Archive for the 'Chocolate' Category
Perhaps someone can send me another care package?
Christmas Care Package
Jan 4th 2009sarahChocolate & Food & Life
It was with a lot of pleasure I received a care package from the States earlier this week. In it was all sorts of things, such as caribou and venison jerky, some photographs of my parents’ Christmas decoration, and packages of hickory nuts and black walnuts – these of which I will highlight later this week. Nearly best of all, though, were two items my parents mailed along – turtles and tablemats.
My mother quilted this beautiful tablemat for my living room tables. There were two of them in the package, and now I’m just waiting patiently for one for my coffee table. And a runner for my dining room table. No pressure, mom. None at all. 
You can also see the lovely, gorgeous, yummy box of turtles that was sent along. The best part about these is the fact that Paul doesn’t like nuts in his chocolate, so this box of wonderful chocolate, pecans and caramel goodies is ALL MINE! I’m wondering how long I can make a pound of chocolates last…
Chocolate rice pudding
Apr 19th 2008sarahChocolate & Dessert & Food
Looking at my statistics, I’ve found a lot of people find my site looking for chocolate rice pudding. Because of this, I’ve decided to post my recipe, which I got out of a Sainsbury’s magazine. I’ve mentioned before that the recipe is from Nigella Lawson, and it’s also been published in her book, Feast, but for a much larger crowd.
I find this a really easy, gorgeous recipe. Nigella gives specific instructions on how to mix everything, but I tend to just throw everything together in a casserole dish and stick it in the oven. I find it to be quite liquidy, so I also end up cooking it for longer than she calls for, stirring it every half hour or so. I don’t know if it turns out right, but Paul likes it, so why change things now?
When I gave the recipe to my mom, it was in British style, meaning you have to get out the scales, which I don’t find that difficult or off putting anymore. However, because I suspect my mother hasn’t made it yet because of the British measurements and funny oven temperatures, I’ve tried to convert these. It’s all a bit hodgepodge, but I don’t think this pudding is a science. It tastes good, and that’s about it.
Chocolate Rice Pudding
3 tbsp cocoa
4 tbsp boiling water
1 tbsp vanilla extract
125 grams (about 1 1/2 cups) of arborio or pudding rice
100 grams (about 1/2 cup) sugar
1 litre (1 3/4 pints) (about 4 cups) milk
1 1/2 litre (2 1/2 pint) baking dish
Heat your oven to 150 C (300 F)
Dissolve the cocoa and water, and then stir in the milk. Add the vanilla extract, and pour this mixture into your baking dish. Then add the rice and sugar to the dish and stir together. Put this all into the over and bake for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
And that’s it! Enjoy!
Mmm…chocolate…
Nov 20th 2006sarahBelgium & Chocolate
Yum. Paul and I have finally gotten around to eating some of the chocolate we bought in Brussels. OH MY GOODNESS, they were gorgeous. I think we’ll have to head back, just to get more chocolate. Too bad I’m trying to lose some weight. Paul is a really bad influence on my diet.
But they were good.
