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‘tiny happy’ was a journal of my handmade life from 2006-2025.

making hot chocolate

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I had fun this week making some cushion/pillow covers from vintage linen fabrics I'd been hoarding. I love the way they look all stacked up- so colourful. They're part of my shop update today.

The oldest child has also contracted the chicken pox… two weeks later so he's spending some time at home with me. This morning we made hot chocolate from a recipe I've made quite a few times this winter. It's called 'Castillian Hot Chocolate' and I found it in my copy of Vegetarian Epicure 2 by Anna Thomas (published 1978). It originates from Northern Spain and is almost like chocolate pudding. I found the recipe published online here but I adjusted it slightly by adding a fair bit less raw sugar, a bit more cocoa, and less cornflour. Letting it simmer on a low heat and whisking it for a while seems to make it even glossier and more delicious. Arlo calls it 'chocolate soup'.

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27 responses to “making hot chocolate”

  1. Jenni Avatar
    Jenni

    the cushion covers are delightful Melissa, such lovely work :))

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  2. Lindsay Jewell Avatar
    Lindsay Jewell

    Mmm. Looks yummy. And those pillows are beautiful. 🙂

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  3. Jacilyn Avatar
    Jacilyn

    Oh the pillows are so pretty! How can you bare selling them?
    And that hot chocolate looks divine (and wicked).

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  4. by night Avatar
    by night

    I love the cushions and I could give that receipe a try very soon. it looks so comforting…

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  5. Cinnamon Avatar
    Cinnamon

    While getting chicken pox is not fun, at least it’s not the middle of summer…I love the new cups and pillows in the shop. So lovely!

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  6. Aria S Avatar
    Aria S

    I love the cushions.
    From,Aria

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  7. domesticali Avatar
    domesticali

    Just when you think you may have escaped round 2 of the pox… But the chocolate medicine seems good!

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  8. flowerpress Avatar
    flowerpress

    Hmm, we survived the chicken pox a month of two ago. No fun. The itchiness seems pretty miserable.
    Its nice to have those slow days together though 🙂

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  9. Alicia Avatar
    Alicia

    Love the new cushions and the “chocolate soup” 🙂

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  10. Nancy Cook Avatar
    Nancy Cook

    oh my that chocolate soup sounds delicious!

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  11. Yvette Avatar
    Yvette

    You have a way about you Melissa. You take some ‘nice’ fabric and make it fabulous! Love the pillows. I’m not much of a chocolate drinker, but it looks delicious none-the-less.
    Hugs

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  12. knofje; Avatar
    knofje;

    Lovely pillows again!
    Aren’t you tempted to keep them yourself? 😉

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  13. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Hope the “chocolate soup” works its magic. Feel better soon Arlo.
    By pure coincidence, I modified the chocolate pudding I happened to make yesterday in a very similar way: less sugar, more cocoa for a nice, chocolaty taste. Yum!

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  14. Denise | Chez Danisse Avatar
    Denise | Chez Danisse

    Chocolate soup, what fun. I’ll have to try this.

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  15. Tiny Little Humans Avatar
    Tiny Little Humans

    Melissa, I am looking forward to showing off your cushion covers in my home! It always feels like christmas every time I open a package full of your wonderful talent. BTW, I am going to try this chocolate soup!

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  16. Tiny Little Humans Avatar
    Tiny Little Humans

    Please also tell Arlo that Hawaii sends its blessings to him. We all hope he feels better soon!

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  17. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thank you, dear acadia 🙂

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  18. Stomper Girl Avatar
    Stomper Girl

    My kids got chicken pox exactly 2 weeks apart too! And all they got were baths in pinetarsol, I didn’t even think to make epicurean standard castilian chocolates for them.

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  19. Margaret Oomen Avatar
    Margaret Oomen

    when the weather cools down I think I might make some chocolate soup:)

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  20. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    haha- we did the pinetarsol thing too. and the castillian chocolate was for me just as much as them! (i recommend it..)

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  21. Hanna Avatar
    Hanna

    oh yum, that does sound delicious, especially in this cool weather. The chicken pox don’t sound so great though 😦 Hope they don’t itch too much.

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  22. Catherine Barriga Avatar
    Catherine Barriga

    I can’t believe you’re listening to the Natalie Merchant cd. I just got it out of the library and I love it. I’m going to have to buy her full CD.
    That hot chocolate looks great. I had friends from Barcelona that used to go on about how good their hot chocolate was….

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  23. Lex Avatar
    Lex

    Wow, that hot chocolate looks awesome! I love “chocolate soup,” it reminds me of going to Maxim’s in Paris when I was a kid and thinking I’d gone to heaven. I hope it helps with the chicken pox!

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  24. kendra Avatar
    kendra

    i would love to have chicken pox at your house!

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  25. Ozlen Avatar
    Ozlen

    Ahh that hot choc. is looking yummy. Glad to hear you like natalie merchant. WE LOVE hER!! All of us. My kids love all the songs, particularly the porcupine, Isabelle and the one that they call the Pirate Song. The Ice Cream one is also a hit a is the Calico cat. What an amazing CD and what an amazing person she is.
    Enjoy. Much love to you and your family.

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  26. tinyhappy Avatar
    tinyhappy

    thank you ozlen!

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  27. shadygrey Avatar
    shadygrey

    Chocolate soup! Soooo jealous. How did I miss out on THAT when my kiddies were small and poxy? Why oh why didn’t we have blogging back then??
    Shall just have to make some anyway…

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