Delectable December continues: Shira Anthony – Opera and Chocolat Chaud
Thanks, E.M., for hosting me on your blog, and for the yummy idea of sharing thoughts about writing and food! Since my upcoming Dreamspinner Press release, Aria (Blue Notes #3)takes place in part in Paris, I thought I’d offer up a favorite Parisian treat of mine with your readers: French hot chocolate (or “chocolat chaud”).
After writing, my second favorite pastime after reading: eating. Better even, eating chocolate. The French version of hot chocolate is rich and creamy, but not the overly sweet counterpart we find here in the US. The key to a great cup of chocolat chaud is to use the best chocolate you can find. French chocolate is best, but since it’s often hard to come by in the States, I recommend using a good Lindt bittersweet (Swiss chocolate is similar enough), which is more readily available. This is not a recipe to cut corners on in terms of fat content, so use whole or 2% milk. Want to bump the creaminess up a notch? Try substituting half and half for a portion of the milk in the recipe.
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped (good French or Swiss bittersweet)
- ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons hot water, divided
- 3 cups hot milk (whole milk is best)
- Sugar, to taste (I prefer mine a little less sweet so I can enjoy the richness of the chocolate)
- Whipped cream and chocolate curls or cocoa powder (optional)
Preparation:
Using a double boiler, melt the chopped chocolate into ¼ cup of the water. You can also do this in a glass bowl in the microwave, but you need to heat it very slowly on medium, taking time to check every 30 seconds or so! Stir in the 3 tablespoons hot water and milk until the chocolate mixture is smooth. Pour the hot chocolate into cups and add sugar to taste. Garnish each cup with a spoonful of whipped cream and a few chocolate curls or a dusting of cocoa powder.
I’d also like to share a bit about the new book! Aria (Blue Notes Series #3) is, like all the other Blue Notes Series books, a standalone novel that can be read independently of the other books in the series. These character-focused stories center around real men with real issues to face in their lives and in their relationships. Aria will be released on December 24th, and is available for preorder on Dreamspinner Press’s website.
In Aria, opera singer Aiden Lind and attorney Sam Ryan reconnect in Paris after five years. When they first met in New York City, Sam was reeling from the loss of his longtime partner, Nick, and Aiden was on the verge of a successful operatic career. They date for only a few weeks before Aiden receives a prestigious scholarship that takes him to Europe.
When the two men meet again in Paris, the attraction between them is still powerful. But Aiden’s hectic performing schedule means that he’s almost never in the US for long, and Sam has a Philadelphia law firm to run. It takes time, but Sam and Aiden finally decide to live together. Soon Sam realizes that maintaining a long-distance relationship is far harder than he expected, and Aiden finds himself confronting the ghost of “Saint” Nick, who still lives in Sam’s heart long after his death. Over time, what starts out with such promise begins to fall apart. Will the two men learn to communicate before time and fate combine to draw them apart?
Piqued your curiosity? You can read an excerpt here. Just scroll down and click on the “excerpt” link.
In her last incarnation, Shira Anthony was a professional opera singer, performing roles in such operas as Tosca, Pagliacci, and La Traviata, among others. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle.
Shira is married with two children and two insane dogs, and when she’s not writing, she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children. When she’s not working, she can be found aboard a 30’ catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel.
Shira can be found on Facebook, Goodreads, or on her website, http://www.shiraanthony.com. You can also email her at shiraanthony@hotmail.com.
6 Responses to “Delectable December continues: Shira Anthony – Opera and Chocolat Chaud”
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Love Shira’s books, and hot chocolate! I remember the La Maison du Chocolat cookbook (the first one) recommending that you chill the mixture for a few hours or overnight and then rewarm it slowly for maximum flavor…I tried it once with theirs and it worked, so I bet it would work for this one too.
Thanks, Trix! Interesting technique for the chocolat – I need to try that. Oh, Paris and a chocolat chaud sounds really nice right about now….
I love LOVE hot chocolate! I’m kind of addicted to is since I don’t drink coffee, I need something hot on super cold days. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
It’s really yummy! Definitely a good recipe to try with the cold weather. And you can think about Paris when you drink it (which definitely makes it even better!).
Mmmm, I love Lindt chocolate, and the local grocery carries this, so I’m looking forward to trying it out! Your entire Blue Note Series sounds so appealing as well! Definitely moving these to the top of the TBR list! Thanks for sharing!
Aww, thanks Sarah! You need to read and drink the chocolat chaud for the entire experience. *winks*