One Dark and Stormy Night...

...when the parents and older sister were gone at work, the rest of the children decided to make themselves a cup of hot chocolate. Mind you, it was not to be that cheap hot cocoa, where you mix a packet of powdered sugar, chocolate, milk and whoknowswhat with hot water, nor even the better kind one sometimes gets with artisan cocoa powder and real milk. This was to be true deep, dark hot chocolate.

First Janna, the expert for all things edible and sweet, mixed water, milk and real Ghirardelli chocolate chips in a heavy pan on the stove. When that was smooth and hot she added a little sugar and a splash of homemade cognac vanilla. (When you make real hot chocolate, you want the flavor of the chocolate to come through, not the sugar.)

Then Krista had the bright idea of floating whipped cream on top. So she whipped up some fresh, whole cream, added a little sugar and another splash of vanilla. Then she spooned the cream on top of the chocolate. The whipped cream floated on top of the chocolate in the most charming manner.

Noah wanted double chocolate hot chocolate so he sprinkled some semi-sweet chocolate shavings on top.

Then Kathrina decided each cup of hot chocolate needed a mint leaf on top of the whipped cream for the finishing touch.

We all stood back for a minute and admired our handiwork!

But it looked to good to gaze at it for long!

If you happen to be near our house, one dark and stormy night, stop in and see you can convince us that you deserve some deep, dark, smooth hot chocolate. We just might make some for you... even if the parents are here...

~ as told by Janna Rae