Truckloads of Chocolate

 “When life gives you mud, make chocolate cake. “

It is officially mud season around here. Not familiar with the term? Well, if not, consider yourself lucky. Mud season, by definition found in the ranch life dictionary of common terms, is the time of year when the ground turns to mush. The temperature is warm enough to melt the massive amount of snow from winter into the previously frozen ground causing squish, squash, and splishiness. Walking around, biking, horseback riding, or skiing is not advised. In other words, just stay inside until the ground solidifies.

Indoor time means projects and cooking.  Inspired by the color of mud, the kids and I took a break from chores and cartoons to bake the famous Drowsy Water Ranch Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake.  Here’s how:

 Start with 1 cup quick oats.  Add 1 and 3/4 cup boiling water, mix and let stand for 10 minutes.

 In a separate bowl, mix 1 and 3/4 cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon cocoa. 

Next, add to the soaked oatmeal 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup margarine and 2 eggs. 

Dump the flour mix into the oatmeal mix. 

And stir!

Next, get a certified truck operator to drive his truckload of chocolate chips on over to the job site.  If you do not have a truck and operator as cute as this, don’t fret, about 1 heaping cup of chocolate chips will do. 

 Speaking of driving, if someone else is driving you nuts, have her get busy and chop some nuts. 

 Empty the truck bed of chocolate into the bowl and add all but a handful or two of the nuts. Stir. 

Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Top with another 1/2 cup or so of chocolate chips and the rest of the nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. 

 Next, eat. Enjoy. Then go clean the mud off your boots.