Sunday, September 20, 2009

Happy Medians

Since you've all graciously returned following my recent angst, I figured you're due a fluffy post.


Back in the olden days, Sundays were a day for entertaining. Almost every week we invited friends over. Matt would put on quite a culinary performance in the kitchen and I would spend the next day and a half washing every pot, lid, bowl, whisk, baking dish, spatula....that took up space in our kitchen. I'm not complaining, it was a fabulous arrangement for us. Matt viewed cooking as an art form and I would (and frequently do) choose cleaning over food prep any day.


Now that it's just me and my littles, we never have friends over for Sunday dinner. I don't enjoy show cooking, and knowing I'd have to come up with something fabulous for dinner and clean up afterwards is hardly motivating. But Brigham asks constantly who we can have over for dinner. I knew we needed a compromise, so we began Sunday Sundaes. Brigham can invite over the family of his choice, we make a big bowl of homemade hot fudge, and everyone gets to decorate their sundae with a smorgasbord of toppings. Brigham gets his socializing and I have minimal prep and clean up. Perfecto.


Today we are all in various stages of monster colds/flu so we couldn't invite anyone over for Sunday Sundaes. It was just us, but Brigham handled it well. (I keep forgetting that he wants to be called Brig. He doesn't like having a name with "ham" in it. He's okay eating it though.) This is the best and easiest recipe you will ever find for homemade hot fudge:


*
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
4 Tbs. butter (please don't use margarine)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbs. water
*
microwave for about 30-45 seconds at a time until the mixture can be completely combined. Stir in 1 tsp. of vanilla when you're finished microwaving. (Vanilla, chocolate and microwaves don't mix well.)
Mine is the one on the top. I'm a sundae puritan with just vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. Hunter's is the bottom left. He gets a little more decorated adding sprinkles and mini M&Ms, and Brigham...ahem, BRIG... is the most complex with all of the above plus crushed Oreos and mini chocolate chips.




The happy chefs made their own sundaes...






...and I, of course, cleaned up.

6 comments:

Brenda said...

I forgot to give props--the hot fudge recipe is from our neighbor friend Auntie Beth. Don't know where she got it.

Orr Family said...

That is so cute! I feel like you, when Daniel is gone it is awkward to have families over for dinner, too much work to cook and clean up too! But the Sunday Sundaes, I will have to steal that idea!!! I am amazed by how you are carrying on and making the best memories for your boys! you are an inspiration!

Christy said...

What? No CAKE?

Miss ya!

- jeana said...

what a fabulous idea!

Brooke said...

Oh I LOVE homemade fudge sauce!!

Anonymous said...

YUM!