Even easier

I've been dragging my feet with regards to posting these days, but I think I have a good excuse.



It's finally (finally!!!!!!!) summer!

I have had big plans to tell you about rediscovering one of my favorite Chinese cookbook authors, and about The Glory That Is Laundry Day, and of course, we are more than overdue on a Theo update.

But the days are getting brighter, longer, and lazier, and so all I have to offer you today is these.

After finding some winter refuge at the computer, I feel the tug to spend more of my time unplugged and outside. We have too many popsicles to eat and too few days.

Ever since I saw Molly Orangette write about these I have been dreaming about making them. For some reason I thought they were more complicated than they really are. But in fact they are really easy, like boozy pudding (something else I need to tell you about later*) but even easier.

(*ehhh, if you're new around here, I've talked about it plenty on the old food blog with Stephie. You're welcome. So embarrassing.)

Anyway, without further ado, and so that I can get back to laying out on the deck, here are the fudgsicles you need in your life today.

Fudgsicles
adapted from Orangette

If you're fancy, you should definitely read up on Molly's recipe to get all the details about chocolate, because she's obviously thought it through. I've tried to keep it simple and easy here, and it's more for my reference to make it again. She also called for heavy cream and milk; I had lots of half and half so I've simplified it here. Obviously, you can use your brain and do things differently.

8 oz chocolate chips (preferably mixed in with some bittersweet, but don't go all dark)
2 1/2 cups half and half
2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
2 t vanilla extract, or (spiced) rum since vanilla extract costs a million dollars these days

Heat up half and half on the stove with cocoa powder, whisking to dissolve. Remove pan from heat, and after a minute, dump chocolate chips into the pan, whisking until it's all incorporated. Add in vanilla extract and then pour into popsicle molds. Freeze until hard.

P.S. Comment below with a caption for the second picture in this post. The winner gets a fudgsicle!

The week in pictures

Molly, this post is essentially a scavenger hunt for you. I think there are at least three things deserving of the #cornerpieceloversunite hashtag. :)

1. The Amateur Gourmet's apple cobbler made with half the apples and the same amount of topping.

2. There are quite a number of pears growing on our dwarf tree this year!

3. I've finally learned the art of ordering the English muffin on the side when getting Eggs Benedict.

4. Konmari'd all the miscellaneous bags of bulk things into Orangette's granola no. 5. Love this salty and crispy recipe. Tip: If you don't want the fuss of obtaining unsweetened coconut chips (no mail ordering for me) just use the regular sweetened flakes and then cut back on the maple syrup.

5. A crudite sunburst to go with some grilled chicken. Chives are from our garden.


6. A trip to the library!

7. Caption this:

 8. And, finally, summer is so close!