Cardamom-scented, Creamy Hot Chocolate

We are normally not big fans of white chocolate as it is too sweet, buttery and almost burfi-esque, and hey, it's actually not even chocolate ! While I am far from an evolved chocolate aficionado, I have invariably treated the fair-skinned, distant cousin of the rich , brown mood elevator with contempt!

But when last week, some friends brought home big slabs of the stuff, I could not bear to let it go waste, and began my hunt for ways to use it meaningfully. Luckily, I managed to find a fairy godmother of a recipe that transforms this plain lump of sugar and cocoa butter into a soothing, creamy drink. The very characteristics that make it fall short as a chocolate are what make it excel as a sweet, buttery beverage. However, it still needs a comrade to conquer its blandness, and the super-aromatic cardamom comes to it's rescue and elevates it to a star. Although the original recipe recommends flavouring it with coffee powder, I personally felt that the strong espresso flavour will prove more a competitor than an ally to the demure white chocolate.

Do try this delicious drink, even if, you cannot stand white chocolate. Just one warm, cardamom perfumed cuppa will change your relationship with this fair maiden forever.

We need:

1 cup of milk (2%, skim is fine, but I used whole)

30 gms of white chocolate, chopped

(Do take this site's suggestion about the quality of white chocolate seriously!)

1 green cardamom

1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Makes one mug of comfort

Add the chocolate and vanilla extract to a heat proof container. Microwave/ warm milk together with the cardamom just till it is about to boil. Add 1/4 cup of this milk to the chocolate and stir till the chocolate melts. Add the remaining milk, and using a hand blender, or milk frother, mix nicely till desired foaminess is reached. Sprinkle a little dark cocoa powder before serving, if you do not want the chocolate conoisseur brigade to come after you !

Many of my wet, Singapore afternoons, when it rains endlessly have been cheered up by this almost beatific looking beverage and a not so beatific paperback!

I would also like to send this to Sunita's Think Spice-Cardamom hosted by EC of Simple Indian Food. I hope she accepts it as I am nearly two days late. If not, you can be sure I will be drowning my sorrows in another cup of- HWC !

Update: I am also sending this to Meeta's Monthly Mingle on appetizers and Hors'D oeuvres hosted by our flamboyant hostess Mansi:)