Banana Espresso Chocolate Chip Muffins

Chocolate makes the world go 'round. Well, at least it makes my world go 'round. I savor simple chocolates like a good book I've read a thousand times—slowly, reveling in the familiarity, letting the flavors (and words) linger on my tongue. I've always found something sensual about chocolate. The way warmed chocolate falls off a spoon or the glean and glisten on a pot of melted chocolate make my mouth begin to water. I love the way chocolate pairs with a heady glass of red wine, fashioning a rich ending to a heavy meal.

I'm certain if we gave it a chance, chocolate alone could bring about world peace.

Chocolate always finds a way to sneak into my day. In the morning, I love a hint of cocoa in my hot cereal. At lunch, I always sneak a sweet treat for dessert, nibbling on bits of chocolate cake or swiping my finger through a tub of chocolate buttercream. In the evening, I grab a few chocolate chips to preempt my inevitable nighttime cravings.

I'm a monster.

Some days I'm certain chocolate runs through my veins.

Because of my fervent fondness for the cocoa bean, I've been adventurous with my chocolate flavor combinations. Certainly the standard combinations have been done: chocolate and peanut butter, chocolate and raspberry, chocolate and pear. But it's the more unique combinations that bring me greater excitement—chocolate and lemon, chocolate and figs, and chocolate and beets.

Chocolate and pickles, however, is a little too "unique." Let's just say that was never a very good idea.

These Banana Espresso Chocolate Chip Muffins are decadent, addictive muffins that are everything a muffin should be—moist and dense. Imagine a loaf of banana bread in bite-sized form; these are it. The flavors of banana and chocolate blend together easily, but the espresso powder adds a slight twist. Though the espresso flavor is very subtle (in fact, I couldn't find it unless I was really looking), it adds so much flavor depth. The chocolate tones are richer and deeper. The banana flavor is bold and beautiful. Just a hint of something new, creates a different muffin entirely—a muffin you are sure to love.

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Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops

Sometimes things don't quite go as planned. Let me explain.

These Frankensteins have been swimming around in my head for the last month. I had a vague idea what I was going to use to make them, but it wasn't until I sat down in front of them, surrounded by marshmallows and candy, did I realize maybe I hadn't thought these little guys all the way through. After a bit of trial and error (and a dozen marshmallows tossed to the wayside), I finally figured out the trick to making them.

And make them I did. Soon I was surrounded by a small, bite-sized Frankenstein army.

It wasn't until I sat back to admire my handiwork that I noticed something was off. My Frankensteins didn't look quite right. Yet, I couldn't place my finger on what exactly was wrong. After a quick google search, I was stunned to learn my poor Frankensteins were anatomically incorrect.

For some reason, I always assumed the bolt went through Frankenstein's head. Perhaps I'm imagining that only a monster could function with a block of metal through his brain and basing my logic from there. Every time I see a picture of him with the bolt in his neck, there is shock all over again. Apparently I didn't watch enough of The Munsters growing up.

So, today I present to you an anatomically incorrect Halloween treat. I think that makes them scarier.

Or Frankensteins with pigtails. Now that's the stuff of horror films.

These Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops are easy to make and even more fun to eat. Perfect as a Halloween treat, these little monsters can be placed on top of cakes, cupcakes, cookies, or left to speak for themselves. A few ingredients is all it takes to produce these marshmallow Frankensteins (plus, they taste pretty sweet, too). These would make a spooky addition to your Halloween treat bag.

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Chocolate Fudge Cake with Ghost Meringues

When the house on the corner of my street pulls out the pumpkins, inflatable Frankenstein, huge tree-covering spiderwebs, and plastic black cats, I know that Halloween is on its way. It's like clockwork. Every year in mid October, the home suddenly becomes a haunted house—eerie lights, creepy noises, and all. I have to admire their fervor, even I don't share the same level of enthusiasm for All Hallow's Eve.

Trick or Treating was easily my favorite part of Halloween (and it's a shame I'm about ten years too old for it). I didn't care for dressing up or even the candy (gasp), it was the simple act of going from house to house that kept me coming back. I looked forward to the anticipation of what awaited on the other side of the door. Snickers? Twix bars? A sneak peek into the lives on my neighbors? I loved it all.

My younger sister and I always fought over who got to ring the doorbell. Arguably my favorite part of Halloween, my sister liked to run up to the door and ring it before me. I imagine it was simply to spite me because that's what younger sisters do. This is all speculation, of course, but I'm certain she wasn't born with the same doorbell ringing affinity as I was. I mean, what are the odds?

At the end of the evening, my family would gather in the living room, the candy buckets would be overturned, and we'd all ooh and ahh over our loot. Then the sorting began. There was very little candy my sister and I actually liked (we were unusual children) and we'd go through our buckets and pick out what we considered edible (like peanut butter cups). I think my father liked this part most of all because he ended up with the bulk of the candy all to himself. Trick or Treating was as much for my father as it was for us.

What is your favorite part of Halloween?

This Chocolate Fudge Cake with Ghost Meringues is a festive Halloween treat. The cake itself is rich, dark, fudgy, and filled with sticks-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth goodness. It features a chocolate cake covered in a thick chocolate fudge frosting with a little chocolate ganache to glaze the top. In other words, this cake means business. If you love chocolate, this is your cake. I thought the ghost meringues were a cute accessory to such a decadent cake and make this cake a fun addition to any Halloween party.

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