and depends on caregivers to eat, bathe, and communicate. 

His injury has also taken nearly all, and his loving family cares for what Voice of San Diego calls "a living ghost".

I am passionate and angry about these two young men and how denial  of concussion problems continue to plague the entire football industry. 

This is what CTE is.

In pro-ball, "issue" is called Chronic Traumatic Encephalophy. The stats on football players should scare us all. Many retired players have developed dementia, depressions, and other related brain injuries.  Many have committed suicide.

This post is way too long, I know. 

When some 17 yr. kids go through hell because coaches want to demolish the other teams, people must amass a fury so large and so loud that football stadiums explode.

All sports that involve player impact are susceptible and at risk for such injuries. Head helmets are inadequately designed or built to prevent or reduce injuries.

However some sports analyzers have seen an increase in injuries since football helmets have been introduced into games.  They insist that, if helmets were taken out of the game, players would follow the natural response to protect the head.  Hits would be less violent, focus would be on the play, not the bludgeoning. They might be on the right track.

At least this ends on a short, kinda cute commercial. It also shows how young a commitment to the game begins.

And she's out!

Carnival Freedom

When it comes to Christmas, nothing is relaxing or quiet. Between decorating and setting a celebratory meal on the table, noise and activity abounds.  Right?

My husband, his siblings, and their families (including us out-laws) took a cruise Dec. 24 through Dec. 31.  Mom had died February 5^th, and this was our first Christmas without her. This cruise was in her honor and memory.

Lots of activity, lots of fun—it was a bonding time.

On December 25^th, while walking down some stairs, I tripped and flew forward on the last three steps. Apparently, there was a resounding crackkthudd heard by people close by and my lights went out.  For three black silent minutes, spots flew around with vague voices asking me questions.

A concussion is a serious event.  For the entirety of the trip, my husband was by my side.  I couldn’t remember our room number, so I wrote it on my arm. Eat and sleep was the best entertainment going. Eating was also a problem: nausea

My doctor in Murrieta ran CT Scans, and firmly told me to take two weeks of relative inactivity which I have found very much needed. 

That all said, I’ll be silent in blog time, will try to post when I can.  See you in two weeks.

The recipe below I copied from Carnival chocolate melting cake .  Unfortunately, when copying and pasting direct, the whole thing is in a white highlight, but still readable.

http://www.copykat.com/2014/12/12/chocolate-melting-cake/

This is the only thing that tasted good to me, seriously:

Chocolat Melting Cake

Author: Stephanie Manley @CopyKat.com
Recipe Type:Dessert
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4

Prepare this chocolate melting cake, it tastes like the Carnival Cruise version.

Ingredients

• 6 ounces of butter
• 6 ounces of baking chocolate (ideally 60% cacao)
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons to butter ramekins
• powdered sugar for dustiing

Instructions

In a small bowl melt together chocolate and butter in the microwave. Melt for 30 seconds and stir, and repeat until chocolate and butter are melted.

Whisk together eggs and sugar until they are lighter in color and foamy. Add melted chocolate to egg mixture. Stir in vanilla extract, salt, and flour.

Spread butter in ramekins to grease the dishes. Pour batter into dishes. Cover dishes with plastic and refrigerate for about 30 minutes, you can refrigerate these for up to 4 hours. 

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 12 to 15 minutes. The tops will be firm, but the insides will be melting.

Dust with powdered sugar, and serve with a scoop of ice cream if desired.

This delicious recipe brought to you by Restaurant Recipes – Popular Restaurant Recipes you c