Baby It's Cold Outside ...

It certainly has been a brrr ...... past couple of days here in Toronto.
  Had to get out the snow boots. After all one can still look stylish  shoveling or walking in 2 FT of snow!!!

But where I like to be on cold days is inside looking out at the snow through the window curled up with a blanket reading. 

I love my Restoration Hardware hot water bottle ... the cashmere cover keeps it warm longer and feels luxurious on my toes....

A snow day certainly is a good day for snuggling on the sofa - with blankets, hot water bottle and of course a tray of goodies....

My comfort tray ... hot chocolate infused with mint (will be sharing recipe on HHL facebook page this weekend .. so hope you are following along there); lemon cake from the local bakery and of course an oriental lily to remind me
spring is not that far off...

AND Furbabies ...

This is how I'm keeping warm ....

How about you ... How are you keeping warm?

You are the curator of your life so live it luxuriously ,


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Hot Chocolate ~ Visit to the country

 Not having children of our own (not by choice) Mr. G and I are very blessed that we have God Children and extended family with children. Our home comes alive whenever they visit. Today (Friday) is a PA Day for Miss M. and she is spending a couple of days with us starting last night.

So after a huge spaghetti and meatball dinner (which she ate very well), a bubble bath and some colouring, it was almost time for bed. But not before we she had some hot chocolate.

She chose to use her teapot for serving the hot chocolate... 2 green tea cups served as our mugs 

Of course it's not hot chocolate unless marshmallows are served, according to a 6 year old ~ you have to have marshmallows..

She really enjoys her teapot .. it reminds her of the gardens in summer. I would agree ... there is even a little bee atop the lid. It's small size is perfect for little hands.

She loves using the green tea cups, easy to hold with both hands...

WOW!!!! LOOK ITS PINK!! THE HOT CHOCOLATE IS PINK!!!

 the excitement in a little ones voice is priceless!!!

After adding the "what really makes a hot chocolate" marshmallows....

It was time for the TASTE TEST!!!

Well , I would say ... pink hot chocolate was a HUGE Success!!

DO YOU LIKE TO PARTY ~

 WELCOME to Hot Chocolate Around the World
Linky Party!!!

NOTE: ALL CHOCOLATE RELATED RECIPES CAN PARTY!!! BOY YOU GUYS LOVE CHOCOLATE!!!!

Here is how to join in the fun:

~ Share your favourite  Chocolate recipe ... (whether its a fondue, sauce, cake, ice-cream etc.) be creative ~ for warm weather climate cities, countries ~ how about a Frozen or Ice Chocolate recipe!!!

~  add the The Chocolate Around the World button  at the end of your chocolate recipe post... (you will find it at the end of this post) link it back to this post, so others can have fun discovering Chocolate Recipes too!!
 You can add to your side bar (optional)

~ Click the Linky and you are ready to Party!!!

The HCATW button will be left on the side bar of THIS blog until December 31,2010,

with link back to this post, so visitors can discover your recipe and blog too!!

 Linky will be open, to December 31, 2010

SAVOUR THE MOMENT.....


Amore for 2
Italian Style Hot Chocolate

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cornstarch* or arrowroot

2 cups milk or half milk-half water

Creation:
Mix the cocoa, sugar and cornstarch together until thoroughly blended.

Add 1/2 cup liquid to a medium saucepan and set over low heat. Whisk in the cocoa mixture until thoroughly incorporated and no lumps remain. Add the rest of the liquid.

Cook, stirring constantly using whisk, over medium-low heat, until the mixture is thickened (it coats the back of a spoon), about ten minutes.

Make It Yours: 
Once the cocoa has thickened, you can stir in a hint of additional flavorings before serving:
1/4 tsp of:
vanilla or almond extract
or a liquior such as Grand Marnier , Pepperrmint , Banana , Frangelco

Presentation:
Serve in tea cups for the unexpected factor. Dust each serving with cinnamon or nutmeg. A small almond cookie or biscotti on the side ...

*cornstarch will not clump like flour.Its smooth and tasteless.

REMINDER ~

NOTE: FOR HOT WEATHER PLACES .... IT CAN BE ICED HOT CHOCOLATE

LETS SEE HOW CREATIVE WE CAN ALL BE ...

EVEN IF A HOT CHOCOLATE MIX IS YOUR BASED,

WHAT DO YOU DO TO IT TO MAKE YOUR OWN????

Remember it will be a Linky Party for

Chocolate Thursdays

so don't forget to Link up with with your favourite Hot Chocolate recipe, tomorrow!!...

Chocolate Thursdays ~ Welcomes Autumn ~ Let's Party

We are starting Chocolate Thursday a little earlier today, because according to (apples4theteacher.com)
In 2010, Autumn begins on September 22nd for countries in the Northern Hemisphere [and the time I have been told is at 11:09 pm](United States, Canada).

Note: In 2010, Autumn begins on September 23 for countries in Europe.

WELCOME AUTUMN !!!

 
Hot Chocolate is my all time favourite beverage so imagine my delight when I came across this wonderful Autumn screaming Hot Chocolate recipe over at Kaboose under the Food folder. They also have lots of how to autumn and Halloween food and craft ideas to amaze both young and not so young. Click here to start creating.
 

 Orange Hot Chocolate ~

Ingredients 

12 oz. premium white chocolate

8 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

orange food color

whipped cream & chocolate nonpareils (for garnish)

Cooking Instructions: Coarsely chop the premium white chocolate, transfer to a medium-size heatproof bowl and set aside. Heat milk in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat, until bubbles begin to form at edge of surface, about 4 minutes.

Immediately pour milk over chocolate.

When chocolate begins to melt, stir until combined. Whisk in vanilla extract and 2 drops orange food color; whisk until a light foam forms on surface. Pour into 10 mugs, garnish with whipped cream and chocolate nonpareils, and serve immediately.

Let's PARTY ~ 
next week Chocolate Thursday's

will be a Hot Chocolate Around the World Party Hop ...

so dig out all those Fabulous recipes, I know you world travelers have .. and lets party Hot Chocolate Style.


images credit: google search- except orange hot chocolate:Kaboose

Hot Cocoa or Hot Chocolate – Chocolate Thursdays

Chocolate , just hearing the word alone evokes images of luscious taste sensations comparable to no other sweet confection. Since the first cacao bean was cultivated around 250 AD chocolate’s smooth, velvety, creamy texture combined with its intense rich flavor has been seducing men and women for centuries. The Mayans, who established the first known cacao plantations and developed the first recipe for hot chocolate, and the Aztecs, who flavored their chocolate with chili peppers, would be in awe of how far chocolate has evolved to be enjoyed not only by the elite, but all around the world.

Chocolate grows on trees, appearing in its raw state as melon-like pods on the 40-60 foot tall trees known botanically as "Theobroma cacao," which means "food of the Gods." This tropical tree has grown wild in Central America since prehistoric times. It also grows in South America, Africa, and part of Indonesia.

Like “High Tea” and “Afternoon Tea”; the terms Hot Cocao and Hot Chocolate are often used incorrectly. Hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, which is chocolate pressed free of all its richness, meaning the fat of cocoa butter. Hot chocolate is made from chocolate bars melted into cream. It is a rich decadent drink – often referred to as “drinking” chocolate.

During my recent visit to Paris I had the pleasure of experiencing Angelina, a Salon de Thé, on 226 Rue de Rivoli. The hot chocolate is far from ordinary – the taste is almost beyond words; warm like the sweet nectar from a heavenly chocolate truffle. While there I discovered it open in 1903 under the name Rumpelmeyer and was often frequented by the likes of Marcel Proust and Coco Chanel.

Are you a Hot Cocao or a Hot Chocolate Connoisseur?

See you next Thursday for more Chocolate delights...

images: google search