Search This Blog

Thursday, January 20, 2011

French Hot Chocolate

This is a great make-ahead dessert. I often will make the chocolate mixture up the night before or in the morning. Then put the milk in a crock pot on the low setting for about an hour before serving, so no last-minute prep is needed! Everyone raves about this hot chocolate! I love the fluffy, light, yet rich chocolaty taste.  Not my everyday hot chocolate, but great for a special treat.  From Favorites.

 3 (1 oz) squares of Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate
 ½ cup water
 ½ teaspoon salt
 ¾ cut sugar

 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
 1 teaspoon vanilla
 Milk (about 1 gallon)


Cook chocolate and water over low heat until smooth and thick, stirring constantly—be careful not to burn the chocolate. Add salt and sugar; cook for 5 minutes more. Cool completely.

Whip heavy cram and add vanilla. (You could substitute almond or peppermint extract for a little different flavor). Fold into cooled chocolate mixture. Store in refrigerator. To serve, add a heaping tablespoon (or two) to a cup of hot milk. Stir and enjoy.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Yeasted Waffles

From Cooks Illustrated March 2004

The batter must be made 12 to 24 hours in advance.  They prefer this recipe in a regular waffle iron but a Belgian waffle iron will also work it just makes fewer waffles (that's what we use).  These are best served fresh.  These waffles are quite rich so we usually skip the butter.  We love the crispiness and airiness the yeast creates.

INGREDIENTS
1¾ cups whole milk , or low-fat milk, or skim milk
8 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 8 pieces
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (10 ounces)
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
1½ teaspoons instant yeast
2 large eggs
1teaspoon vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Heat milk and butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat until butter is melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Cool milk/butter mixture until warm to touch (about 105-110). Meanwhile, whisk flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in large bowl to combine.  In small bowl, whisk eggs and vanilla until combined, set aside.  Gradually whisk warm milk/butter mixture into flour mixture; continue to whisk until batter is smooth. then add egg mixture to batter and whisk until incorporated. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula, cover bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least *12 and up to 24 hours.

2. Preheat the waffle iron; remove waffle batter from refrigerator when waffle iron is hot (batter will be foamy and doubled in size). Whisk batter to recombine (batter will deflate). Bake waffles and serve immediately or hold in low temperature oven .  To do this, place them on a wire rack set above a baking sheet, cover them with a clean kitchen towel, and place the baking sheet in a 200-degree oven. When the final waffle is in the iron, remove the towel to allow the waffles to crisp for a few minutes in the oven before serving.

NOTE:  
*For a quicker version of this recipe, place bowl in a warm draft-free place until double in size with bubbles on the surface about 60-90 minutes.