Topla čokolada na štapiću / Hot cocoa on a Cane

{Please scroll down to English version}

Volim Božić. Volim silno pravljenje kolača i slastica, od samog sastavljanja popisa, preko kupovine sastojaka do samog 'igranja u kuhinji'.

Volim božićne pjesme, i klasike i moderne izvedbe.

Volim božićne filmove, nove i one stare koje uvijek iznova rado gledamo.

Volim taj osjećaj kad se potrudimo otjerati hladnoću ili vrućim napitcima ili zagrljajem i toplom riječju. Osmijehom i ljubaznošću na svakom koraku jer kome toga ne fali?

Volim tu simboliku silnih lampica koje pokušavaju unijeti svjetlost i nade u tmurne i hladne dane, i u nas same. Pa čak i one kičaste i pretjerane.

Volim sve one prave vrijednosti Božića, no moram priznati da volim i poklone. Volim kada vidite po poklonu da vas netko poznaje ili sluša između redova, volim kada znaju što će vam se svidjeti ili što vam treba, a da ni sami možda ne znate, a najviše volim da je netko razmišljao o vama i dao si truda.

A postoji li bolji poklon od poklona u koji je uložen vlastiti trud i nešto što možda neće biti trajno, ali trajno će ostaviti dojam na vas i uživat ćete u njemu u ovo blagdansko vrijeme? Jer kod poklona nije do veličine niti vrijednosti.

Obradujte nekoga, uložite svoj trud i napravite im ukusni, jestivi poklon. Ili kao samostalan poklon ili uz neku sitnicu. Bitno je da je od srca i da ste dali svoj trud. One prave osobe znat će to cijeniti.

Znam da ja bih, a kod biranja poklona uvijek razmišljam čemu bih se ja najviše obradovala. :)

Ovih zadnjih nekoliko dana adventa 'stanite na loptu', odvojite si vremena za uživanje u tišini, ukusnom napitku ili keksima, pustite si najdraži film ili album te upijte trenutak. 

Jednostavno uživajte bez grižnje savjesti. I ne bojte se zatražiti pomoć jer sve je lakše kad se podijeli. I brojite do 78 ako treba, prije nego što izgubite strpljenje. Za to imate vremena tijekom cijele godine. 

Svima onima koji su to zaboravili, dajte dodatni osmijeh, ljubaznu riječ ili ih samo saslušajte.

Topla čokolada na štapiću

200 g tamne čokolade

6 šećernih ili drvenih štapića

šareni posipi, bomboni, sljezovi kolačići…

+ začini (cimet, kajenski papar…)

 U posudu, na srednje jakoj vatri, ulijte vodu te iznad toga stavite vatrostalnu posudu u koju ste stavili narezanu čokoladu.

Miješajte dok se skroz ne otopi i dodajte začine po želji.

Otopljenu čokoladu ulijte u silikonske kalupiće za led ili bombonjere ili ih, kao ja, ulijte u čašice sa žesticu.

Ostavite ih 10-ak minuta da se čokolada stisne.

Utisnite šećerni štapić u smjesu te pospite bombonima ili šećernim posipom te ostavite u hladnjaku dok se skroz ne stisnu.

 Za lakše vađenje, možete ih uroniti u posudu u koju ste usipali vruću vodu, no pripazite da voda ne uđe u čokoladu.

Toplu čokoladu u štapiću uronite u čašu vrućeg mlijeka i miješajte dok se ne otopi. Šećerni štapić će dobro doći kao žličica za  miješanje, ali također da da i dozu slatkoće tamnoj čokoladi.

Za poklon: zamotajte toplu čokoladu na štapiću u celofan, na oznakicu napišite slatku poruku i upute za pripremu te zavežite konopčićem ili satenskom trakicom te razveselite nekoga.

Šaljite mi svoje fotografije na cutieandpieblog@gmail.com

ili na Instagramu označite sa #cutieandpie.

Dobar tek,

{You're at the English version}

I love Christmas. I love the immense baking of cookies and treats, from making lists to buying ingredients, and 'playing in the kitchen'.

I love Christmas songs, both the classics and the modern versions.

I love Christmas movies, the new ones and the old ones we always like to watch anew.

I love the feeling when you try to chase the col away either with hot beverages or with a hug and a nice word. With smile and kindness on every step, because who doesn't miss that?

I love the symbolism of the numerous little Christmas lights which try to bring a dash of lightness and hope in the gloomy, cold days, and in ourselves. Even the ones which are over the top.

I love all the true values of Christmas, but I have to admit that I also love presents. I love when you see by the present that someone knows you or listens to you when you, I love when they know what you're going to like or what you need, and that you maybe don't even know it yourself. And what I love the most is when someone thought about you and put in the effort to make you something.

And is there a better present than the one into which hard work was put; maybe it won't be something permanent, but it will leave a permanent impression on you and you would enjoy it in these holiday times. Because it's not about size nor value when it comes to presents.

Make someone happy, put in some effort and make them a tasty, edible present. Either as a present on its own or next to a small trinket. The important thing is that it comes from the heart and that you put yourself in it. The real people will know how to cherish it.

I know I would, and when it comes to choosing presents, I always think what would make me happy. :)

These last few days of the advent take a moment for yourself, steal a couple of minutes of your day to enjoy the silence, a tasty beverage or cookies, watch your favorite movie or listen to your favorite album and savor the moment.

Simply enjoy, without any guilt. And don't be afraid to ask for help because it's easier when you have someone to share things with. And if need be, count to 78 before you lose patience. You have time for that during the entire year.

To all those who may have forgotten it, give an additional smile, a kind word, or simply listen to them.

Hot Chocolate on a Cane

200 g of dark chocolate

6 sugar canes or wooden sticks

colorful sprinkles, candy, marshmallows...

+ spices (cinnamon, cayenne pepper...) 

Pour water in a pan and put it on medium hit. Put a heat-proof bowl over it, and put diced chocolate in it.

Mix until it melts, and add spices of your choosing.

Pour the melted chocolate into silicone molds for ice or candy or, like I did, pour them into shot glasses.

Leave it for 10 minutes until the chocolate hardens a bit.

Press in the sugar cane and sprinkle candy over it, and leave it in the fridge until it completely hardens.

 In order to take the chocolate out easier, you can put the molds or the glasses into hot water for a few seconds, but make sure the water doesn't get in touch with chocolate.

Put the hot chocolate on a cane in a glass of hot milk and mix until it melts. The sugar cane will serve well as a mixing spoon, and it will also add a dash of extra sweetness to the hot chocolate.

As a present: wrap the warm chocolate on a cane in cellophane, write a cute message on a little note, as well as the instructions, and tie it with a piece of string or a satin wrap, and make someone happy.

Send me your photos at cutieandpieblog@gmail.com 

or use the hashtag #cutieandpie on Instagram,