Spanish hot chocolate

As the temperature seems to have plummeted the past couple of days I'd share with you is the recipe for Spanish Hot Chocolate.  Something to warm the cockles, and I swear to you, you will never drink hot cocoa or a store-bought hot chocolate again after having one of these.

I came accross the Spanish Hot chocolate in its' homeland when I spent one January backpacking through Spain on planes, trains, automobiles and ferries.  You can buy them at most bars and eateries.

Makes 2 cups (because you may want to share, or you may not be able to stop at one....)

Ingredients
475ml full cream milk
115gr milk chocolate (or dark if you love it - good way to 'rid yourself' of excess Easter eggs?)
1 tsp. cornflour

Method:
Pour milk and cornstarch (cornflour) into a saucepan, turn up the heat and begin to scald, (i.e. making it bubble at the edges of the saucepan) whilst using a metal whisk to ensure there's no lumps.

When it just begins to boil, it should begin to thicken, turn down the heat at this point to low-medium and add your chocolate.  Keep whisking until chocolate melts and it will resemble a bit of a thinnish custard.  Taste and add sugar if you wish to taste, dissolve sugar, then pour into coffee/tea mug.

So it's like a warm and decadent chocolate pannacotta to me.   Feel free to add a dash of Baileys or creme de menthe if you've had a rough day.... xx

Here's something for you to bring in the new year - 'The Frilly Cherry' cocktail- loaded or virgin!

Hello again friends!

You know since getting my little friend the cherry chomper I've been a wee bit excited about cherries.  When I saw some beautiful sour cherry cordial yesterday at my local deli - I had to get it..

Yesterday my bestie and I had a few things to celebrate - we survived 2010 - it's been a pretty big year for her - finishing off the 5 year build/reno on her house, she welcomed two puppies into her family, the usual family dramas and also her youngest spent her last year at home, like mine.

2011 is going to be our 'freedom' year and we jokingly used to count down to it when our babies were younger and driving us mad.... it seems a bit surreal we are on the cusp of it now.


The Frilly Cherry:
Layer in 6 parts (or mix in punchbowl) over ice and fresh cherries
1 part triple sec or cointreau
1 part cherry cordial
1 part sugar syrup (2/3 cup caster sugar and 2/3 cup water boiled until sugar dissolved and cooled)
3 parts soda water

It's got a sweet taste, and obviously feel free to skip the alcohol if you're duty driver or not in the mood!  If you can't get the sour cherry cordial - try it with the cordial of your choice - like forest berries and serve it with blueberries and strawberries?

What a big year it's been!  This seems like the perfect way to sum it up - sweet (people) full (busy) of flavour (have had great food experiences this year).

This new years we're thinking of taking the kids to see the fireworks - first time ever.  We'll see how tired they are and play it by ear I think.

Do you drink on New Years?  Do you spend it at home or go out? Do you even stay up?

Festive Drinkies: A new twist on the Martini

Back in the day BC (before children) I used to fancy myself a bit of a punch-guzzler.  Hubby used to make an amazing punch which I made him virgin-ise (i.e. adapt without alcohol) when I spent our first married christmas together - pregnant.

But I haven't ventured over to the Punchbowl (boom-tish) since then.

Martini sent me over their new summer cocktail bottles 'The Ultimate Summer Drink' and I thought: 'Yes, I'm doing punch this year, definitely!'  I've decided in the aftermath of Christmas I'll be doing it as we are having a low-key Christmas - I'll invite my local ladies and gentlemen, we'll let the kids go wild on all the new Christmas outdoor things (new swings, slip and slide and wading pool) and we'll get stuck in.

So I started to experiment this week - you know, because I don't want to give my guests something heinous and of course I want to share with you !  (I really needed those drinks too after the month I've had too - ahem!)

So here we go:
Martini Rosato:  It's a crisp, dry rosato and at 15% alcohol content - it packs a punch! Whoah Mamma.
Hubby likes it just over ice, and they recommend you pair it with the Martini Prosecco (even more dry) over ice with raspberries... it was a bit too dry for me...

So I got cracking - I've tried a few different combinations and I have to say my favourite so far is the Rosato with apple, pomegranate and cranberry juice and mint - delicious! (and looks very festive too) I mix 1 part Martini Rosato to six parts juice... and sprinkle some mint in... or what I like to do is freeze mint in the icecube! Cute right?

Do you punch?  What's your Christmas tipple?

Tonights' cocktail of choice - Fruit Tingle

Cocktails are my weakness. I don't have them often as I used to (i.e. at least once a week!) but I still do enjoy them from time to time.

Last night I went out for a quiet dinner at our local tavern (sounds seedy doesn't it - it's not!) with a couple of playgroup mums and decided I would treat myself to a cocktail (early for my birthday)

Fruit Tingle

30mls Vodka

30mls Blue Curacao

30mls raspberry cordial

Lemonade and Ice

Method - pour

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Happy Friday everyone!

Tonight's cocktail of choice...

'Dean's Special'

30ml Absolut Vanilla Vodka

1 quarter or large slice of lime, squeezed and left in glass

200ml dry ginger ale

ice to your liking

You know, it smells and tastes a little like CHOCOLATE. I know, weird!! But yum. Hubby has had about 5 over the weekend, me being sick I'm into my first... yum.

Not a record I'd want to break....

Apparently Australia is heading towards breaking the heatwave barrier with the warmest temperatures in heatwave fashion (i.e. series of days - I think four?) since records began. We've had our share of the heat last week and it's still mighty humid in Sydney but poor South Australia, 47 forecast today in Ceduna (for those farenheit people that's close to 117degF..)

For those going over 40 today (Melbourne, Adelaide for example)
I feel for the pregnant, elderly and furry pets on days like these.The official recommendations are:

• Reduce physical activity
• Stay indoors
• Keep hydrated (no alcohol)

It's too hot to cook, so it's days like these the only recipe I'd be trying out is new iced tea or a cordial! Maybe a salad prepared early in the morning?
Boston Iced Tea: (makes 2 litre)

• 1.5 litres water
• 1/3 cup caster sugar
• 8 tea bags (personal favourite Twinings' English Breakfast)
• 500ml Bickfords Cranberry Juice

This is a salad I made in the wee hours for my hubby for his lunch today - tasted good to me! Good source of protein.
Egg Salad

• 5 eggs, boiled in 'furious water' for 4 minutes (i.e. boil water first)
• 1 stick of celery, finely diced
• 1 spring onion, finely diced
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon mayonaise
• sprinking sweet paprika
• couple of pinches of fresh (or dried if you must) dill