Grand gestures are showy, but quiet, small ones are sweeter.
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Today is that favorite day of retailers, florists and restauranteurs everywhere, Valentine’s Day. And while I’m weary of the commercialized aspect of the day, you’d have to be pretty hard-hearted to not love one big collective day of appreciation for the special people in our lives.
We Pennsylvanians will tell you that this winter has been an old-fashioned, mettle-testing trudge. We’ve been very fortunate here in Western PA – unlike our neighbors in Eastern PA who are suffering some real damage and hardship, we’re just inconvenienced and fatigued. The kind of weariness that can be soothed with a steamy, creamy cup of home-made cocoa.
I nixed commercial hot chocolate powders a long time ago in favor of the old-fashioned, off the package Hershey’s cocoa recipe that my mom used to make. Real milk, cocoa, salt, sugar and a bit of vanilla – all things found in an average kitchen. Is it really too difficult to heat a pan of milk?
But then , one day Molly at Remedial Eating wrote about something that stopped me in my tracks. Something I had to try ASAP. And I’m so glad I did. This is one of the nicest, sweetest DIY gift ideas around – a jar of chocolate ganache ready to spoon into heated milk for a perfectly delicious, creamy, real cup of steaming cocoa.
Who am I kidding?? Try 3 or even 4…
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Of course, once that idea was planted, variants were inevitable. What about the hand crafted stoneground chocolate I bought from Rancho Gordo? Maybe not for everyone, but definitely for me. A little grittier and cinnamon-ey, this is dangerous.
How do I love thee Rancho Gordo? Let me count the ways…
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So, if you’re still struggling for not-too-big, not-too-small gift ideas, here you go. A nice jar of homemade chocolate ganache. A steamy cup of ready-made love for your beloved.
heating up the milk too difficult? there’s always spoon truffles. Spoon truffles? You know exactly what I’m talking about – no double dipping!
Previous Valentine’s Day ideas:
A Sweet Sack of Homemade Caramels
Yes! Rancho Gordo hot chocolate. Grind it very fine and stir a heaping teaspoon into a late morning cup of coffee; that’s pretty tasty, too.
And I made a big bubbly pot of mole rojo with it a couple three weeks ago.
The coffee is a great idea. I cannot even imagine the luxury of a late morning cup of coffee, especially one like that.
I bought the chocolate specifically because of my mole addiction but so far the number of ingredients and steps stops me before I get started.
Hopefully the winter trudge will be ending soon and I’ll have the luxury of spending that much time on a meal. There’s truly nothing like mole…
This sounds divine. I know we have all the ingredients in the pantry. I’m wondering if I could add a shot of strong coffee to make it more of a morning pick-me up. You’re right variations are inevitable.
That’s a great idea Foy. Hope all is safe and warm where you are :)
Spoon truffles! Still laughing!
: )