Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas Cooking 1 Day to Christmas (and some Knitted Ornaments too)

Every Holliday season
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP75YtBCNluyJQPlERDtK0YeW_n8D1awAdYU54xrQTL_IK_lRYSCIh1la1atKgbrKfXF5fNUswqf2sLeuEIQTLs4pUAmFxQDtTc6PuBBPyHZM75vPAdJTJ3nef5Otcjpg1WRRgPAus9jsG/s1600/Vintage+Vogue+Deco+Magazine+Cover--Xmas.jpg 
Vogue magazine has articles on all the luxury gifts you can get.  Most of them are things like custom Bentleys and couture gowns, but this year they had an article about the luxury of a perfect cup of hot chocolate.   Really good hot chocolate, not the Swiss Miss kind, really is the ultimate little luxury.  After lots of tinkering, here is how I make mine (note this is not a very sweet hot chocolate so you may want to increase the sugar to 2 tbsp).

Luxury Hot Chocolate for One

3 tbsp unsweetened Scharfen Berger cocoa powder or other high quality cocoa
3 tbsp Evian sparkling water or other sparkling water (the sparkles help make it fizzy)
1 to 2 tbsp sugar (I use the smaller amount)
8  ounces whole milk
1 ounce high quality bittersweet chocolate, like Scharfen Berger

Whisk the cocoa, water, and sugar together in a small sauce pan to make paste.  Whisk in the milk.  Heat over low heat, whisking constantly, do not allow to boil.  Just before turning off the heat add the bittersweet chocolate and whisk until it melts.

Serve with marshmallows if you like (I got some tasty peppermint ones from Whole Foods)


You can sip your Hot Chocolate while you knit.  I made these knitted ornaments
using a pattern from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts and they where pretty easy and quick. 

Merry Christmas Eve!


16 comments:

  1. So sweet. Literally! And those knitted ornaments are wonderful. It's probably beyond Mom's skill set, but she wishes she were more handy.

    Have a wonderful day, you cuties.

    Baci,
    Tootsie

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  2. Those knitted ornaments are just so cool. Thank you for all the cookie tips and ideas.

    We wish you and yours

    A Happy Holiday
    A Merry Christmas
    & thank you for your friendship. It has meant alot to us. Have a great one!

    Best wishes Molly

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  3. I love the knitted ornaments! I was just looking at a similar pattern for crocheted ornaments (sadly I don't crochet well). Thank you for all the wonderful recipe ideas. Wishing you all happy holidays.

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  4. Sounds pretty tasty!

    Merry Christmas!

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  5. Happy Christmas my friends! woo woo woo!

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  6. Merry Christmas! My assistant has never been able to figure out how to knit!

    Thank you for the well wishes! I am starting to feel a little better and the medicine seems to be helping.

    Your pal, Pip

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  7. Hey I figured out a way for me (wordpress) blogger to finally follow (blogspot) bloggers and on Christmas eve day! Me and Kirby just wanted you to wish you a merry Christmas! We love the knit ornaments, and especially the pictures with Santa clause! Kirby also got his picture with Santa Clause, its on his bloggity blog!Your pack is adorable and it is very nice to meet you! Happy holidays!

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  8. Just stopping by to wish you all a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

    Basset Momma, Freddie & Gloria

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  9. Hey Urban Hounds, Jet here. Hi Miss Kate.

    Oh, gosh, Mom input the cocoa and gave you the website credit of course.

    Love the knitted ornaments, most impressive!

    Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas filled with tasty tidbits, family, joy, love, laughter and abundance.

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  10. oh man that cocoa sounds so delicious. and i love the santa pictures!

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  11. Merry Christmas!
    xoxo Chloe and LadyBug

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  12. Those knitted ornaments are so pretty!

    Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!!!

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  13. Dear Urban Hounds,

    Love the Santa photos! You are all such beautiful dogs, and look so festive with Santa!

    Very cool Vogue print, and great hot cocoa mug! Your hot cocoa recipe sounds delicious! And your knitted ornaments are very pretty. Such a great idea!

    Wanted to stop by to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas filled with much love, happiness, and good cheer! We are glad we met you this year and look forward to a new year of your fun adventures, great recipes, and more lovely photos of you pups!

    May the spirit of Christmas bless you and yours throughout the year.

    Cheers,

    FurAngel Suka and K


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  14. Merry Christmas Friends!

    xoxoxo
    Meredith & Scarlet

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  15. hi kate and family!
    merry merry christmas to all of you!

    oh your post made our whole day!

    we love all of you!

    we posted your christmas photo on our bloggie last week...
    http://pugnotes.blogspot.com/2012/12/toasty-tuesday-holiday-cheer-with.html

    we are so lucky to have u!

    xoxoxo
    melissa & archie

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