How is it August?! Choco-Nutella-Lava-Cookies for the WIN!

I’m not really sure how it’s already August. I’m also not really sure why I started using capital letters again except for the fact the font on my website is annoying me in all lowercase…guess it’s time to get a new website!

I truly feel like it’s still May and I think part of the issue is that I’m not always fully present in my day so it’s shocking to me that time is passing. Regardless…it’s a beautiful and crisp morning in Portland with the sky doing pretty things while I huffed and puffed on my run I didn’t think I was capable of doing.

I’m may also be in denial that it’s August because we leave for Malaysia in 17 days…eek! Our flight route going there is Portland>Vancouver, BC >sit for 3.5 hours while Chelsea freaks out with anticipation>Hong Kong>Kuala Lumpur>pass out in hotel.

This just made me think I should really start packing and making a list (and check it twice. You should have known that was coming).

I hope you are going strong with you “#31 Days of Kindness” because apparently there are over 700 people spreading kindness and that’s pretty impressive. Today’s act of kindness is to bring treats to your office. Since my husband and I work together, he has been asking me what I’m bringing him on this day because “this one is the most important one and no pressure but you can make something like REALLY good.”

That is pressure-pressure all over the place. Here’s what I opted for thanks to my rekindled obsession with Pinterest:

Chocolate Chip Lava Cookies:

I found the recipe from ‘Kevin & Amanda‘ here but adapted it because you know sure a fire way for 2 people in a household to become pre-diabetic? Eat 10 of these. 5 is less ridiculous. We also didn’t have enough chocolate chips to make the gooey center because I eat them frequently. This lady had to get creative.

I halved their recipe so it consisted of:

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 large egg (whisked one egg then halved that and saved the rest for eggs in the morning)
1/4 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup and 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Dollops of Nutella/Peanut butter/Melted chocolate

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.

2. Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat until well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Add to the wet ingredients and beat on low speed until just combined. Add the chocolate chips (1/2 cup) and stir to combine.

3. Using half the cookie dough, scoop 1.5-2 tbsp of dough, place in the bottom of the muffin tin and flatten. Repeat for a total of 5 cookies (maybe 6 if you don’t eat as much dough as I do). Nutella is usually pretty soft (or it’s our 80 degree home) so it should come out easy to place a dollop on the cookie. If not, put in a plastic bag, melt in microwave and snip end off to squeeze on dough.

4. Scoop and flatten the remaining dough and place on top of the chocolate layer. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, until the edges are browned. When they come out of the oven, run a knife around the edges to make for easy removing later. Cool completely and get ready for a delicious treat!

He says I succeeded although we have yet to try the peanut butter filled one!

While he was picking up a package from our leasing office, he snagged me a cookie along with a few little dog treats for Sugar-our puppy! It was sweet of him but I think I won (I know…kindness isn’t a competition. But. I won.)

So glad we are standing that you can perfectly see how messy my desk is. Ugggh. That’s why I’m working in the living room because I don’t want to deal with that.

Happy August and happy Friday friends!

Questions:
1) Favorite treat to either bring or indulge in at work?
2) What’s on tap for your weekend?
3) How do you feel about Nutella? Love it? Hate it? Never had it?

Ps. It’s not fall until September so let’s all remember that summer is still in full swing, mmmmk? BBQs, bare feet and berries still need to be in our lives!