So, I am sure most by now know that the North East coast in the USA has been hit by a terrible snow storm. This is about the fourth such storm we have seen this year, the major difference being, this one appears to be especially crippling. I for one haven't even looked out the window today. Fortunate to be one of the annoyingly few who 'work from home' I don't get a 'snow-day' but at the same token, I don't have to deal with trudging through the snow mountains and unpleasant { currently non-existent } bus rides that inevitably ensues.

Instantly what came to mind was a post I wrote back on January 29th, when we were in the middle of the 2009 - 2010 Winter season, a recipe for <a href="http://blog.shak-shuka.com/shakshuka/2009/12/guest-chef-au-chocolat.html">Vegan Hot Chocolate</a> by shak shuka. This recipe goes over gangbusters in the winter time...in fact I served it at my Tron party a few weeks ago and busted many a guest licking their cups like a kitten at mealtime. It's the perfect distraction from shoveling snow / looking at the snow / lamenting the snow...so check out the original post below and give the recipe a try and if you don't have to go out, don't be ashamed to add a little liqueur to make it warm the cockles..

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<em>Originally posted on Jan 29th 2010</em>

It's freezing here right now. The weather in NY is 19F and with the windchill factor, feels in the single digits.  Even though I am indoors and my radiator is bubbling away, I am still wrapped in a blanket and shivering...darn this winter! Worse still, its going to be like this all weekend. How better to ease the winter chill than with a nice mug of hot choccie..
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border:0 none;" src="http://img4.cookinglight.com/i/2007/12/0712p175-hot-chocolate-l.jpg" alt="Hot Choccie" width="350" height="400" /></p>
Oh, how I wish I had picked up a tin of <a href="http://www.mariebelle.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1283/.f?sc=8&amp;category=1236">Maribelle's Milk and Hazelnut hot chocolate</a> when I was in Soho the other day! I only ordered a small cup and it was so creamy, nutty and delicious. Now that I am confined to the indoor cold I wish I could whip some up. Oh well. In the meantime I saw a recipe for <a href="http://blog.shak-shuka.com/shakshuka/2009/12/guest-chef-au-chocolat.html">Vegan Chocolat Chaud</a> which incorporates the use of coconut milk!!! I am going to rush out and buy a tin and try this treat later on for myself.

Have a great weekend dear readers  - and if you are in NY or some other frozen land, be warm and be well.

xo