Celebrating Rain with Spicy Hot Chocolate
Okay, so yesterday's post was a "make introductions, stand-up-and-tell-us-a-little-bit-about-yourself" kind of blog post. I think of today as my real beginning as Good Mood Blogger. And the Good Mood Blogger is currently in the middle of the hardest downpour to hit Southern California in a very long time.
It sounds like there is a herd of something very tiny, but very strong, trotting across my tile roof. No wonder Maddy is hiding under the desk. And it gives me a little thrill when the wind gets especially wild and slaps water across the windows. I have to stop what I'm doing and look outside.
What is it about a storm that gets to us? It certainly changes my mood. I know that long stretches of gloomy weather can be a downer, but when it's been sunny and warm for weeks on end in southern California, a day of hard rain and dark skies comes as such a relief.
My first real post as the Good Mood Blog has a big picture of a rainy window. It's sort of a reminder to myself that I'm hoping to make this blog genuine if nothing else. An endless parade of sickly sweet quotes and sunny days isn't especially a path to being happy. For me, being in a good mood means appreciating the melancholy as much as the moments of elation. Balance.
In honor of this rare Southern California storm, here's something familiar and comforting combined with something a little bit wild for you to try:
Recipe for Spicy Hot Chocolate:
- 1 & 2/3 cups milk
- 1/2 vanilla bean
- 1 small red chili pepper (Dried is okay, but do not use chili powder from the grocery store! Most will contain garlic and cumin and other added spices that would ruin the taste of the hot chocolate)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 1/2 oz bittersweet chocolate
Split the vanilla bean and the chili pepper and remove the pepper seeds. Bring the milk to a simmer, add the chili, vanilla, and cinnamon stick.
Keep simmering for a few minutes as you grate in the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate is melted and mixed thoroughly into the milk, then strain out the spices and serve hot.
The recipe makes two cups - how romantic.
Or, how nice to have two whole cups to yourself (that's what I'm doing today.)
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Comments
J Adamthwaite Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Oh, I <i>love</i> a summer storm. And like you, I'm up by the window every time it sounds like there's something good happening. There's nothing like being all tucked up inside and watching the show with hot chocolate either :)
I'm pleased you're here by the way; I'm glad you were voted the good mood blogger. (Hi by the way!)
romeo Wednesday, January 20, 2010
a suitable complement to a warm, toasty and extraordinarily wonderful afternoon siesta indoors.. this weather also allows some of us to have the opportunity to listen and meditate on the sound of raindrops that clearly lulls the mind into a deeper state of bliss. thanks. :)
Blargal D. Alien Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Hello,Brigitte.
Also you could feel comfortable,as the weather is closer to your former home stae's weather,and getting a rian storm will bring back fond memories.
Sean Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I love rainy days! I've never tried pepper in my hot chocolate, I'll have to try it! You know what would be nice to have with my coco? Cupcones :)
holger Thursday, January 21, 2010
the best rain to me is the rain that allows you to keep the windows open. it's not so much a 'watch the rain kind of situation', but rather the kind of rain, that does not exclude one at all by becoming a spectator. it's more like being part of it, which makes it less darkly mysterious, but more yay
Bud Thursday, January 21, 2010
Brigitte,
I totally understand what you are talking about. Living in Florida, “The Sunshine State” we see our fair share of sun. Thus, like you, I look forward to cloudy days and good ole rain. Please to not let it be confused with a hurricane. Those I do not look forward to.
Your recipe for hot spiced chocolate comes at just the right time as we have been going through the longest cold spell in nearly 50 years. Now I was not around 50 years ago but I can tell you that it is as cold as I have ever felt in Florida. Now I always have bittersweet chocolate in the house (love the stuff), I had to go out and buy some cinnamon sticks. Hey I need to go to the store anyway.
So thanks for the recipe it turned out to be a very nice warm up. But I have to say that I am looking forward to a few nice warm sunny days as I have had enough of this cold.
Joe Thursday, January 21, 2010
When I was a kid I use to sit on my front porch during thunderstorms. It was great and always put me in a good mood.
Rawb Thursday, January 21, 2010
Weird I posted awhile ago and it never showed up!
Anyways I love the rain! It's relaxing haha.
Joe Fileman Thursday, January 21, 2010
Would slipping in a little bit of SAM-e in the Spicy Hot Chocolate help put me in a good mood?
Cin Thursday, January 21, 2010
LOL!! You might want to up the amount of milk if you plan on sharing it! 2/3 cup of milk divided by 2 will give you a drink...... just sayin'!
Astrid Thursday, January 21, 2010
Hey Bridgette, if you copy a recipe..at least give that side credit.
(http://coffeetea.about.com/od/chocolaterecipes/r/aztecchoc.htm )
Second copy it correct, the amount of milk is ONE AND 2/3 cup milk.
Have you tried it?
Brigitte Thursday, January 21, 2010
Cin - you are so right, and thank you so much for catching that mistake!
The recipe should call for 1 2/3 cups milk, not 2/3 cup. The correction should be showing up soon in the post.
Dawn Thursday, January 21, 2010
This recipe is a direct copy and paste from another webite, isn't that plagiarism. I'm not talking just the recipe I'm talking even the little ending. You should at leat acknowledge where you got the recipe.
Patsy Thursday, January 21, 2010
Is this the recipe you are using maybe? http://coffeetea.about.com/od/chocolaterecipes/r/aztecchoc.htm
It's for "Aztec Chili Hot Chocolate," but pretty much word for word what is posted here. Attribution anyone??
Patsy Thursday, January 21, 2010
Is attribution also going to be there soon, or is plagiarism the new norm?
Brigitte Friday, January 22, 2010
Regarding the recipe: For a simple idea like adding chili peppers to homemade hot chocolate, an internet search will yield hundreds of very similar recipes. There are only so many ways to do it ;) I certainly don't claim to be the first person to add chili to my hot chocolate! Whoever that first person was, though, was a genius :)
Marie M.C. Friday, January 22, 2010
So delighted to see your first post. I totally agree with you -- living in sunny California I welcome stormy weather. Just happy I'm not living next to a cliff. Please, please say you'll do some video posts.
Harm Friday, January 22, 2010
Oh that is just SAD! Stealing the written work of another when you are being paid for original material is just WRONG! Then to compound the problem by denying it is so much worse.
It is obvious to anyone who looks at the link provided above that you (or someone) simply copied it (evidently your highlighter didn't quite get all of it the first time!) to include most of the language in the original instructions.
Most of us would not think a thing about it had you not then gone into this denial of the obvious stuff! That is just silly. You got caught. Game over.
Debbie Friday, January 22, 2010
What I wish is that people who have nothing else to do but drag others down would find somewhere else to take their misery.
J.C. Saturday, January 23, 2010
Ha ha... wow, some people really do love to complain! @Patsy & @Harm you CAN'T copyright a recipe (the list of ingredients) this is not plagiarism, so please stop trolling!
If Brigitte had copied the instructions (not the list of ingredients) word for word from the website then proceeded to write 'Brigitte Dale instructions on how to make BRIGITTE DALE'S, yes MY Aztec hot chocolate recipe & instructions that I INVENTED all by myself!, spicy hot chocolate'... passing off the websites instructions as her own... then yes that would be considered plagiarism, but she didn't.
Brigitte's instructions are not even close to the website's, SO if anyone deserves attribution it should be ME for having to explain this to you too (and possibly Astrid).
Why don't you guys have some spicy hot chocolate and relax..., or why not over to youtube I'm sure there are some videos that need flagging... lol.
Dan H Saturday, January 23, 2010
First time I've ever tried the pepper variation. It gives the hot chocolate a nice little bite. Thanks, Brigitte.
Dan H Saturday, January 23, 2010
To Astrid & Patsy: Are the both of you serious? If I was to give my recipe for spaghetti sauce...which I'm certain thousands upon thousands of people use the exact same ingredients...would you then accuse me of stealing said recipe from someone else?
Personally, I never thought of trying a pepper in my hot chocolate until reading about it in Brigitte's blog. I don't care who came up with the idea at first. I only know that I tried it, I liked it and I have Brigitte to thank for it.
BD, looking forward to your next blog.