On the plus side...

[torquill]

After having gotten a balanced meal (perhaps a little more "balanced" in favor of protein than the other items), I decided that today's difficulties merited some compensation.

So I broke out the caramel syrup that I made with great effort a few weeks ago (a story in itself), whole milk, cream, and I softened a new stick of butter. A few minutes of microwave time later I had a pint of my favorite comforting drink, sort of like a shorthand version of the Spanish one made by heating milk until it caramelizes. Think of the richest hot chocolate you've ever had, and transmute it into vanilla and caramel flavors instead. It's hot, gently caramel half'n'half, I suppose, with a little dab of melted butter for good measure. It has real presence in the mouth, like I'm drinking premier ice cream. And it's wonderful.

I tell people that I'm not nuts about chocolate, and hot chocolate, even the rich stuff, always left me sort of "enh". One day I wondered what would happen if I made the same thing using caramel and vanilla, which is what I prefer... I decided later that I was a genius. :)

I save it for special occasions when I want to relax -- even with my general disregard for fat content, it's a bit rich -- but it's always worth that little extra effort. I'm feeling much more mellow about the day now.

Comments

[catnip13.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite hot drinks is simply a tablespoon of real maple syrup added to a cup of hot milk (nowdays usually vanilla soymilk). I thought of it one day and then wondered why it isn't a common beverage. Sooooo good.

[amanda-nye.livejournal.com]

I can think of a few people who would love this... also not chocoholics