Larissa's Lair » chocolate http://larissalyons.com/blog the mental meanderings of romance author Larissa Lyons... Sat, 15 May 2010 18:48:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Chocolate Milk Rules! http://larissalyons.com/blog/2009/10/23/chocolate-milk-rules/ http://larissalyons.com/blog/2009/10/23/chocolate-milk-rules/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:22:28 +0000 Larissa Lyons http://larissalyons.com/blog/?p=247 Okay, I confess…while it’s not something I do often, sometimes I yearn for a cold glass of good ole chocolate milk. But with my aversion to all things processed, the cartons of dry mix or bottles of liquid sludge sold in stores aren’t going to cut it. Fortunately, my grandmother gave me a couple of fabulous cookbooks, circa 1950, that have proven exceptional reference points for making food and treats out of real ingredients (as opposed to those created in a laboratory). I’ve tweaked the chocolate syrup recipe and found something that works great over homemade ice cream, as well as squirted into a glass of organic milk  on occasion. :-) Enjoy!

Larissa’s Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Place the following ingredients in a medium saucepan:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 square of unsweetened chocolate (optional, but makes it richer!!)
3/4 cup water
dash of salt

Over low heat, stir until melted and thicker…about 5-7 minutes.  Remove from heat and add 1 t vanilla, then refrigerate in glass jar.  For thicker syrup, simply use less water.

Currently reading: New Moon by Stephanie Meyer (yes, still!) and Insight Yoga by Sarah Powers

]]> http://larissalyons.com/blog/2009/10/23/chocolate-milk-rules/feed/ 0 Bond Night – Introduction http://larissalyons.com/blog/2009/07/08/bond-night-introduction/ http://larissalyons.com/blog/2009/07/08/bond-night-introduction/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:51:05 +0000 Larissa Lyons http://larissalyons.com/blog/?p=89 Once a month, a good friend and I get together to watch a 007 flick and enjoy some buttery, sea-salted, oil-popped popcorn (none of those air-popped Styrofoam-textured kernels for us!). We also consume brownies or cheesecake or organic chocolate, depending upon whether I’m in a baking mood and whether she’s been to town and our “local” health food store (a 90 mile round trip or thereabouts) which fortunately has a divine selection of organic chocolate bars.

Last night was popcorn & organic chocolate — this lavender, milk chocolate concoction unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. Almost like eating melt-in-your-mouth perfume. Amazing.

The combo of chocolate and popcorn always makes for a fabulous supper. Granted, she eats dinner before she comes over, but I save my appetite for the good stuff, always making sure to take my wheatgrass and enzymes before savoring our popcorn-and-chocolate bonanza (my vitamin and dietary habits crack her up).

We’ve been watching the James Bond movies in order. We started with Dr. No last year and have worked our way up to The Spy Who Loved Me (which I’ll post a review of when I get around to it) :) .

We’ve only skipped one month to catch James Coburn in Our Man Flint.

So hip are we.

So do you and any of your girl friends (or guy friends) have any neat “date” nights or traditions? Do share!

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