A Recipe for Enjoying Winter
What I'm about to say may shock you. At least, the words shocked me last night when I hardly realized the full impact of what I was saying until it was too late. "I don't want winter to end," I said, and Sebastian looked up at me as if I suggested puppies make excellent appetizers.
I have settled more snugly into this winter than those past, I think, because I've finally gotten down pat the winter arsenal: a good book that's more comforting than challenging, a dowdy, flannel nightgown for particularly bitter nights, regular evenings in a room heated to 105 degrees, and (this is my favorite) a bite of chocolate in bed.
Bed, of course, is always an island of quiet and relaxation. But its appeal in winter, when it beckons, piled-high and cloud-like, is unmatched. The way you hop barefoot across the cold wood flowers and then jump -- safe! -- into bed, kicking your legs around wildly to warm up the cold cotton sheets -- well, is there anything quite like it?
Imagine then, once you are tucked in and reaching for your novel, that on a plate next to your alarm clock, you had a bite -- just a wee little morsel -- of dark, luscious chocolate. Pop it into your mouth, and sink back into the pillow, ready for sweet dreams.
Chocolate Truffles
makes 3 dozen
Messy and hands-on, these would be so fun to make with kids. I have made these with both super high-quality chocolate and Bakers Treat, and both are fantastic. Buy the best you can find, or scrimp on the chocolate to put some pennies away for Paris. Either way you will have made delicious truffles. Oh, and if you can bare to share, I ought to mention these make great gifts.
1 pound bittersweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream
cocoa powder, for dusting
Chop chocolate finely and place in a large bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil and then pour directly over chopped chocolate. Let stand for 10 minutes. Stir to combine chocolate and cream, and then leave alone for another 15 minutes to thicken.
Pour ganache mixture into a shallow dish or baking pan. Refrigerate ganache has set, and is very cold but still pliable, about 30 minutes.
Scoop out teaspoons and roll between your hands to form ball-shapes. The heat of your hands will warm up the chocolate and cause a big ole mess. You could wear rubber gloves, but what's the fun in that? If the truffles are quite melty at this point, you could pop them in the freezer for a few minutes to stiffen them up again.
Next, dash the chocolate balls through cocoa powder until covered. Crown a plate with one or two, and carry to bed.
Comments
chocolate before bed...how positively recalcitrant. oh--i'm a grown up...i can make my own rules!!
Posted by: Ruth | March 5, 2008 12:54 AM
It does sound wonderful...but having to get out of bed to brush your teeth. Does the deliciousness make up for facing the cold?
Posted by: cz | March 5, 2008 6:33 AM
What book are you curled up with?? I LOVE book recommendations, and the link didn't work to Amazon. : (
Outside of my need for sun, I agree with you completely. To remedy... a spontaneous trip to the Keys with my hubby. Tata...
Posted by: Carrie | March 5, 2008 7:31 AM
Oh, these look divine! I'd say you've got a great approach to dark winter nights:)
Posted by: Housegirrl | March 5, 2008 8:28 AM
I know what you mean about winter - yesterday we had the gift of a surprise snow day and I didn't want the day to end. I really love the break in everyday routine, as if we'd been given an extra Sunday as a bonus.
Last night we stayed up late by the fire, drinking wine and eating squares of dark chocolate. If I'd had one of these truffles, I would have popped one in my mouth too!
Posted by: Karen | March 5, 2008 9:06 AM
Ruth, yes, grownups can do whatever the heck they want!
cz, well, after eating the chocolate and having a glass of water and reading for awhile, i'm ready to hop into the bathroom for my final nighttime prep. so it works out. :)
Carrie, whoops! Sorry the link didn't work. I'm reading Emily of New Moon by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Apparently there's a divide among her fans between those that love Anne of Green Gables and those that love Emily, so I thought I would give Emily a try.
Housegirrl, well, you gotta find some way to cope, right? ;)
Oh Karen, that sounds positively divine.
Posted by: Sarah | March 5, 2008 10:09 AM
Oh my goodness- I LOVE Zthe Emily series by L.M. Montgomery! We are soul sisters lady! Don't forget that you can add flavors to truffles- a nip or two of cognac, amaretto, orange liquer, or orange, almond, flavorings, etc. I personally love orange liquer in mine- makes for some yummy indulgence. :)
Posted by: Sara Rose | March 5, 2008 10:29 AM
I always felt that winter was a drag after the major holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, but this post provides a rather compelling argument for enjoying the entire season.
Posted by: Jean | March 5, 2008 11:28 AM
Sara Rose, I am really liking the book. :) And wow, you are a genius. Orange + chocolate is one of my fave combos -- I think I will have to do that!
Jean, I figure we gotta deal with it, better make it as enjoyable as possible, right?
Posted by: Sarah | March 5, 2008 12:56 PM
What....? Puppies *don't* make good appetizers?
Posted by: EB | March 5, 2008 2:48 PM
I know what you mean about not wanting this season to end. I've been scurrying home to jump into flannel pyjamas with a bowl of pasta and red wine to warm me (not the healthiest time of year, but who cares).
PS. I've been watching this 1981 BBC production of Brideshead Revisited with Jeremy Irons (all shot on location in the British countryside and very true to Evelyn Waugh's novel). Jeremy Iron's oaky British accent melts the cold right off me! Based on your taste in books I thought you'd like it ;)
Posted by: Sophie | March 5, 2008 3:10 PM
Hello! I just found your blog and just got lost in your videos for the last 15 minutes - they're fantastic! Plus your truffles look amazing, I wish I was that ambitious! I will definitely be checking back often - so glad I found you :)
Posted by: Maxine | March 5, 2008 3:48 PM
Mmmmmm. Pure indulgement :-)
Posted by: Joanna in the kitchen | March 5, 2008 4:43 PM
Sophie, Wow, that sounds fantastic. I'm going to add it to my Netflix queue right now, even though I've never read the book (it's definitely on the list). Thanks so much for the tip.
Maxine, You definitely don't have to be ambitious to make these. They are so simple.
Joanna, You know it! :)
Posted by: Sarah | March 5, 2008 5:09 PM
hey there sarah!
my plan for this evening:
1. make truffles
2. watch sex and the city
3. listen to a kate bush album
4. possibly sing into a wine bottle at some point, quite sure both my cat and neighbors will find me wildly attractive.
note: emily of new moon became a hit tv series here in canada (what constitutes a hit tv series in canada is probably on par with your local highschool cable access news broadcast)...long story short, when i was 14 i met the girl who plays emily...crowning jewl in my pubescent tiara.
Posted by: Rachael | March 6, 2008 11:51 AM
Ahhhh! Rachael! That is a fantastic story (and also a fantastic plan for the evening, I'd say)! Is the show any good -- should I try to get my hands on it?
Posted by: Sarah | March 6, 2008 3:22 PM
Bon bons in bed-every housewife's dream! Excuse me while I slip into something more comfortable!
Posted by: Rebecca | March 6, 2008 10:50 PM
Apparently they are every working girl's dream, too! Maybe even more so! :)
Posted by: Sarah | March 7, 2008 10:50 AM
What a great idea! I love impressive-looking desserts that are actually a snap to make. I will make these however, cursing another a blustery day.
Posted by: Nosheteria | March 7, 2008 11:18 AM
If you want to do a chocolate truffel with out all of the calories here it is.
200g of Dark Chocolate (the good stuff)
6 tablespoons of espresso (or any strong black coffee)
2 tablespoons of honey, light with no strong flavour
Melt chocolate in a large bowl over a pan with a tiny bit of water.
gently add coffee until consistency thickens. then slowly fold in Honey a tablespoon at a time. until glossy.
Set in fridge for 30 min until nearly solid.
scoop out with teaspoon and roll into balls which you coat with cocoa powder.
Store in the fridge
trust me they are heavenly.
if you like you could also add in you favorite booze like champange or Irish cream.
Posted by: Alexandra | March 7, 2008 12:24 PM
So I have to confess that my personal version of a dowdy flannel nightgown is a set of (in my little brain) absolutely adorable pink pajamas with pandas all over them by Nick and Nora, courtesy of Le Boutique de Target. (Ok by now they probably honestly arent that cute) My husband cringes when I come home and dive for them because it means that a. I don't plan on doing anything more useful than making something supremely fattening for dinner and curling up on the couch with brain trash and b. that i do expect him to assume resident butler duties and c. that I probably don't want to share my supremely fattening food and d. that he still needs to shovel the driveway. Needless to say, I stayed in the panda-jamas all weekend and ate homemade lasagna, vanilla sour cream cookies, slathered my face a mud mask, read brain trash, watched brain trash, and made him do the dishes. Fun was had by all! LOL.
Posted by: Sara Rose | March 10, 2008 12:00 AM
Sara Rose, that is absolutely hilarious -- and sounds like a great weekend, mud mask and all!
Posted by: Sarah | March 10, 2008 10:59 AM
hey sarah,
emily of new moon was ....meh...road to avonlea, however..: PURE GOLD.
i fully reccomend curling up on a wingback chair, cloaked in a ratty patchwork quilt, and enjoying a box set of this show on one of those ungodly and useless winter nights.
Alexandra, is that coffee grounds or brewed coffee for those low-cal truffles?(two words i never thought id see together)
Posted by: Rachael | March 11, 2008 3:28 PM