Chocolat

One of my all time favorite movies. And a lovely recipe to go along with it...and I know it's summer and one may not be in the mood for hot chocolate...but maybe after watching Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, you might be...



And the best line of this movie is: Johnny Depp, "I'll come 'round some time and get that squeak out of your door."

Yes. Please do.

Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon and Chile

Ingredients

cooking chocolate / couverture 1 cup
cream 1 cup
milk 1 cup
cinnamon stick 1 pc
fresh red chile 1 pc

Method

Combine all the ingredients in a thick bottom saucepan (to prevent ant burning)
Using a low to medium heat, slowly bring to a gentle simmer while stirring. This will prevent the chocolate sitting on the bottom of the pan and burning
Once the ingredients have combined and the chocolate has melted, allow to sit on a low heat for 5 - 10 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse
Remove the chile and the cinnamon stick
Bring back to a boil
Serve in small espresso cups or 1/2 fill larger cups, top with lightly whipped cream and serve topped with grated chocolate and/or a light sprinkling of ground cinnamon

Chef's Tip:

Chile should be placed in whole, this helps minimise the heat from the chile
and gives a nice mildness in flavour

If you can get smoked chillies this adds an even better twist to the drink

Our Trippy VAY-CAY

So we're back from our vacation to California...which should have been fabulous...BUT it was more like THIS: Sometimes it was like THIS:
But mostly it was like THIS:

First: The Good Points:
1. We ate at IN-N-OUT three times, yes count them, 3 times!
2. We saw our lovely family (wait that should be number one)
3. We visited Mark and Tree in their new beautiful home 6.8 miles from the beach...I know, I'm so coveting that situation! :) Actually, the two days we spent with them was the HIGHLIGHT of the whole trip.
4. The cousins loved each other.
5. UHM....I think that's it.
6. Wait...I went to Trader Joe's and bought some beautiful flowers and delish chocolate covered fruit.
7. San Diego is from Heaven...non-windy beaches, warm water, perfectness all around.

Now: The BAD Points:
1. Leo Carillo campground bathrooms are DISGUSTING.
2. Leo Carillo was full of WIND...cold, sandblasting windy-wind which made us build a shelter out of beach umbrellas and coated our sunscreened lips in gritty sand. Lucy WOULD NOT get off my lap...she would hardly venture out into the wind tunnel/formerly known as THE BEACH.
3. While I love Malibu, they certainly need to get a little more shopping/eating establishments/movie theaters.
4. Our tent trailer was perloined out of the church parking lot (with the intent not to return)...and then happily found by the inspired Mark and the awed Adam.
5. Flat Tire outside of Victorville (105 degrees).
6. Air conditioner blows out right outside of Baker (115 degrees).
7. Family chaos: crying, sweating, complaining, hysteria for an hour and a half until Las Vegas. (how did the pioneers do it, really...HOW?)
8. Stay in Las Vegas. (people REALLY go there for vacation? Puleeez. No thank you.)
9. Car late and not fixed properly. Phone dies. Can't find AW. Asked to use some woman's cell phone and dismissed like a homeless street person, haranged and followed by homeless addicts, accosted by bare booby photos (do women keep their clothes on in Las Vegas?), can't use hotel shuttle because car seat is in suburban being repaired, walk a mile in 115 degree heat with "happy" family.
10. Seriously.
11. Arrive home 5am...
12. I need a vacation from my vacation.