Recipes and cooking commentary with a touch of humor.

Welcome to lizzycooks!

I love to cook. I collect recipes and cookbooks, enjoy food photography, and adore trying new restaurants. All of this food love inspired me to start this blog where I share my favorite recipes, cooking tips, and other fun stuff. Enjoy your food!

Instant Chocolate Cake in a Mug

It worked! I found this recipe in a magazine and I just had to see how it turned out. Not the best photo but it was delicious, just like regular cake.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup flour
5 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
dash vanilla extract
dash salt

Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl. Pour mixture into a large, microwave safe mug and cook for a few minutes in the microwave until it puffs up (it will then go back down). Wait until for 2 minutes. Voila! You have a mini chocolate cake in a mug. Grab the frosting and a candle.

Dad's Tiramisu (A Short Cut Version)

My dad and I made this version of tiramisu together a couple of Thanksgivings ago. Tiramisu is a wickedly delicious Italian dessert. Have a salad for dinner but THIS for dessert!

½ cup strong coffee, cooled
6 tablespoons Kahlua (coffee liqueur)
8 oz mascarpone cheese (softened)
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
24 ladyfingers (the Alessi brand, which are more firm than the cake type)
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa

Combine coffee and 3 tablespoons Kahlua in an 8 x 8 baking dish.

In a large bowl, beat with a mixer the 2 cheeses until smooth. Add 3 (additional) tablespoons Kahlua and the sugars to the cheese mixture. Mix until blended.

Dip the lady fingers into the coffee/Kahlua mixture and transfer quickly into the 8 x 8 baking dish.

Spread ½ of the cheese mixture on top of the ladyfingers. Sprinkle with ½ the unsweetened cocoa. Repeat with another layer of dipped ladyfingers. Add the remaining cheese mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining unsweetened cocoa.

Cover and chill at least two hours.

Pico de Gallo

This salsa tastes so fresh and is packed with flavor. You can mix pico de gallo with mashed avocados to make guacamole, spoon it over fish or chicken before baking, or use it as a salsa for tortilla chips. Isn't it beautiful? 

3 large roma tomatoes, chopped
1/2 white onion, chopped
1/2 large (5") jalapeno, seeded and minced
1/8 cup lime juice
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon (maybe more) Kosher salt

Mix everything in a medium bowl and refrigerate to chill if using as salsa.