Recipe Ideas When You're Desperate for Chocolate

We've all been at the place of desperation. Frantically we search through cupboards, the pantry, every single nook of the refrigerator and freezer. We defrost unlabelled Tupperware containers in the vain hopes of our treasured booty. We seek out our stash holes: bureau drawers, rolled up socks, jewelry boxes, and the loose cupboard in the spare bedroom. Nowhere can we find our elusive prey; chocolate.

What do you do when the siren lure of chocolate cannot be answered? These are the times we've created the worst concoctions with limited or no ingredients. Have you ever tried to make something chocolately out of melted shortening, unsweetened cocoa, and artificial sweetener? Have you ever sneaked your own children's Easter candy, or gnawed away at a piece of chocolate so old that it's no longer brown, but white? If so, read on for a few quick, easy ideas to create a chocolate treat out of almost nothing.

If you have kids you generally have peanut or almond butter. Mix in some unsweetened cocoa or melted unsweetened chocolate-or any kind of chocolate you have, even chocolate pudding mix. Use it as a spread on graham crackers, toast, or even Wheat Thins. The base doesn't matter, just the mix. If you're really desperate, just spoon it in your mouth.

You have chocolate chips, but not the ingredients to make cookies. Count yourself lucky. Of course, you can eat the chips straight out of the bag, but what's the fun in that? Melt them in the microwave and dip slices of banana (or any fruit you have) into the chocolate for a quick fondue. If you have chocolate chips and marshmallows, but no graham crackers, there's an easy fix. Melt the marshmallows and chips in the microwave for a few seconds. Mix them together quickly and spread over toast. You could also mound into balls and stick in the freezer. They cool quickly and taste deliciously creamy.

If you just have cocoa or unsweetened chocolate, but no sugar, try making chocolate pancakes or waffles. Just mix the cocoa into the dry ingredients, or the melted chocolate into the wet. The batter doesn't need much sugar, because you'll be pouring warm maple or corn syrup on top.

If you have light cream cheese, cocoa or some kind of solid chocolate, and sweetened condensed milk, you have it made. Just whip them together with an egg and bake in oiled mini muffin tins for a quick mini chocolate cheesecake. They cool fairly quickly in the freezer.

There's really no limit when you're truly desperate for chocolate. Remember, it doesn't matter how it looks, just as long as it tastes like the dark, chocolate sweet treat we're craving. Hopefully some of these ideas will help in the time of need.