Friday, December 4, 2009

'Tis the season for sipping chocolate

by June

At our house, it's time to play Christmas songs by the McGarrigle sisters (and Dean Martin and Yo-Yo Ma and Sarah MacLachlan and Elvis and...). Our favorite accompaniment? Candy-bar hot chocolate! We save this treat for special times, such as when we're trimming the tree, because it is a cup of chocolate so rich it's actually a kind of custard.



We offer the recipe as a holiday gift to you... Choose your favorite chocolate (be it Hershey's or Callebaut, milk or dark-dark) because it's all about the chocolate.


Candy-bar Hot Chocolate

2 egg yolks
2 ounces of bar chocolate, chunked
1 cup of milk
whipping cream (optional)
Ghirardelli ground chocolate (optional)

Beat the egg yolks in a small bowl.

Place the chocolate and milk in a 2-cup microwave safe glass measuring cup with a spout. Microwave at 70-percent power for 2 to 3 minutes, whisking once, until the chocolate is melted. Whisk well.

Slowly pour the milk into the beaten egg yolks, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the glass measuring cup and microwave for one minute.

If you're being fussy, strain it through cheesecloth to catch any eggy bits. But if it's just you and the family, pour into cups hot, then garnish with a lavish swirl of whipped cream and a festive sprinkle of ground chocolate.


What will you listen to as you sip your chocolate? We're always eager to find our next favorite Christmas song. Please share!


25 comments:

Colleen - the AmAzINg Mrs. B said...

Yes, I recently discovered iTunes at work and have purchased Dean Martin and Sarah MacLachlan, so I've been listening to those - also some chants that I think bring me a sense of peace..and, oh yes, that Chocolate-piece-of-wonderfulment looks and sounds delish! Well, we only trim a tree (inside at least) once a year, right??

A Friend Across the Miles said...

Dear June...

Sounds incredibly good - the perfect ending to a snowy winter's day.

I adore the John Denver & the Muppets Christmas album. My parents bought the record when I was a child and we still listen to it. But I have to say, Sarah MacLachlan's Wintersong album is one of my favorites too. I love "What Child Is This."

Unknown said...

Would you look at that lovely picture of chocolate sprinkling down on such a beautiful cup of hot cocoa! Excellent photo!

Music.... You must listen to Sara Groves song "Toy Packaging". It is so funny and TRUE! I really like her album. Also, Josh Groban's NOEL,and Diana Krall's Christmas Songs are favorites. I listen to lots of different genres at this time of year: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Three Tenors, City on a Hill, Third Day, Point of Grace, Moya Brennan, Eden's Bridge, Mannheim Steamroller,... these are just a few.

Have you tried Pandora yet? It's a free online radio station that you create by putting in the name of a favorite artist or song. Then it plays music in the same genre. We really like it.

Tricia Orchard said...

Thanks for sharing the recipe.

I love Christmas Song by the Dave Matthews Band. I also am a fan of Sarah McLachlan too.

Enjoy your weekend,
Tricia

Magnolia Handspun said...

I have never heard of egg being used...wow, you learn something new everyday. Your kids look like they can serve up a mean cup of cocoa..and festive cups too.(I think it is so sweet to see them in Santa hats here lately)
Christmas music...hmm, it has to be "Solv guttene" (Norwegian boys choir)that brings back fond memories for me. I really like Norwegian Christmas music.
However we love; Bing Crosby, Luis Armstrong, Nat King Cole. I also love this song it's called "Suzy Snowflake" I know all the words...it's an oldie too.

sarah in the woods said...

oh wow! I can't wait to try this out. I love hot chocolate and have been having a cup every morning lately, but this sounds like a real treat.

farmama sara said...

Yum yum yum! We shall have to try this one! Thank you for sharing June!

Emily said...

We'll be listening to Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God as we decorate our Christmas Tree. You can listen to it online through the audio player on the link.

Thanks for the recipe!

Country Girl said...

Looks and sounds so good. I love all Christmas music!

a tasteful garden said...

i can't wait to try this with my boys. btw, i love your whip cream dispenser... very cool.

The Cutting Edge of Ordinary said...

I have quite a few Christmas CD's I love but Dean Martins is at the top of my list. I also have a Bluegrass CD that I adore too. Love the Hot Chocolate pics. I make my own cocoa mix..."Moco Cocoa" (see link). I think I'll go have a glass now!

http://thecuttingedgeofordinary.blogspot.com/2009/01/moco-cocoa.html

Oh and June re: the bacon article. I am interested. My hubby is a bacon fanatic, but I'm still leary to add it to sweets. I just might have to try it though....lol.

Karen Sue said...

Jim Brickman and Kenny G... I was surprised when I checked the date on these..I've had some for quite a while.
Thinking the cocoa is a winner. I have some girls coming over next Sunday after church for a flannel day...making come flannel bottoms for lounging. I have a couple pair and I wear them all the time. Having cocoa will we sew flannel may just be the tickets!!

Laura at By the Bushel said...

mmmm.. That sounds wonderful. We're having (cheat/cheap) hot chocolate everytime we want this season. But this recipe...I will be trying this. Have a wonderful Christmas Season-

Jen said...

Thanks for the recipe! Wow - it does sound decadent and yummy. We like Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown christmas album, also Brian Setzer orchestra, Phil Spector's album - did you hear that even Bob Dylan put one out this year? If you can get your hands on Gloria Estafan's version of "Let it Snow", it's a real treat.
BTW, I put a link to you Tree Hike post on my blog today. I loved it so much!

Laurie said...

I had to try the hot chocolate recipe yesterday. Was that a yummy treat! Did mine on the stovetop, which worked just fine. Thanks for sharing it.

tom tall clover farm said...

June I don't know that this hot chocolate recipe can be improved upon, so may I offer another option for your recipe file: Mexican hot chocolate. There are recipes to make it from scratch, but I find Abuelita and Ibarra brands are great, coming in dense chocolate discs that you pop in a blender, pour in hot milk and blend. I love it as I'm sure will be the case when I try your delicious drink!

And I'm quite impressed that Fern and Blossom kept the high powered whipped cream dispenser pointed away from the camera and beloved photographer. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Inow littel

ENGLISH

but iam happy with your

pecure

thank you

spring said...

Awesome pictures! luv the one with the powdered chocolate falling down!

Emma

Digital Marketing Agency said...

Quicken Support Phone Number
Quicken Support Phone Number
Quicken Support Number
Quicken Technical Support Phone Number
Quicken Technical Support Number
Quicken Tech Support Phone Number
Quicken Tech Support Number
Customer Service Phone Number
Customer Service Number

Unknown said...

yeezy boost 350 v2
nike air max thea
pandora jewelry
nike zoom
michael kors outlet
nike air max 2017
chrome hearts
kobe basketball shoes
nike huarache
lebron 14

Unknown said...

michael kors outlet clearance
coach outlet
michael kors outlet clearance
adidas originals tubular
adidas outlet store
michael kors outlet clearance
michael kors handbags
coach outlet store online
lebron 14 shoes
coach factory online
2017.5.15chenlixiang

Unknown said...

nike shoes
ray ban aviators
adidas yeezy boost 350 v2
coach factory outlet
polo ralph lauren
kd 9 shoes
air jordan shoes
birkenstock shoes
nfl jerseys
adidas originals shoes
2017.5.15chenlixiang

raybanoutlet001 said...

coach outlet
kate spade outlet
yeezy boost 350 black
ugg boots
michael kors outlet
coach outlet
jordan shoes
polo outlet
ray ban sunglasses
patriots jerseys

دريم هاوس said...

شركة كشف تسربات المياه شمال الرياض https://u.to/f8jGFA جهاز كشف تسربات المياة الالكتروني بحث دقيق واكتشاف وحلول تسربات المياه كشف تسربات المياه بالخرج خدمات الصيانة والإصلاح المتكاملة شركة كشف تسربات المياه بشمال الرياض هل تواجه مشكلة تسربات او تهريبات مياه بالمنزل تقدم لك دريم هاوس للخدمات المنزلية والتي تواجه احتياجات العميل واهميتة الخاصة بتسرب المياه المزعجة .
افضل شركة كشف تسربات المياه شمال الرياض أفضل خدمات الكشف والصيانة عن تسربات المياه سواء من مواسير الحار او البارد او مواسير الصرف الصحي وتقوم بالإصلاح الخراب الموجوج بالمنزل وذلك تمتلك الشركة أحدث الأجهزة الأمريكية والماكينات المخصصة في كشف تسربات المياه وايضا تمتلك الشركة مجموعة مميزة ذات كفاءة عالية في عمليات كشف تسرب المياه .… اقرأ المزيد

المصدر: كشف تسربات المياه شمال الرياض

مؤسسة دريم هاوس للتنظيف بالرياض https://u.to/qsXGFA نقدم لكم خدماتنا اليوم في مجال التنظيف بمدينة الرياض والتي نتمتع فيها بالخبرة الطويلة لسنوات عديدة جعلتنا في الريادة ولعل أبرز ما يميزنا في مجال التنظيف والتي تتعدد فيه الشركات الاخري داخل المملكة بإننا نمتلك العمالة الذين تم تدريبهم علي افضل وأحسن الطرق الستخدمة في التنظيف من خلال تجربة جميع المواد والمركبات المخصصة للتنظيف في معاملنا الخاصة والتي يتم تجربة أي منتج قبل إخراجه للعملاء في شركتنا مما يجعلنا من بين الأفضل في شركة تنظيف مجالس بالرياض مع إستخدام أفضل مواد التعطير .

كشف تسربات المياه شمال الرياض

sandy said...

ارخص شركة غسيل خزانات بمكة شركة تنظيف خزانات بمكة
ارخص شركة غسيل خزانات بجدة شركة تنظيف خزانات بجدة
ارخص شركة غسيل خزانات بالدمام شركة تنظيف خزانات بالدمام
ارخص شركة غسيل خزانات بالمدينة المنورة شركة تنظيف خزانات بالمدينة المنورة