How to make frothy milk at home without a cappuccino machine!
December 12, 2008
Have you ever wanted to make a thick, frothy, hot chocolate or cappuccino like you get in a cafe – but at home, and without spending a fortune on an expensive coffee machine??
Well, I saw this on a Jamie Oliver programme on TV once, and I have tried it a good few times, and it really works!!
Here’s what you do…
Next time you empty a plactic milk container, wash it out and save it for your frothy milk.
Heat up enough milk for your drink in a saucepan – make sure it’s hot, but not boiling. Empty it carefully into your plastic milk container until it’s about half full (no more as the heat and steam will make it swell up!). Put the lid on tightly, and hold it closed with a tea towel, and give it a good 30-60 second shake. Carefully open the lid as hot steam will escape, and pour over your coffee, or drinking chocolate for a yummy treat!
New Product From Butlers
November 27, 2008
We got a sample today of a new product available from Butlers.
Butlers “Hot Chocolate Drink” is presented in a lovely chocolaty brown box, and contains 10 pieces of chocolate in a cup shape that you melt into a cup of hot milk (Net Weight of the box is 230g).
This box will be available soon, and retails in our shop at €4.99 (which works out as €0.50 per serving). You can also buy it online in our shop for €7.00 (which includes postage within Ireland).
The recommended method is to heat milk in a saucepan and then add the piece of chocolate. We don’t have a hotplate here in in the shop, so I used the coffee machine to steam up some milk instead. The chocolate piece melted fairly easily after a good stir, and tasted really good! However, the instructions do say a “teacup” of hot milk, and I heated a whole mug, so for a richer chocolate taste, I’d stick to one teacup per piece.
Why not give it a try yourself and let us know what you think!
If you want to try different variations or recipes with the hot chocolate, click here.
Hot Chocolate… MMmmmmm!
November 11, 2008
Autumn is here, and the cold days, and long dark evenings are upon us. What better comfort drink than a steaming mug of hot chocolate?!
It is believed that the first chocolate drink was created by the Mayan people about 2000 years ago. The original hot chocolate drink was made without sugar, and was bitter to taste. It has been adapted over the years, and today is consumed all over the world in an array of variations.
Strictly speaking, “Hot Chocolate” is made from a bar of chocolate melted into milk or water, and “Hot Cocoa” is made from cocoa powder, but the terms are generally used interchangeably today.
There are many flavours and variations of chocolate drinks today – from the thick dessert like drink in Italy, to white hot chocolate, to drinks flavoured with chili, cinnamon, orange, Rum or Baileys. Why not try making your own hot chocolate, experimenting with some different flavours? Then try topping it with whipped cream, marshmallow or flakes of dark chocolate.
I found this recipe for a delicious and decadent sounding homemade hot chocolate. Try it out and let us know what you think.
Post a comment below with your favourite receipe or flavouring!