Churros + Hot Chocolate

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about those few glorious months I spent "studying" in Madrid and gallivanting around Europe in good company. 

One of my favorite things about Spanish culture other than the stellar scenery, wild night life, handsome men were los dulces. Thankfully my amigos Caitlin and Wil shared the sentiment. 6 months in Spain, and 4 years later those sweet treats have made a home on my hips.  

I was feeling overly ambitious after yoga on Saturday morning. I thought I would give recreating churros con chocolate a go. Let's just say I was patting myself on the back for this one. They weren't quite up to par with Chocolatería San Ginés (a hot spot for churros and hot chocolate near Puerto del Sol), but they are a close second.

Brace yourselves folks. You will be drooling once you reach the bottom of this post.  

Is your mouth watering yet?

Zeeee recipe (Source Cooking Classy)….

Churros:
1/2 c. Milk
1/2 c. Water
3 tbsp. Butter diced
2 tsp Granulated sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 c. Flour
Vegetable oil, frying
Cinnamon + sugar, for dusting

Pour oil 1-2" deep in sauce pan and heat up to 350 degrees (it is important that it stays close to this temp for the best results).

In a sauce pan heat up the the milk, water, butter, sugar, and salt to a boil. Take off heat immediately and add in vanilla extract and flour. Mix together pretty aggressively until the lumps are gone and the batter is nice and smooth.

Transfer the batter to a piping bag with a large open star tip. Pipe out 1" bites cutting with scissors and dropping into hot oil. When the bites are nice and golden, scoop out with skimmer and lay onto baking sheet covered with several paper towels. Make sure to keep your batches small so as not to change the temp of the oil too much.

Once the churro bites cool a bit toss them into the sugar cinnamon bowl and toss them around. Your sugar to cinnamon ratio is up to your discretion based on how cinamonny you like your churros.

Chocolate Sauce:
1 c. Ghiradelli dark chocolate chips
1 c. Heavy cream

Melt your chocolate down in the microwave. I do two 30 sec increments stirring in between. Then 15 sec increments stirring in between until it's good and melted. Heat your cream up in a sauce pan bringing to a boil. Add the chocolate to the sauce pan until you have a nice smooth sauce.

Drizzle or dunk away, whichever floats your boat.

XO,
Bee

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TBT: Madrid Favorites

I thought I would give Throw Back Thursday #tbt a go on the blog this week. Now my adventures abroad were quite extensive. Instead of starting all the way back at the very beginning which was less than glamorous with lost luggage, minimal language skills, and my first endeavors/screw ups with public transport, I decided I would give you the more sparkly, shiny run down of my favorite spots. 

I thought I'd start towards the end when my family and Mere (who are we kidding she is family too) wandered across the Pond. I was really at my American abroad prime. By this point I was able to prove that I really could speak Spanish and that I was a Madrid aficionado. I even started considering myself a Madrilenean. Looking back I should have charged a tour guide/translator fee.    

First up, Palacio Real. It has a dreadful view. 

Love birds. This was oh so very candid.

Typical family picture. Jared screws it up.

I say, "No mas!"

Stunning sister of mine.

And ever onward to my favorite spot in all the land, Retiro Parque.

Thrilled about flowers he is.

Statues. Mere's brilliant idea.

Soul sisters.

Where I spent oodles of time people watching and eating croissants.

Palacio Cristal aka Crystal Palace. 

My brother is probably drooling just looking at this pic. I changed his life when I introduced him to lamb doner kebabs. We took a pit stop at my favorite kebab spot. Phenomenal!

A different day and different story as I gather the troops. Ahoy mateys let's set sail! (cheesy I know).

Plaza del Sol

Some handle jet lag better than others.

Plaza Mayor (pronounced my-or) although Jared insisted calling it Plaza May Orrr. "Stupid American" in my Spanish accent.

Last but not least. We stand on the roof of my school proving that I did in fact study a tiny bit while I was there.

Next throw back Thursday I will try to give you a little taste of my beginning days abroad and some of those adventures. Just warming you up for the good stuff! Chao amigos!

Besos,
Bee

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