Lessons from a Biscuit drizzled in Chocolate
Several years ago after spending Easter in Italy we returned home with a ton of left over chocolate eggs (these were as big as your head.)
One morning after making a nice batch of biscuits, I thought it would be fun to melt down some of the chocolate and place it in a piping bag so everyone could decorate their own. While I really dislike chocolate (I know, I know!) my family totally loves it.
I'll also admit breakfast had gotten a little routine, which was effecting my kids level of participation at the table and enthusiam and I figured this would be a fun treat.
When the kids got to the table they practically burst with joy, even my husband welcomed the diversion from the norm. I got showered with thank yous and beaming faces.
After watching them decorate and gobble several biscuits they cleaned up without me even asking. The conversation was great and the level of happiness and connectedness was off the charts (ok, perhaps the chocolate had a little to do with that).
I quickly realized I had stumbled on something really valuable. That morning my family taught me that when I care and do something that I know will make them happy, they sense it and naturally reciprocate. What was once such a chore--to get them to clean the table--they did it in a snap. And what's more, the level of fun and excitement lasted beyond the meal.
And while I don't serve chocolate at every meal I definitely apply this lesson to everything: think about what the other person would like and take action to make it happen... next, sit back and watch what comes back to you.
Biscuits drizzled in Chocolate
Makes 4 to 5 Servings
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling out
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
ΒΌ teaspoon salt
6 ounces cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/8-inch pieces, plus 1 tablespoon, softened
2/3 cup half-and-half, plus 1 teaspoon if the dough is too dry
optional: melted chocolate*
Preheat the oven to 400 F.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt, and mix until well combined. Add the butter pieces and mash with a fork until the mixture takes on a pale yellow hue. Pour in the half-and-half and mix with the fork until dough starts to form. If the dough seems too sticky, add a small amount of flour at a time until the dough is just pliable. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to about 2-inches thick. Using a round 2-inch cookie cutter carefully cut out 8 biscuits. With a metal spatula, transfer the biscuits on a Silpat or parchment-lined sheet pan. If there is any dough left, make more biscuits. Once all the biscuits are on the sheet pan, bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove the biscuits from the oven, brush them lightly with the tablespoon of softened butter, and serve while still warm with drizzled chocolate.
*To melt the chocolate, place it in a pyrex dish and pulsing it in a microwave for a few seconds and mix. Or place the chocolate in a sauce pan, or double boiler on low heat stirring constantly. Place the chocolate in a piping bag.
Labels: american classics, Appetizer, Breakfast, Breakfast Biscuits, chocolate, Easy Desserts, Easy Recipes, Family Meal, home made, Nutella
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