The coffee shop on Jekyll Island sells these muffins and my Dad loves them.  I was determined to find a recipe because they are delicious.  Indeed, with the internet it didn’t take any longer than five seconds to discover what I was searching for….black bottom muffins….the name makes Sarah Joy giggle.  “Did you say bottom?” she laughed.

The muffin is more of a cupcake.  The chocolate cake part is soft and delicately sweet.  The middle is cheesecake!

I made a batch yesterday (one batch=12 muffins) and they were gone in no time.

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/3 cup white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line muffin tins with paper cups or lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, egg, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt until light and fluffy. Stir in the chocolate chips and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, 1 cup sugar, cocoa, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center and add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Stir together until well blended. Fill muffin tins 1/3 full with the batter and top with a dollop of the cream cheese mixture.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

(recipe source:  the wonderful and convenient allrecipes.com)

You know what makes me sort of sad?  When I was married 20 years ago I spent so much time dreaming as I turned page after page in my new cookbooks, planning on what I would bake next for my husband.  I have a beautiful collection of books to this day….but do I look at them now?  Hardly ever.  I think one of my new year’s resolutions will be to make more recipes out of my cookbooks rather than from the computer.  Just because.

This is a Sarah update.

She had a doctor’s appointment on Tuesday with her surgeon and new urologist.  The surgeon was very happy with her healing progress.  She does have a stent which will have to be removed in February which will entail another magical sleep in the O.R.  At the same time, the Doctor will look with a scope into her kidney to make sure every stone fragment was removed during her first surgery.

The urologist went over her 24 hour urine sample results and sure enough, she is a stone-maker.  He sent us to get blood drawn that day as well, which Sarah did not appreciate despite the fact that they had a cartoon playing right in front of the lab chair and she was sitting on my lap.  She was just simply done with all the needles.  But we managed just fine and she came away with another toy so……

He called with the lab results which were PERFECTLY normal (praise Jesus) –all but her vitamin D level, which was low (common for our area).  So she is taking a supplement and I’m giving it to all the children in the house, too.

She has to eat an orange a day (and/or lemons, lemonade or limes) and drink twice as much as I was making her drink before.  (ugh) She also has to avoid salt.  In a few months we will do the urine test again to see if the diet change has helped.

Sarah went to school on Wednesday and Thursday.  She did absolutely fine other than being a little more tired than usual.  I kept her home today, however, because she was looking pale to me and although she has been acting fine here at home, I feel much better keeping her with me.  She is currently watching a movie.

Ethan is home after getting done with midterms early.  I went to pick him up (with Sarah) and we went through the Dunkin Donuts drive thru.  We stopped at the grocery store where I left them waiting for me in the warm car eating their snacks while I ran in to get half and half and the ingredients for three bean salad.

It’s a beautiful day, sunny, and a freezing cold 27 degrees with an icy wind.  When I look out the window at our ponds I think to myself that the ice must be about ready for skating.  In the meantime, I am staying close by the fire that I made this morning in our fireplace.  It is a comforting, popping and crackling sound, not to mention toasty warm.

Happy Friday, friends!

You are loved.

“Nothing is lovelier in life, than the spirit of contentment. Fretting mars the beauty of many a face. Discontent spoils all one’s world. Out of whatever window he looks — the discontented person sees something that is not pleasing.

But a contented person sees only good everywhere. The happiest homes in the world are not those in which are the finest carpets, the costliest pictures, the most luxurious furniture — but those in which contented, joyful hearts dwell. A mind at peace, beautifies the plainest surroundings and even the hardest conditions.”  J.R. Miller

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13