"cold weather" news and stories

Have you ever had a food or drink item that hit the spot perfectly? Something that was the perfect thing at the perfect time? I had that yesterday.

For some reason I decided to take the train into Boston yesterday and walk around in 9 degree weather (and it was windy so the wind chill blah blah blah). It was, um, really cold, and by the end of the day my feet were killing me and my face, ears, and lungs had gotten a workout from the weather. And that's when I saw the Dunkin' Donuts at the train station when I arrived for my train. I thought to myself, "I gotta have a hot chocolate." I got a medium, and it was one of the best hot chocolates I've ever had. It was the true definition of "hitting the spot." It was quite an enjoyable train ride home.

The hot chocolate has an almost chocolate/vanilla taste. When you were a kid did you ever get a Hoodsie (that's chocolate and vanilla ice cream for you folks who haven't had one) and mix the two together so they were one and then eat it? That's what it tasted like, only hot. More chocolate for sure, but with a lighter flavor in the background And it's really creamy. I like it.

I am addicted to tea, but I don't drink it during the summer. I know, I know, there are many that will tell you - particularly in England, I bet - that drinking tea year round is not only the right way to do it, but really the only civilzed thing to do. I hear that, but it's just too hot and humid for me here in Massachusetts during the months of June, July, and August to drink anything hot. I also think it's a bit of defiance: I truly hate summer (no joke), and when fall rolls around I truly get a lot happier, so I think that I stop drinking tea not just because it's too hot to drink it in the summer, but also because I want to have something that, for me, marks the beginning of cooler temps.

And now that week has come! Starting September 1, I'm going to start drinking tea again. Sure, summer is not "officially" over yet, but Labor Day always marks the end of the summer for me. Besides, while it's not cold yet, there's been a definite shift in the temperature here. Not nearly as humid. You can feel it in the air. So, tea is back for me.

I know, this isn't exactly the type of news you'd see on the news crawl on CNN, but I thought I'd share.

According to the weather channel, the majority of you readers are experiencing some pretty chilly weather right now. March will hopefully be the last big push of winter weather, but it is still a few weeks yet until spring officially begins. Cold weather is a good excuse to wrap yourself up in a huge quilt - with or without someone else - and cozy up to some truly decadent food. No one wants to go out for their chocolate fix in weather like this, so stay in and make a sinful Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake with the recipe posted by Belly Timber. The cake is made of a hazelnut sponge cake, topped with rich chocolate mousse and finished with a coating of ganache. It does take some time to set up, but one look at the finished product and it is easy to see that this chocolaty perfection will be worth the wait.

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