If you live in the UK then you don’t need me to tell you it’s Baltic out there. The snow is falling here and I’m waiting for the inevitable call to say that school’s out and sledging is in. Any minute now I’m sure. Much to the amusement of Adam who spends large chunks of the year working in Norway in tonnes of snow with zero disruption.
I couldn’t face the thought of a cold drink tonight, nothing with ice and nothing from the fridge, that’s just wrong. So, well this is not rocket science but grown up hot chocolate it is.
Grown Up Hot Chocolate
Don’t be shy and make your own hot chocolate with any chocolate that you have in the house.
- Warm a mugful of milk in a pan and melt about 20g per person of chocolate in – good, dark is always best.
- Keep whisking as you go.
- Add a dot of vanilla or a sprinkle of cinnamon too to bring it alive
- I promise, you’ll never go back to the powdered stuff again.
Now, I added a slug of vanilla vodka to mine but the possibilities are endless. I think you could have a bloody brilliant time with a choice of additions, a pan full of hot chocolate and espresso cups for tasting.
I’m thinking Bounty in a mug with good old retro Malibu; chocolate orange with Cointreau; minty freshness with Creme de Menthe; mocha with Kahlua or oh so lovely hazelnut liqueur for a faux Ferrero.
To really warm the cockles and save on the gas bill infuse the milk with a chilli while it’s warming, keep checking the chilli heat as it’s surprising how quickly it gets hot though and then go for it with a dark rum or a vodka for a Not Bloody at all Chocolate Mary. I made that up, can you tell?
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. That’s what I say!
Creme de menthe – it’s got to be the green Aero thing, hasn’t it. Actually, though, I think I’ll just have whisky in mine today.
Mint Aero – of course. Whisky will be just fine RJ. Simple and efficient!
Amaretto. With an amaretti biscuit on the side .
Amaretto. With an Amaretti biscuit on the side.
Yes, yes and yes again. Heaven. And I have both…
Strictly weather – snow, snow, thick thick snow.
I think I may have to make this tonight with a shot of something – brandy is medicinal right?
100% strictly medicinal Barnes, nothing to worry about there.
Love hot chocolate. Great idea for a cold day. Feeling all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.
Hello Anna, yes there’s nothing better, especially with a drop of something extra sneaked in! I’m off for some New York glamour on your blog now
Absolutely all of the above sounds wonderful to me! Enjoy the snow (yes, I will admit it makes me laugh slightly too!), and keep warm!
All sounds great to me too. Loving the snow, but the fire afterwards even more!