Chocolate gravy....

I went to one of my best friend's daughter's birthday party today. What a great party idea for small children she had!! They had the party at the local gymnastics building. The two and three year olds were able to do what they love to do best--run, jump, and play non-stop for two hours!! (All in a nicely padded environment, complete with lowered trampoline, balance beams, a really cool foam pit that they could jump into or swing over and fall into from a rope!) The young lady on duty today brought out a huge parachute and engaged not only the kiddos, but the parents, as well, in some great parachute activities. Of course, they loved this!!! I bet all those kiddos are already tucked in for the night and sawing some serious Zzzs!!! They had to be worn out from all of the activities and the battering of the pinata!! Happy Birthday, little cutie-pie!!

Alright, I had a little taste of heaven this morning!!! I have always heard people talk about "chocolate gravy", but have never tasted it!! I've asked several people for their recipe, but haven't ever really got my hands on one that was written down. You know how people are-"oh, just put a little of this, and a little of that, it's real easy, etc." But, me, I have to have a written recipe in my chubby, little hand before I'm brave enough to try a new recipe! I looked at some of the recipe websites, and finally found one that sounded pretty easy, printed it off, and thought I'd give it a stab. Well, I did it this morning, and what do you know? It is as good as everybody has always said!! It was soooooo good. Can you say, "YUMMERS!"? But, then, of course, I love chocolate, so, it's already almost fail-proof just because it's chocolate!! The recipe suggested that you serve it with biscuits and bacon, and that's exactly what I did!!! Now, if you're trying to lose weight, (like me) this is probably not the recipe that you want to try. It is, I am sure, LOADED with all kinds of calories, but, boy howdy, as Paula Dean would say, it is delicious!!! Ladies, when you need a chocolate fix, this is the best way to get it---just ladle it all over your hot biscuits and enjoy. Like I said, "a little taste of heaven".

Just in case any of you want to try this, here is the recipe:


CHOCOLATE GRAVY

1/2 c. (or one stick) butter
4 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 c. all-purpose flour (I used whole wheat graham flour)
3/4 c. white sugar
2 c. milk

Melt the butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat.

Add the cocoa & flour. Stir until a thick paste is formed.

Stir in the sugar and milk.

Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.

(It will look gritty at first,(because of the sugar) but, if you continue to stir while cooking, it will get smooth as it thickens up.)

Serve with biscuits or buttered toast and bacon on the side. It is so sweet, you really need the salty bacon to balance it out.

ENJOY!!!

Back to school...again!

Okay, at this point, we've missed ten school days in the last month or two. Snow, sleet, ice, you name it, we've had it!!! We missed yesterday because of snow, but, went back today (Friday). My daughter was even aggravated that we missed yesterday!!! I'm double aggravated!!! I really don't want to go to school in June, but, it looks like we will be. Bummer!! Chopping ice for the horse and dogs is no fun. The pig is fine though. She is at the Ag barn and they have a nice little heated water tank. Little Izzy Ella Bella is growing up to be a big girl--she now weighs over 200 pounds!!! Did you know that pigs bark like dogs when they get mad?!?!?! I always just thought they oinked. It's so funny, it just cracks me up!! I'm totally serious. I was at the Ag barn w/my daughter, and I was trying to get the goofy Izzy to get away from the gate until I was sure I had it fixed so she couldn't get out. I was just shooing her away, but she insisted on staying near where I was (because she was socializing w/her brother or sister in a pen near me) so I kept trying to shoo her down to the other end of the barn. She finally took off and this loud barking, yes, barking sound was coming out of her!!! It was so funny, I was cracking up. I've heard her do that on numerous occasions, but, it just tickles my funny bone every time she does it!! Why doesn't she oink??? It's a mystery to me. I told my daughter we should've named her "Spot" instead of Izzy Ella Bella!! I really do need to videotape and/or record her when she's making this unusual barking sound. I could really use it when I need a good laugh!!

Oh!! Happy Groundhog's Day!!!! Yay!! They say an early Spring!!! Hip, hip, hooray for the good 'ol groundhog!!! Thank you, Phil!!! Please don't disappoint me! :)