Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Saturday Art Saves: The Art of Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate
Photo Source

 

 

Every Saturday I focus on a different artist that I admire. From potters to painters, chefs to collectors, seamstress to songwriters, lifestyle to lovers… anyone who set the paintbrush, pastry brush, hands and heart on fire to create.

Those who inspire art to flow where it may..

 

A cup of dense hot chocolate

photo source Ilva Beretta

 

Since I am in the French Alps… while my family is skiing, and my 83 year old mother in law hikes 15 miles making me feel like a couch potato, I thought I would offer you a cup of artful hot chocolate.

 

photo source

 

Skiing, or this?

I must admit as my family suited up to go skiing, as they talked of trails, slopes, and where they would go first… for a moment I wanted to grab some snow gear and hop in their pocket… "I can do this, I know how to ski, or should I say, get down the mountain pointing my skiis in a "V"."

 

Coconut Hot Chocolate

Photo Source

 

A Cup of Coconut Hot Chocolate. (Follow the "photo source" under each photo for the recipes, and more.)

It is not the good book, nor the hot chocolate, it is not the fear of falling that keeps me from skiing. 

I honestly don't know why I am not out there.

Lacking desire?

 

 


photo source

 

 

Today is sunny, beautiful blue sky, glorious ski weather… so why not go outside and try to ski, or hike with my chic outdoorsy mother in law?

Being away from home, work, the brocante, allows a certain freedom for me to do whatever I want. Being here allows me to just be, to read, to follow blogs, to pin to my hearts content, and collect ideas for recipes… to be lazy.

 

The Kitcheneers Hot Chocolate Recipe:

serves 6
 
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1/3 cup sugar
pinch salt
5 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
high quality sea salt, such as fleur de sel

 

 

 

20110726_alpscoffee2.jpg

Photo Source

 

 

Serious Eats Recipe of A Cup of Hot Wonder while Staying Inside

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces brewed coffee (hot)
  • Sugar and cream to taste (optional)
  • 1.5 ounces Frangelico or other hazelnut liqueur
  • 1.5 ounces kirsch (cherry brandy)
  • 2 tablespoons whipped cream
  • Whole nutmeg for grating
  • Dark chocolate bar for shaving

 

photo source
Luckily, someone stays back and cooks.Truly lucky.
I could either be skiing or dreaming up chocolate cups and lovely warm dinners. And luckily someone stays back and waits to hear their tales.
Why do I feel so guilty for not skiing?
Because being lazy is not a goal to inspire to.
Oh darn it.
For hot chocolate lovers, The City Bakery in New York City is legendary.
photo source
Seriously this is chocolate addiction.
Chocolate cups!
If I made these in my lazy day I could claim victory.
A Taste of KOKO is a wonderful food blog to spend the day with.

 

 

 

 

Photo Source
French Heart's Recipe (Follow Photo Source for exact recipe)


Hot Chocolate "Cup" Cakes with Cocoa Whipped Cream
1 cup flour
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons Chile Pepper, Ancho
1 teaspoon Gourmet Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon Madagascar Vanilla Extract
1 cup boiling water

 

 

 

Vosges Haut Chocolat

photo source
What do you prefer:
White chocolate?
Dark chocolate?
Milk chocolate?
 
No Chocolate.

IMG_9401

photo source
How to make a chocolate bowl.
Now that is having your chocolate and drinking the cup too.
How fun is this? Worth staying inside blowing balloons that is how fun!
French hot chocolate
Photo Source My Melange
A favorite French classic hot chocolate My Melange recites on her blog:
Café Lipp, Paris, the early 80s.

 

 

Hot chocolate in Paris… 

 
Of course Angelina's
Of course Maison du Chocolat
Of course Lipp's!
photo source

 

The French Alps sans Skis, it is a vacation after all.

                                

HOT-CHOCOLATE

photo source 

Hot chocolate like nothing you have ever tasted.
In a sauce pan, pour four cups of fresh whole milk.
Add a drop of pure vanilla,
and 200 grams of dark baking chocolate,
sugar to taste.

Cook on low heat, letting it cook slowly, stir occassionally. 
After about fifteen minutes or twenty the chocolate will start to thicken, do not boil.

Pour it into two large chocolate bowls when the chocolate is as thick as you like it.

Add a dollop of cream to the top.

Comments

34 responses to “Saturday Art Saves: The Art of Hot Chocolate”

  1. Tracy

    I confess to being a “no chocolate” person – crazy, I know! However, I love the art and craft of creating anything – even if it’s hot chocolate – thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Paulita

    Chocolate is just the kind of art I can really embrace. I think it’s great that you take some down time. A family doesn’t have to share each other’s passions every moment. That coming back together moment is fun too.

    Reply
  3. Bev S.

    Your blog is not helping me keep the weight off…:) Enjoy your Sabbath time.

    Reply
  4. Kathie B

    Does the resort offer a Cross-Country Skiing option? If you’ve never tried it, you might feel safer on relatively level ground, er, snow.
    We have half a carton of heavy cream left over from Duarte’s Artichoke Soup yesterday:
    http://www.duartessoupsandpies.com/artichoke-soup
    So, the leftover cream is definitely going into hot chocolate this weekend, as we watch wall-to-wall football games on TV.

    Reply
  5. Kathie B

    P.S. re Artichoke Soup: I used white wine in lieu of part of the vegetable broth. Did NOT purée the soup, so turned it into a chowder instead. Alas, at this time of year one must use canned or frozen artichoke hearts, but the soup still wasn’t bad! There’s enough left over for another meal this weekend.

    Reply
  6. Monika

    The thing about the perfect cup of hot chocolate is that what makes it truly sublime is when it is earned. Like on a freezing cold day skiing on a glacier, when it is the only thing to hit the spot, to warm you and your frozen fingers and red noses.
    Oh hot chocolate made with actual chocolate, real milk and cream! That’s the amazing thing about Europe — you can find real hot chocolate almost everywhere. Not always (you may be offered something powdered, but at least it always comes with steamed frothy milk!), but usually.
    Needless to say, you can’t find hot chocolate like that here, at Canadian ski resorts. Just powdered sugary mixes to which you add water. Thin gruel.

    Reply
  7. tut-tut

    Darker the better . . . Thanks for the cocoa compendium, Corey!

    Reply
  8. martina

    I love hot cocoa this time of year. Especially with a dollop of whipping cream. Thank goodnesss I’ve not found out if Fran’s chocolates makes a salt caramel hot cocoa-I’d be a goner!!!
    Your family may miss you skiing with them, but coming back indoors and getting your hugs and a nice meal must make them feel very loved. 15 miles? Your mother-in-law walked 15 miles? Seriously????

    Reply
  9. Chris Wittmann

    What are those lovely pastry things
    being dunked into the hot chocolate
    in that first photo Corey??
    It’s looks bitterly cold out there,
    so I would be like you and want to
    stay inside and make hot chocolate!
    The scenery looks fabulous, so very
    beautiful…but I would enjoy it more
    from the warmth of a car 🙂

    Reply
  10. dana sparkle

    Cruel. Such a collection for the senses. Wish i was there. keep ’em coming……
    *

    Reply
  11. Laura

    oh how painfully gorgeous. I must try these recipes – every single one of them. Corey, I will send you a bill by Paypal for my Weight Watchers membership 🙂
    Thank you for an amazing post.

    Reply
  12. Reets

    Since we would have grand children awaking here Christmas morning for the first time, i thought i should find a good hot chocolate recipe and through the Barefoot Contessa found the Angelina’s Parisian recipe that you note. I bought peppermint candy canes for a festive touch. But alas, Christmas morning arrived with all of its magic and pleasant chaos . . it was just so easy to grab the emergency hot chocolate packets I had on hand. Whipped cream concealed my lack of effort.
    And now all of these artful and tempting takes. Which one first?! Thank you.
    I think we can all enjoy that gift called laziness . . occasionally. Those snowy mountains seem the perfect place. Laze on!

    Reply
  13. kippy

    I was out with a friend today and bought a hot cocoa at a little cafe. The hot cocoa was not very tasty at all. Just hot cocoa in a white mug-no whipping cream, no peppermint stick or marshmallows. But, the dark chocolate walnut torte with walnuts was magnificent!

    Reply
  14. Shelley Noble

    Don’t do it, our love. Between the ankle and the wrist I can’t take you injured another time. Sip by the fire, at a safe distance from it!

    Reply
  15. Carol

    While reading this post the button on my jeans popped off.

    Reply
  16. Laurie SF

    Ten layers of clothing, thick gloves, seated on a bench, hunched over trying to buckle a ski boot, climbing stairs while balancing the skis and poles on one’s shoulder, hot and sweaty while you side step it up an incline to the chairlift, dropping a glove along the way and having to bend over with ten layers of clothing to pick it up. Here’s to one giant cup of hot chocolate.

    Reply
  17. Massilianana

    Enjoy being lazy (like cats do !),it is important to have time for yourself,to indulge in some private addictions (ah ! Pinterest !), to walk the village streets, to let your mind wander…..what’s wrong with all that !? I hope you are not feeling guilty ! I know for myself that the simple fact of getting geared up with heavy uncomfortable multiple layers of clothes just takes all the fun off. There !
    As for chocolate I definately prefer dark chocolate. For chocolate mud pie or fondant au chocolat or…..all these beautiful mouth watering recipes you rounded up for us !!! What a treat ! Merci beaucoup !

    Reply
  18. Ana María

    Those are CHURROS. A Spanish delicacy learned from the Moors. A very light fried dough sprinkled with sugar. Yum! The moment temperatures drop, every home in Spain serves “chocolate con churros”.

    Reply
  19. Irina

    I especially love the bowl made with balloon, should try making it sometime.
    Corey, I want to ask you. Can you please tell Anne Merry Christmas for me. It is our Christmas day January 7th. Please tell her I wish her healthy and happy year ahead and sending her love and hugs from HK. I think about her often. Thank you!
    Enjoy your winter wonderland in the mountains 🙂

    Reply
  20. Ana

    Corey, just being is an art form all of it’s own. There is nothing to be guilty about, we all need to listen to ourselves, just because everyone else does it and we do not, does not make us any less adventurous. You especially take adventures in your own way, you make them your own, take this post, who else would have thought to bring us such beauty in so many forms. Thank you from all of us who are able to share in your adventures, from the comfort of our armchairs!

    Reply
  21. kristinco

    Je te souhaite donc une année 2013 gourmande et corsée en chocolat !!!

    Reply
  22. Miss Robyn

    Corey… are you still on the eat less and move more thing? i am just going home after 10 weeks of eating my way around England… I look like a little round bouncy ball. eat less and move more is going to be my motto as soon as i put my feet on Australian soil!

    Reply
  23. Cathi

    This is definitely my kind of art! Now you have me wanting to sample all of these recipes – delicious!

    Reply
  24. KAMFreeman

    What perfection in your topic for today! 23 degrees, light snow falling, projects ready for attention after Quaker meeting…Home to a cup of hot chocolate using one of your recipes…what a treat lies ahead for me this day. Thanks Corey!
    Kristin

    Reply
  25. victoria silva

    I love the beauty and yummy details of your tribute to chocolate… I am so there!
    Thank you
    Victoria Silva

    Reply
  26. Sharon Penney-Morrison

    I am with you. Inside thinking of ways to make chocolate fantasy’s. You made me want to fix some hot chocolate. Off to the kitchen……………

    Reply
  27. Kathie B

    P.S. Dark bittersweet chocolate. I buy Callebaut for cooking in the 11 lb. (= 5 kg.) bar via the Internet. Of course it takes a chisel and hammer to pry off as much as one needs at a time (I have a gram-scale for weighing), but the savings are huge compared to buying small bars (7 oz. = 200 g.) in brick-and-mortar stores.

    Reply
  28. Chris Wittmann

    Thanks Ana Maria, they look delicious! Now I’ll have to find a recipe 🙂

    Reply
  29. Allison in SF

    For dessert this Christmas, I brought a chocolate fountain to my parents house thinking the kids would be enchanted. Well, not only were they, but the adults were, too!! I wasn’t expecting that part!!There is something magical about watching the chocolate swirl from the bottom of the pan, up through the funnel, and down the fountain like it’s dancing. I melted butter and heavy cream into bitter sweet chocolate chips and it was liquid divinity. The best part is the way it made the house smell. We dipped cookies, pretzels, pound cake and bananas (and some little guys even dipped their fingers in it, rascals!!). Chocolate is always a good decision!!! Glad you’re having a great time on your trip, Corey 🙂

    Reply
  30. Tongue in Cheek

    Hi Irina,
    I will as soon as I am home.
    XXX

    Reply
  31. Tongue in Cheek

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/daisy-martinez/mexican-crullers-churros-recipe/index.html

    Reply
  32. Chris Wittmann

    Thanks Corey!! There goes my diet 🙂 🙂

    Reply
  33. 24/7 in France

    Love dark chocolate and it’s healthy, so here’s to eating more of it and drinking more hot chocolate!

    Reply
  34. Robin | Melange Travel

    HOLY HOT CHOCOLATE BATMAN! Good thing I’m home alone, it would be *very* embarrassing if people could see me licking my laptop screen. What a decadent round up. Thanks so much for including me Corey 🙂

    Reply

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