When the weather turns from balmy to brisk I like to imbibe with fewer ice cubes clinking in my glass. We have a fireplace built outside and we do use it most of the year. On weekends you’ll find Mac Daddy stoking the fire while Bird and Deal throw the football fight in the yard. Lark parks himself on a cushioned chair next to the fire, and I sit next to him, often bundled in an old woven blanket from my alma mater. We sit by the fire and roast marshmallows (natch), whip up pudgy pies, or simply sip away the night with fine friends and neighbors at our side.
Mac Daddy is from Wisconsin so he balks at what makes me brrrrr…. He’ll sport a long sleeve T-shirt and jeans while I nestle into my fleece jacket and pull my scarf tighter. He’s simply partaking in weather showboating, as if his forefathers are handing out badges for this kind of bravado. Well, it he is from the Badger State, now that I think about it. Nonetheless, Mac Daddy and I are set to different thermostats.
When fall gives way to winter I like a mug of something steamy to warm my hands. We often play on the school playground after I pick up the boys in the afternoon so by the time we get home we all look like we’re competing in a Rudolph Lookalike contest. I’ve been making hot cocoa as a little treat while they sit down to do their homework and figured the creamy indulgence I whip up could stand an adult infusion.
Chocohottie (serves 4)
3 1/2 cups milk (I use 1%.)
2 bars Scharffen Berger 70% cacao bittersweet chocolate (1 ounce bar)
2-3 tablespoons sugar
4 ounces of Godiva caramel milk chocolate liqueur
4 tablespoons vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream
Heat heavy bottom sauce pan (I love love love my All Clad! Thanks, Mom!). Pour in milk. Break up chocolate bars into pieces and drop into milk. Add sugar (more or less to taste). Stir slowly and constantly until the chocolate melts. Don’t let it boil! Pour 1 ounce of Godiva caramel milk chocolate liqueur into a mug. Top with hot chocolate. Plop in one tablespoon of vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream. If you happen to have any extra Scharffen Berger chocolate bars on hand, a quick shaving of chocolate looks mighty pretty on top.
Now all I can do is hope that one of our relatives in Wisconsin reads this and has a big mug of Chocohottie waiting for me when we land in December. Brrr…..
This is perfect for today. Because the rain that started this morning? Just turned to snow. My beautiful Iowa fall just turned into winter. With any luck, the winter will be as mild as the fall. If not, I’ll just have to drink more of these. 🙂
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