WARM CHOCOLATE PUDDING....A WINTER COMFORT TREAT

It's Winter.....
a New Year to live our best life....
what shall we do?
What plans shall will make?
I changed a few things for the new year of 2023....
for starters, I went back to an old favorite by
selecting a Susan Branch, HEART OF THE HOME calendar.
it felt good to change it up a bit.... 
I love her art and the bits of nostalgic wisdom she shares...

 I remember as a child, when Mother would turn the heat on before
we had even gotten out of bed in the morning...
we had floor registers which we would stand over before breakfast...
the warm heat would billow out my nightgown as I stood over the register....
it felt marvelous....

I like this advice...BE A HOMEBODY....

I most certainly am and find myself to be okay with that title.....

A cold day calls for something warm and comforting....

I want to grab a deliciously cozy throw....a good book..

eat tomato soup with grilled cheese for lunch...

enjoy a glass of wine in the evening and treat

myself to a serving of warm chocolate pudding...

topped with meringue and a sprinkling of graham crackers.....

MAKING CHOCOLATE PUDDING
2 large egg yolks...save the whites
2 T. cornstarch
2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 t. salt
1/4 cup butter
2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. espresso powder

In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks until fluffy,

whisk in cornstarch and 1/4 cup milk...set aside.

Place the sugar, cocoa, salt and 1 3/4 cup milk in saucepan
and bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly.
Spoon about 2 T. of the chocolate mixture into the egg yolks
and whisk to temper.
Add the yolks to the chocolate pudding mixture and 
continue to heat for about two minutes.
Remove from heat, add butter and vanilla.
Pour into ramekins.

Beat the two egg whites into stiff peaks.
Add 1/8 cup sugar.
Spoon meringue over tops of puddings.
Bake in 350 degree oven until  tops are brown.

January is the month of hope and new beginnings....
I updated our guest bath before Christmas so that
Miss M and her family would have a fresh new bathroom
to enjoy while visiting over the holidays.....

I went all white with touches of black....
and I loved the look.....

Small touches of luxury can make a big difference....
It's important to feed our souls with good things...
Wishing you all the best for 2023.....