Cousins & Chocolate

This originally was written as a challenge for the Better Writer Group in preparation for Allume.  At that point in time I did not even have a blog and the idea of buying a domain name wasn’t even on my radar screen.  The challenge for this particular piece was to describe a process.

Since that day I have written several posts and met so many amazing people.  A huge part of my writing life happens at the end of the week.  Fridays are typically reserved for Five Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo.  In preparation and anticipation, a group of us meet up on Thursday evenings.  As is often the case with large groups of women, the conversation quickly turns to CHOCOLATE!

Here is my story: 

The stuff that holds my relationship with my cousins together is a hot, steaming, cocoa infused pudding that we all affectionately refer to as Chocolate Butter.  Some may call it chocolate gravy, but to us it’s butter.  My granny, and probably her sisters and sisters-in-law spoiled us all on it.  This gem of the depression era is still a staple in each of our homes.  I close my eyes and I see it, smell it, and taste it.  You’re wishing for smell-o-vision or a scratch and sniff right about now, aren’t you?

Clouds of White Lily flour from the biscuits mingle with those from the flour used for the base of this delightful concoction.  The sweet goodness of sugar and cocoa powder come to join the party in the pot ready to meet with the flame and fresh milk.  

Patience is the magic ingredient. 

You find yourself stirring, stirring, stirring until you’re wondering if it’s worth it and nothing happens.  Then, as if the fairy dust fell in, the liquid starts to darken and thicken.  Now your whisk is giving up the secret that amazing things are happening.  When you pull it out there is a tempting sheen on each little wire.  Careful now!  Sticking and burning would make all your time be for naught.  You can see how the bubbles rise to the top, expelling all calories and fat from this heavenly pudding. 

You know when it’s just right.  It pours from a spoon in a steady thick stream like it has the strength to get you through the day and take on any biscuit you put it over.  Finally, it’s off the heat and the slab of butter goes into this lava as an offering.  Stirring and stirring until it has vanished.  Steaming biscuits, fresh from the oven have been split open on the plate and wait for the first ladle full.

Cousins sit with their kids at my mom’s house and we talk about time spent at Granny’s house.  We talk about the outhouse, the grapevine, standing over the heat grate, and eating chocolate butter for breakfast whenever you spent the night.  We talk about what it was like before Granny got Alzheimer’s.  We don’t talk about that.  Over in the next county, our other cousins are doing the same thing.  They’re talking about quilts and horses and putting up hay, but it’s still all around the chocolate butter.

CHOCOLATE BUTTER (GRAVY)

2-3 TBSP Cocoa

1 C Sugar

2-3 TBSP Flour

Pinch of Salt

½ Cup Water

1 TSP Vanilla

3 Cups Milk

4 TBSP Butter

Mix dry ingredients in a medium saucepan.  Add very warm water and stir; add vanilla.  Add milk and heat on medium high heat stirring constantly until desired thickness is reached, add butter and stir until melted.

Serve over hot buttered biscuits.

AMY’S CHEAT CHOCOLATE BUTTER

Jello Chocolate Cook & Serve pudding

Milk – 1 cup more than box calls for

3 TBSP Butter

Follow directions on box, but using extra milk.  Cook over medium high heat stirring constantly, scraping entire bottom.  After liquid boils, it will start to thicken.  Cook until desired consistency.  Remove from heat and add butter.  Serve over hot biscuits.  DEVOUR!

Now go CREATE some for yourself!

Do you have any family specific food traditions you can share?