Ultimate Hot Chocolate | Book of Elsa

 Ultimate Hot Chocolate 

Serves 2  

500ml whole milk (or alternative just don’t me about it) 

100g dark chocolate minimum 50% 

2 tablespoons golden syrup 

Vanilla to taste 

1 tablespoon custard powder 

Rum (optional) 

Method: 

On low(ish) heat warm the milk, add the chocolate breaking it up as it goes in. Pour in the syrup and vanilla. Once combined whisk in the custard powder until thick and hot. If you have rum to hand a glug or two wouldn’t hurt. 

Lemonade | Sort of | Book of Elsa

This recipe originated from the great Nigella Lawson, as always I've fiddled and here it is.

If you're lucky enough to have an almost grand-father in law with a garden full of mint, this is for you.

large bunch of mint 

100g caster sugar

1 lemon

2 easy peelers <or any other citrus>

625ml ≅water

In a small saucepan, put 125ml of water with the sugar, mint and and zest from the fruit. I use a potato peeler to keep the zest in large pieces. 

Place on high heat, once it's boiling turn then heat down to the lowest it can go and simmer for 5 minutes, take off the heat and let cool completely.

In the meantime, juice the fruit to give about 100ml then make up to 500ml with water.

Once the syrup is cool, strain both the diluted juice and syrup into a jug. Serve over ice.

It occurs to me that a glug or two of rum/vodka wouldn't be a bad thing....