It was Raggedy Ann’s birthday. Again. It seems that she turned twenty today and wanted muffins and hot chocolate. Hmmmmmmm…..
Since it was so cold and since we are cold wimps-though to be fair, living right over here near the Hudson River IS about ten degrees colder than elsewhere in the city-we decided to work with what we had on hand. That included a large brick of white chocolate that has just been sitting there, waiting. I had every intention of making the brick into cardamom-spiced white chocolate truffles. But, then it was Raggedy’s birthday again, and the larder was low.
While I have absolutely nothing to say that would convince anyone of the health benefits of white chocolate, it does take well to being spiced and served at tea parties. It also happens to be pretty delicious. This recipe is mini-chef-sized and is definitely meant to be served in demitasse or doll cups.
And P.S. I think that Raggedy might have started lying about her age. Only 20? C’mon!
White Hot Chocolate Spiced with Cardamom
*1 c. milk
*4 cardamom pods
*1-2 oz. white chocolate (sweet), coarsely chopped
*1/2 t. vanilla
*ground cardamom for the garnish
Together: Help your mini-chef crush the cardamom pods in a mortar and pestle. Place these and the milk in a small saucepan.
Big Person: Heat the cardamom-milk mixture over a low-medium flame, whisking every once in a while, till the mixture is hot but not boiling. Take it off of the heat, discard the cardamom pods, and briskly whisk in the white chocolate till smooth.
Together: When the mixture cools a bit, you and your Yummy can add the vanilla, serve in little teacups or demi-tasse, and top with a pinch of ground cardamom and a few mini-marshmallows.
15/01/2009 at 2:34 pm Permalink
Gorgeous idea for spicing up hot chocolate Cate. Lovely
15/01/2009 at 11:04 pm Permalink
Sadly white chocolate gives me migranes. Looks so lovely though!
16/01/2009 at 12:32 am Permalink
Umm this sounds good to. Thank you for stopping by my site. I love talking to other cooking mamas. I love whitel chocolate so this is great.
16/01/2009 at 1:04 am Permalink
Oh yeah, I think Raggedy Ann is over 100! That is so cute. I have two boys, they never play like this.
16/01/2009 at 1:31 pm Permalink
Sounds very tasty–add a pinch of salt to throw it over the top!
I’m liking this whole Raggedy Ann Birthday thing. Wonder if I’ll be able to sell it to The Beloved? “But, Love-ems, we HAVE to go out to eat! It’s the Gingerbread Man’s Birthday!” Yes, I have a gingerbread man. He is 42. For real!
16/01/2009 at 7:01 pm Permalink
this looks great!! i love the mexican ibarra chocolate with cinnamon–what a great idea to do white chocolate with cardamom!
we do lots of birthday parties, too–for violet and rosie, meredith’s favorite dolls. violet is sort of too floppy to sit in a chair, though, as she is only a glorified blanket (she DOES have a head, though).
16/01/2009 at 7:55 pm Permalink
Sounds delish! Thanks for your fun blog. I, too, do tons of cooking and baking with my little ones.
p.s. Where did you get Raggedy Ann’s birthday “cake” – it’s very cute.
17/01/2009 at 4:33 am Permalink
Today being the coldest day of the year here in lower Manhattan, this seems totally appropriate. I’m going to go use the brick of Callebaut I picked up at Whole Foods to make this now.
17/01/2009 at 7:27 am Permalink
Sounds like the perfect thing for a cold day. So funny about Raggedy Ann’s birthdays!
17/01/2009 at 2:40 pm Permalink
thanks for all the comments, ladies. mm, callebaut would be my choice with spicy spicy-ancho chili, cayenne, black pepper, and cinnamon. mmmm.
and, lisa, the birthday cake was a 2nd birthday present from one of her friends, but the company who makes it is MELISSA AND DOUG. we play with it every day. every. day. it was so beloved that we bought our kids the pizza set for christmas, and they play with that every day, too now.
stay warm, snow bunnies!
17/01/2009 at 2:41 pm Permalink
and gentleman–sorry marc!
18/01/2009 at 5:00 pm Permalink
Pls check my new post http://fivestarfoodie.blogspot.com/2009/01/luck-and-resolutions-and-my-first-award.html to accept my appreciation of your blog. Thanks!
18/01/2009 at 7:24 pm Permalink
sounds amazing and how adorable is that birthday party
02/02/2009 at 1:18 am Permalink
We made this tonight! The girls flipped out over it— I didn’t realize “delicious” was in Nell’s verbal arsenal.
We miss you. Would love to get together soon.
xoxo