Gypsy Jan - 6-26-2010 at 10:27 AM
Alhambra
5.0 oz Spanish Hot Chocolate
1.0 oz Spanish brandy or Cognac
Mint leaves
Spanish Hot Chocolate
Sweet Chocolate Version:
2 8-ounce cups whole milk
4 ounces milk chocolate
1/2 tsp. cornstarch
Baking Chocolate Version:
2 8-ounce cups whole milk
3 ounces (3 squares) baking chocolate
1/3-1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cornstarch
With either type of chocolate, the process is almost the same:
Pour the milk into a medium saucepan and add the cornstarch. Whisk to dissolve the cornstarch. Once the cornstarch is dissolved, heat the milk on
medium heat just until boiling and then remove from heat. Add the chocolate squares immediately and begin stirring until the chocolate is completely
melted. If the milk cools off too fast, place the pan back on the stove on low heat to melt the chocolate.
If you are using baking chocolate, which is unsweetened, pour the sugar into the chocolate milk mixture and stir until thoroughly dissolved.
Place the pan back on the stove on medium low heat, stirring slowly, but constantly. (Do not cook the mixture over high heat because it may cause
lumping.) Taste the chocolate for sweetness and add more sugar if necessary. (Note: Be sure to use a clean spoon every time you taste the chocolate.
Enzymes from your mouth can cause a thickened cornstarch mixture to thin.)
The mixture should thicken quickly. As soon as it thickens, remove the pan from the heat so the cornstarch will not thin. Ladle immediately into cups
and add the brandy/cognac and garnish with mint leaves.
Alhambra Royale
1 1/2 oz. Spanish brandy or Cognac
1 Cup Spanish hot chocolate
1 curled sliver of orange peel
Whipped cream
Pour the hot chocolate into a mug, stopping about 1 ½ inch from the top. Add the slice of orange peel. Put the brandy/cognac in a large ladle, and
warm it up over hot water. Light the brandy/cognac and pour it into the hot chocolate. Stir and top with whipped cream.
noproblemo2 - 6-26-2010 at 11:14 AM
Sounds Great.....
fishabductor - 6-26-2010 at 01:10 PM
Sounds great if I lived in Alaska, However it doesn't sound very good to me today in the hotter than hell heat of the eastcape today..
a nice cold glass of tamarind water or Lemonaide, or possibly a smoothy sounds better.
Seasonally Inappropriate?
Gypsy Jan - 6-26-2010 at 02:20 PM
Yeah, fishabductor, I debated the wisdom of posting this since it is summer, but, what the hey, it fit my "theme" and I reasoned that somewhere, in
some place, a fellow Nomad is chilly right now (65 degrees, overcast and windy on the Pacific coast for us today).
fishabductor - 6-26-2010 at 07:59 PM
I'd love to have 65 degree weather. I'd probably need a coat, and a hot drink
wessongroup - 6-28-2010 at 06:48 AM
I like all the ingredients.. but, not sure I can wait that long for a drink...
Thanks, its a keeper ..... have to try it as with all that good stuff in it.. well, have to try it...