Sipping Hot Chocolate Recipe

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 My travels through the Mediterranean led me to Barcelona, Spain where on a rainy morning my husband and I ventured out onto Las Ramblas to look for a quaint breakfast spot. We had heard about the famous "Spanish sipping chocolate" and were eager to taste some.

We found a lovely little shop off Las Ramblas. And believe me, the sipping chocolate had us in epicurean ecstasy!  They served it with fresh hot churros. The chocolate itself was so thick and rich that you needed a spoon to eat it once you had finished using the churros.

The first thing I did, once we returned to Alberta, was to try and duplicate this delicious drink. I have come pretty close by adding a few of my own ingredients to achieve the same almost pudding-like consistency.

Here is the recipe:

Serves 4 - 6 in teacups.

Ingredients:

One whole, large plain dark chocolate bar such as Lindt or Cadburry. Broken into small pieces.
2 Tbsp Cocoa powder
4 Tbsp Instant chocolate milk powder
1 tsp  cinnamon powder
2 Cups milk
1 1/2  tsps Cornstarch mixed with some milk to create a paste

Dissolve cocoa powder and instant chocolate milk powder in 1/4 cup of milk. Place mixture in pot. Place pot on stove and heat on high until mixture starts warming up. Remove from heat. Add remainder of milk and stir well. Put half of the chocolate pieces into pot and place on stove top once again. Heat on medium. Stir constantly until chocolate pieces melt. Add remainder of chocolate pieces and repeat. Once chocolate pieces have dissolved, add cinnamon, stir well. Remove from heat and add cornstarch mixture stir well with a whisk. Return to heat and continue to stir with a whisk until chocolate drink has thickened to a consistency similar to a chocolate fondue. Serve with lady fingers cookies. Enjoy!
~ Monique

Come back and visit us soon for more recipes and great culinary information!
~ Carla & Monique

How did Cravings come about?

Co-adventurer, Monique MacDonald, was eating her way through Europe. Delighting in the wonderful dishes found at every corner. Tasting mouth-watering appetizers on food and wine tours throughout the Mediterranean, she wondered how she could duplicate this back home in Alberta. Unlike Europe, one cannot always walk from one eating establishment to the next in comfort...winter tends to get in the way. How could she lead a tasting tour without having to constantly put a coat on, get on some kind of transportation method, get off, take your coat off and so on, and so forth? On her long flight home to Alberta, the foodie light turned on! Who says you must visit all restaurants, taverns and trattorias all on one night? Why not make each a night of wondrous adventure? Food and wine tastings, culinary history, dish peculiarities, chef's secrets, and fun entertainment all in one evening!

She brought her idea to Carla Howatt, another food enthusiast, who was more than a willing partner in epicure! And so, Cravings was born.

If you live in the Sherwood Park or Edmonton area, visit www.spCravings.com to check out our culinary adventures and mini adventures. We would love to have you join us!

Bon Appétit!

Monique and Carla
Cravings Co-Adventurers

Welcome to  the Cravings' Blog!

What is Cravings?

Cravings is the exclusive club that celebrates the dining experience.

Eleven times per year, we will host Premier Dinner Adventures that may include off-menu items uniquely created for Cravings events’ participants. Restaurant owners or their chefs will talk about their dishes, choice of ingredients, preparation techniques, regional particularities, country of origin, and more. Some events will even include special entertainment not regularly offered to other patrons.

Each Premier Dinner Adventure’s menu items are carefully selected for their uniqueness and palate experience.

Cravings also offers independent, mini culinary adventures throughout the year. These special non-dinner events will be food-themed and may include cooking demonstrations, samplings or tastings, talks, and tours. The dates, length and costs of these will vary according to each event.

Cravings is your chance to experience the culinary side of Sherwood Park and its surrounding area in a fun, new and unique way!

We look forward to going on culinary adventures with you!

Monique and Carla
Cravings' Culinary Adventurers