Sunday 21 November 2010

Hot chocolate, a blanket to cozy up and a chick lit in hand

....bliss??? I'd say so especially on a weekday when otherwise I'm running around like a headless chicken trying to finish off chores and deadlines and gym before I take my vacation end of this year. I was thinking of not taking any more freelance assignments this year, but a lil extra pocket money wont hurt right, especially when you are going on holiday.
Hot chocolate at the restaurants and cafes are not really a favourite of mine because I am not a sucker for the bitter dark choc taste and will have to douse so much of sugar into it and Ro gives me the stare. But at home, I made Nigella Lawson's 'Adults Hot Chocolate' with loads of sugar and honey as the recipe called. 
My current obsession are these lovely caramel flavoured tea biscuits called Lotus which I more or less have with anything and everything these days. Dipped them in the hot chocolate, wrapped myself up in a blanket and read to my hearts content the Shopaholic series, in between drifting off to the Prada, Dior and Versace sections at Harrods ;)

Adapted from Nigella's Chocolate Heaven on Nigella Feasts (makes 1 large coffee mug)
Milk- 1 cup (preferably full fat..yeah go all out)
Dark chocolate- 50 gms
Cinnamon powder- 1/4 tsp (or about 1 inch of a cinnamon stick)
Honey- 2 tsp
Dark brown sugar- 1 tsp
Vanilla extract- 1/2 tsp
Dark rum or Kahlua- 1 tbsp or to taste (optional)

Pour the milk into a saucepan and break in the chocolate along with the cinnamon sugar and honey. Stir well on medium heat until the chocolate melts.
Splash in the vanilla extract and rum (if adding) and whisk till it slightly starts bubbling around the edges, but not boiling. It should be a slightly creamy, thick consistency.
Add more sugar at this stage if required.
Take out the cinnamon stick (if using) and pour into a coffee mug and sip on it while its still steaming hot.
Notes: You can add Baileys, whisky or even brandy as your choice of alcohol.
Brown sugar can be replaced with normal sugar, probably need to add a wee bit more.
I preferred cinnamon powder instead of the stick because the flavour was a bit more stronger and strangely I loved it in hot chocolate.

38 comments:

GB said...

I LOVE your burlap sqaures/rectangles....they look awesome! Your recipe is so calling out to the chocoholic in me.......looks like heaven!

Rekha shoban said...

super hot chocolate that too biscuits...perfect combo....beautiful pic!

PJ said...

yes, thats definitely my idea of pure bliss :) the chocolate looks so tempting.. perfect for the weather we are in.

Cool Lassi(e) said...

Umm..that looks divine. I do want to settle in a cozy spot with that steaming cup of hot chocolate and a regency romance book..but sadly i can't cause my lil boy keeps me on my toes.All the time! So where are you going on a holiday?

Unknown said...

I love chocolate in any form...Check out the event in my blog...Every month there will be an event..This month it is chicken recipes..There is no prize,juts the usual event..:)

Dr.Sameena@

http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.b logspot.com

Unknown said...

Looks super yum, bookmarked the recipe

Suji said...

Simply delicious..I love it Nisha...

Satrupa said...

Such a comforting drink for the cold winter days !!

Cheers n Happy Cooking,
Satrupa

http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com

Santosh Bangar said...

lovely and looks crispy

Sanjeeta kk said...

The burlap rectangles look crisp and perfect with a hot cup of tea. Lovely clicks.

Sarah, Maison Cupcake said...

I need to keep an eye out for these lotus biscuits as they're the equivalent of Speculoos in the UK aren't they?

It's definitely hot chocolate season - perfect for curling up with a Shopaholic book!

Anonymous said...

That cup is a chocoholic's dream.Loved the little rectangular nibbles too..quite yuum!

Sandhya Hariharan said...

Awesome Nisha :)
I have tasted those lotus biscuits.. They have much more than sugar... Am sure it will compliment well with the hot chocolate :) Gr8 clicks ...

Finla said...

Friday when my daughter comes home from college i am gona make this for her.
Did you know Lotus bisciots are from Belgium. Here we even eat them fro breakfast with slice of bread. Also they have a chocolate spread with this cookies and here it is calle Speciloos cookies .

Binys Recipes said...

Love the recipe...soooo easy and sooo comforting....lovely pics as well.....me too love to watch Ms. Lawsons cookery show....everythg abt her is fantastic....
Biny

Priya Suresh said...

Hot chocolate looks out of the world, prefect for chocoholic like me..

Prathima Rao said...

Perfect hot chocolate on a cold winter day!!

Jaisy James said...

hot choco looks delicious

Sanchita said...

I love the first picture :) A warm welcome to winter and upcoming holiday season :)

Mary Bergfeld said...

Now that's hot chocolate made the way I like it :-). I always love to visit here. Your site is a delight for the eyes and the food you feature sounds delicious. I hope you have had a great day. Blessings...Mary

archana said...

That sounds like absolute bliss. Love the styling. I wonder why we don't get such good looking biscuits here in the US !

Medifast Coupons said...

Love hot chocolate with a bit of baileys and some nice cookies.

Padhu Sankar said...

Looks divine !! I love reading your write up very much.

Suja Manoj said...

That sounds real comfort.chocolate and cookies...so good

Sarah Naveen said...

Amazing clicks Nisha!!!
Another Becky B fan?? if yes same pinch!!..having finished the series i am on to queen of babble now ;)
Oh this is a luxury with the book..awesome!!

Unknown said...

Honey this def is bliss, i want to run in my kitchen to make them, Nigella actually knows where to hold us :p your first pic is stunning and the pic of you holding biscuit am in love nail painted in brown complements well :)

Namitha said...

This is making me warm :-) I make the non alcoholic version for the kids.One is already in my drafts :-)

PreeOccupied said...

Cinnamon, Kahlua and dark chocolate can never go wrong. You are a good-hearted temptress. Which chick lit?

Radhika @ foodfor7stages said...

This is what I need whilst sitting in my terribly cold office.

Gorgeous pics.

JishasKitchen said...

delicious...

Sarah Naveen said...

Yeah i know :-
...I was in fact talking about Becky Bloomwood
( Rebecca) :-)....

Unknown said...

That looks yum!! Tempting pics..

Monet said...

So I'm just about to start a new book by Gish Jen that I picked up from the library, and I so wish I had some of that hot chocolate! Wow...this looks amazing! Thank you for sharing with me...I hope you have a wonderful week of feasting, friends and family!

aipi said...

I could drink 3 cup fulls of that..delicious!

US Masala

Anu said...

wow..it looks so yummy ...

Taylor said...

Oh yum! It looks so thick and delicious...way better than any packaged hot chocolate that I usually make :) I think you have convinced me to make my own!

Pushpa said...

I always end up with a smile reading your posts,hot chocolate looks Yum!

LilaVanilla said...

Wow, your hot chocolate looks lovely, so thick and comforting :)