The Best Hot Chocolate You’ll Ever Taste

Maybe.  In fact, that is very obnoxious of me to suggest – and probably not even true.  If you’ve ever been (or will be) to O’Conaill’s Chocolate Shop on French Church Street in Cork, Ireland, then it is most certainly not true.  Their signature hot chocolate is better than mine.  I guess that goes without saying.

Allow me to start again.  This is a very decent hot chocolate recipe, that I came up with myself and that you will definitely not hate.  There!  The recipe was actually intended as a recreation of the O’Conaill’s one I was craving in the run up to Christmas, while I was still in Abu Dhabi and thousands of miles away from that kind of perfection. 

Here’s the recipe.  It’s for those of you who, like me, think of hot chocolate as more dessert than drink… though I’m sure you could lower the chocolate: milk ratio and that would work too.

Hot Chocolate (makes 2 standard sized mugs)

What you’ll need:

Semi-skimmed milk (Use the mugs to measure – 2 almost-full mugs)

35-40g good quality dark chocolate (70%+)

35-40g good quality white chocolate

35 –40g Lindt Excellence Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate (this exact one)

A good pinch of Maldon salt

Here’s how:

• Cut the chocolate into smallish chunks
• Warm the milk in a small saucepan over a medium heat. As the milk starts to heats up, add the chocolate and start whisking until all the chocolate is melted.  Don’t allow the milk to boil – you want lots of steam but no bubbles. 
• Add the salt and whisk one last time before pouring into the mugs to serve
• Jamie Oliver has this trick for hot chocolate that I sometimes do, but sometimes don’t bother with.  Right before serving, you pour the mixture into a large flask, ensuring there is lots of space at the top.  Screw on the lid and shake it (like you would with a cocktail shaker) for a couple of minutes.  This makes the milk nice and frothy.  Include that step too, if you’re really trying to impress. 

The Best IKEA Hack

This past Christmas was extra special for our family as it was the first one with little Sophia.  I was excited to make it home to see her again after five long months – she had doubled her age in that time!  It all happens too fast.  One of the nice things about having a baby around at Christmastime is that children’s gifts are always the most fun.  Sophia got Lego from Santa Claus, lots of musical instruments (drums are her favourite) and even a baby-sized Mini Cooper from her Uncle Richie.

If I had seen this IKEA hack before Christmas, I’d like to think I could have made it happen and delivered the best present of all.

How awesome?  Have a look at the before. 

I love the little details, like the subway tiles and chic lighting. 

Fiona, we have to attempt this sometime in the next year.

Thing #96: Make my own Christmas cards

Last year, I made a promise – a promise that if you sent me an email with your postal address, I would send you a card.  It was one of those situations where I had a whole lot of love inside me and I didn’t know what to do with it – so I resorted, as I often do, to expressing it through stationery.

I didn’t tell you I was going to make the cards.  That was the element of surprise.

I thought I would have a few extra cards to make and write… but it turned out that I got a lot of emails and what I imagined to be some leisurely Christmas crafting turned into a two-day factory-style card-making extravaganza.  There is zero complaint in that sentence.

I used regular acrylic paints to do the illustrations and blank cards and envelopes from Paperchase.  It was so much fun.  Thanks to anyone who took part, and for all the lovely cards I received back.

This year, Christmas is looking a little like Crazytown Central, so I didn’t make any promises (I still love you).

€5 has been donated to UNICEF Ireland for the completion of this ‘thing’.  Click here if you too would like to donate online.

How did it get so late so soon?

The wisdom of Dr. Seuss… anyone else feeling like this lately?

It’s Here

It’s here.  December is here.  We can start talking about Christmas now… officially… not in hushed tones. 

Carbonara

In our house, we call it Christmas Carbonara because I always make it on Christmas Eve.  It’s a treasured family tradition that we daren’t mess with.  If you were to make it, there would be nothing festive about it.  That’s why it’s okay that I’m posting the recipe in February.

A few things before I start:

1. This is not (exactly) my recipe, it’s based on Jamie Oliver’s Classic Penne Carbonara from Happy Days with the Naked Chef, except I’ve made a couple of things easier for us all and eliminated the need for a kitchen scales (…ain’t nobody got time for that!)

2. This recipe contains cream.  Before you get on your culinary high-horse, I know real Carbonara isn’t supposed to have cream but that fact doesn’t make this particular recipe any less delicious.  It’s okay to use cream sometimes.  It’s Christmas (or not, whatever…)

3.  For a dish with so little ingredients,  it’s really important for them to be good quality.  I don’t mean to lecture, but the taste completely depends on that.  Don’t ruin your life with substandard cheese.  Life is far too hard and short as it is, without having to deal with bad cheese.

3.  That’s obviously not me, or my Carbonara in the picture above (and I use Penne, not Spaghetti), but that picture encapsulates what this dish is all about.  It’s simple and unassuming and it’s made by someone who cares about you and wants to serve you a bowl of kindness.  There’s love in this dish.

Christmas Carbonara (serves 4)

What you’ll need:

500g (1 bag) dried penne (De Cecco or another good quality pasta)

10 slices of smoky bacon rashers

6 egg yolks (genius trick for separately eggs here)

250ml carton of fresh cream

150g (approx.) Parmesan cheese, grated

Olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Here’s how:

• Cook the penne according to packet instructions
• While the pasta is cooking, fry the rashers in a little olive oil until crispy.  Break it up a bit with a knife and fork and set aside
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs yolks, cream and half the parmesan
• When the pasta is cooked, drain and return to the pot with the egg mixture and the bacon pieces.  Make sure you do this immediately so the residual heat from the pasta will cook the eggs, but still leave the sauce silky.  (If you heat it over direct heat, you could end up with a ‘scrambled’ sauce)
• Season well with salt and fresh black pepper and serve immediately with the remaining parmesan
• Rocket, semi-sundried tomatoes and toasted pine nuts with a balsamic dressing is a nice accompanying salad (if you’re feeling energetic)

It’s Coming!

If this doesn’t put you in the Christmas mood, I don’t know what will.

Charity Swim

This is Curracloe strand in Co. Wexford, Ireland and the location of an annual charity swim on St. Stephen’s Day (December 26). 

The reason I’m telling you this is because my brother and I have signed up to do it this year.  Usually, we go just to watch and show our support for a very worthy cause, the Wexford Hospice.  It can even be pretty cold cheering from the side-line, dressed in layers of our best thermal-wear.  This year, I’ll be wearing a bikini.  A small one.  The same one I wear regularly on the beach in Abu Dhabi.

I have mentioned before that I live in one of the hottest climates in the world- to which my general body temperature adjusted a little too happily.  I feel cold now when the temperature drops anywhere close to 20°C.  I can’t even imagine what the Irish sea will feel like in December. 

It is going to be tough.  But wait, who was that person who said the best things in life are also the easiest?  No one.  People don’t say that because it’s totally not true.  This is not going to be easy. No siree.  But, will it be totally and completely worth it?  Of course it will.  I’m pep-talking myself now.  Feel free to pep-talk me too.  Or, if you happen to be in the area, come along in a month’s time to take on my usual gig as cheerleader.

P.s. This is part of my Day Zero List.  I’d love to know how you’re doing with yours?

A Christmas Card (from me to you)

I love you.  Really, I do.  I love that you care enough to click on my links to see my pictures and read my stupid stories and tolerate my stubborn opinions.  I love that you offer words of advice and a good book recommendation when the occasion calls.  I love that I keep writing this silly blog and for some reason, you keep reading it.

I want to say thank you.  I want to package up the love and send it to you- but I don’t know how to do that so I thought perhaps you might settle for a Christmas card instead?  Can I send you a Christmas card?

Here’s a commitment I’m making (it’s rare, it’s special…): 

If you email me your address (or the address of someone you think would appreciate a Christmas card from me), I’ll send a card.  No catches.  No stalking (promise I won’t use it for anything else).  Just a Christmas card.  I’ll feel good.  If you’re anything like me about getting mail, you’ll feel good too. 

I’ve stocked up on stamps and supplies.  I’m ready.  Emails to thelmafrayne (at) gmail (dot) com.  Let’s go!