A Chocolate Kiss
There’s nothing that’s more romantic in my mind that sipping hot cocoa around the fireplace. Now, ideally, I’m also at a ski lodge with my beloved. But it’s been darn cold in Alabama this week. I’m pretty sure we could fake the ski lodge.
But the perfect cup of cocoa is an art. First, let’s start with the cocoa itself. I think this is the easy part, readers may disagree, but I’m a big fan of Nestle cocoa in the little pouches. If you want fancier cocoa, by all means, go there. But I’d rather focus on the “fixin’s.”
So about those fixin’s… The cooking lesson here involves making perfect whipped cream. Because let’s face it, if you add whipped cream and the right liqueur, you’re golden — even with sub-par cocoa!
To make whipped cream, start with very cold (but not frozen) heavy whipping cream and make sure it’s fresh. Pour the right amount of cream into a cold glass bowl, and begin mixing at high speed with an electric mixer. While you’re mixing, add powdered confectioner’s sugar. There is no “right” amount of sugar. Different people prefer different levels of sweetness. This is not a quick process. You will be mixing for a while — don’t stop until the cream gets firm, it makes all the difference.
Now for the other fixin’s…. My favorite is a shot of amaretto. Other possibilities include shnapps (peppermint, cinnamon, or butter), brandy, rum, or really, any sweet liquor. I find chocolate-y liqueurs to be overwhelming, but to each her own.
Recipe for a cozy night:
The perfect cup of hot cocoa
A fire
Significant other — optional!
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