Wednesday, December 22, 2010

A Shot of love

The temperature is plummeting like never before.


I've been reading numbers like 12 and 15 in the Minimum Temperature (Santacruz) column. My dad has been trying to steal my quilt every night. Unsuccessfully might I add. While my mum orders me around to make her a cup of tea every 45 minutes while she corrects her papers. And then sheepishly asks me to 'total' all the marks in her papers.

But absolutely lovely weather, this.

It's chilly, and pleasant. The day shines just enough sun to give you a false sense of warmth, till it all fades away to insensitive breezes.The warmth from a good strong cuppa, or a sturdy jacket is the only kind of warmth you can seek solace in. Not to mention a stack of books, hot chocolate and a blanket. But wasn't that always a given?



Hotchoco_books



Apparatus

Milk, dark chocolate.
If in the mood for extravagance, cream and sugar.

Procedure.

Chop up the chocolate when its nice and soft.

hotchoco_chocolate

If you steal a bit of chocolate from the pile now, the taste of the hot chocolate will be ruined forever.

No, really.

Ok, kidding. Taste all you want. But please, don't gorge. *clears throat*

Pour in a cup of milk in a vessel, and turn on the heat.
Let it be on the lowest flame.

Wait till the point where the milk is warm, seconds before the point where it is to start boiling.

hotchoco_milk



Now, dump in the chocolate. Pour in the slightest bit of water. (I dont know why, but it works. Yes)
And by slightest bit, I mean like 2 tablespoon. Really slight, you know?

And stir stir stir!

Within thirty seconds, it shall look as gorgeous as this.


hotchoco_final-ish

Now pour it out in the same coffee cup you have been making yourself coffee in since your class tenth prelims.

DSC_0220
*drool*

Now, for the extragavance.

Take out a boul, and add about 30 ml of cream. ( Else, chuck the precision, just pour out how much cream is suited for a cup of yours. And add in the (same amount - a bit) of sugar behind it.)
Take out the electric beater. And Whip it!
That was a good film btw. You've got to love Ellen Page.

Coming back. Beat it for a good 3 4 minutes. Till it becomes stiff, forms peaks and holds on its on.It'll look something like this.


hotchoco_Cream


Now a dollop of cream, and grated chocolate on the top.

Since, the aim of that night was a Red Velvet Hot Chocolate, all I had to do was add a 3 drops of red food colouring to my hot cocoa. Even though you can't notice the red very distinctly now, it's there. Just as reassuring, and just as chocolaty as a Red Velvet cupcake :)

DSC_0228

Have I ever told you about the therapeutic nature of the chopping board? You can gnaw at it all you want, and it just takes it. It leaves a few scars behind, but it works.
This chopping board is a testimony of how I got over my Sem 3 result.
Really.

Ok, fine. I am joking :P

But voila :)

SPM_A0465

(Excuse the bad quality of the picture, my camera battery stood me up before the launch of the final product.)

But yet, it was all there. Now go make your self a cup, just like Shraddha did!

You are now equipped to face the winter with the most brilliant cuppa of hot chocolate.
And the fact that you made it yourself, might just help you feel a bit more warm on the inside :)



P.S - Word of advice. Never, EVER order the hot chocolate at Gaylords. Just, don't.


6 Comments (+add yours?)

Chinmay said...

Arey, the food write-ups are a treat to read. Feels like reading subtitles of a Woody Allen Movie :P

Shraddha said...

:) Thanks for the mention. I feel so honoured. Reading your food posts makes it seem like a cake walk (Most of the times it really is! :P )

Aah yes. Making it was fun. My mom loved it too. I am going to gorge on tons of chocolate and blame the weather for it.

PS: I might just be getting an oven. My aunt has agreed to part with hers. So I am all up for some extra calories! Yaay!
That also means you might have to mention me more often.

Preeti Ramaraj said...

haha amzing again...i must update that spinach soup of mine...and a dessert i hopefully will make :D

AS said...

I did not know it was so easy to make it. Will try it :)

Sumit Gouthaman said...

Tempting as hell.....who can resist chocolate.....AWESOME!!!...\m/

Karishma said...

'Coffee cup being used since class tenth prelims'....very true.