Hot Chocolate Plain and Simple

So much for the promise of spring. It's coming down like a snowglobe outside. Driving would be suicidal considering my neighborhood rests at the top of a hill. The place where I'd like to go to get some hot chocolate conveniently at the bottom of said hill. I don't want it that much. Wait. I lied. I so do. Luckily, there's a pantry to raid. Thank god for those random bits of chocolate scattered at the bottom of the Ziploc storage bag. Hey, at least I saved $20 (gourmet hot chocolate ain't cheap, folks).

It's Sunday morning. I'm kind of hung over. And I'm really tired. Should I really be playing with fire? Dairy products heated over a fire, no less? God help me if I burn down my house. But it would be absolutely unforgiveable if I scorched the precious cream from the Brown Family farm in Coalville, Utah.

It's true, though. This cream really is worth it. I've been to the dairy, just a few minutes drive outside that glitzy Park City mountain hamlet, with its hybrid of modern technology and cow surveillance with good old fashioned family dairy farming. It isn't industrial by any means, though the bigger guys would love to drive them out. After one day with Mr. Brown, Jr. (never did catch his first name) I left with a lot more respect for farmers who stick it out on their own with threat of corporate takeover and buyout. This cream is pure lactose heaven. It's thick. Makes the best creme fraiche. And if you can imagine it, one step below that on the dairy scale is their "Farmstyle milk." More milk fat than their whole milk. But today, I play with cream, picked up on last week's meager grocery trip (again, I can't really cook in the pig-sty, er, kitchen).

I've come to the conclusion that a lot of the gourmet drinking chocolates I've been investing in are just glorified shaved or pellets of chocolate. Maybe dusted with some sort of flavoring and put into a much prettier package than my trusy Ziploc storage bags. Because this El Rey shaved on my cutting board and thrown into a warm pot of cream (loose ganache, here folks) tastes a lot like (mmm, maybe even better) the stuff I bought the last time I hibernated in a blizzard.

Homemade Drinking Chocolate, Courtesy of a Blizzard and Lazy Disposition
I just like the idea of using one ingredient for several things. Like one huge chunk of baking chocolate for dessert, baking, snacking, and now, drinking. I'm all for paying for good things to eat, but by jove, I've gotta be practical, too. Plus, the whole tactile practice of chopping the chocolate and having some of it melt onto your hands, minding a warming pot of cream, and stirring until the chunks just melt into the white cream, makes you feel pretty damn special. I drink out of bowls because I like to. Cups with handles are perfectly fine.

For one
2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped finely * 1 cup heavy cream OR 1 cup of milk, if you must * slightly sweetened whipped cream * cinnamon, vanilla, or booze like Grand Marnier, to taste (optional)

In a small saucepan over medium low heat, warm the cream slowly. It should never boil. Maybe the circumference will quiver a bit, but it should heat up without much commotion. When you can't leave your finger in the milk for more than 10 seconds, add the chocolate and stir with a whisk (this is the only time I ever use "egg whisk") until the chocolate fully melts into the cream. Add whatever seasoning you desire. Serve warm in mugs, bowls, or cups. Add whipped cream if desired. But I like mine just plain.

Comments

[kalyn]

Great photos. And may I say, I really hate the snow!

[Bea at La Tartine Gourmande]

What beautiful colours, orange and chocolate! Love it. Lovely balance!

[ilva]

I love the photos and I hate how you make me crave chocolate, I'm trying to eat less over here goddammit!

[Katy at Pomelo Pleasures]

oh yum, yes or you can add mint! oh or kaluha oh! or hazelnut extract or! well.. you get the idea. This is all too exciting for me I am going to have to go make some now.

[Sara]

Oh, it looks amazing! Break out the lactaid...it's time to make some hot chocolate!

[mae]

Delicious...

Love hot chocolate. The photos are superb - orange and brown are totally made for each other.

[vanessa]

Kalyn—amen on the snow. enough already. today is NOT helping!

Bea—thanks for stopping by again. chocolate brown and orange are one of my favorite combinations!

ilva—ha! i am sorry to be a bad influence :) i won't tempt you with chocolate anymore.

Katy—hope you enjoyed yours. you have a fun blog. thanks for checking out mine!

Sara—hot chocolate with booze for a blizzard, baby.

mae—good to hear from you! hope you are doing well. thanks for the compliment :)

[Hamlet Sweeney]

Hey Vanessa. I honestly think that girls get more from choclate than us boys. I feel cheated!

Great topic, great words, great pics. As always I guess!

The pic with the terracotta bowl and the small saucepan is wonderful. I love the way the eye can follow the line of chocolate from bowl to pot. It makes a story in my mind that starts with chocolate and ends with a smile.

[Jaay]

First off - I LOVE that bowl! The color is gorgeous & I'd drink out of it too if I had one like it lol

Second, a blizzard? burr! that sucks..I hate snow. Your hot chocolate would make all that hate go away very quickly I believe. Looks & sounds delish! =)

[Rorie]

Hot chocolate is about my favorite substance on earth - great post! And I love your orange bowl!