We live in the heart of Gascony.  This means duck, wine, beef!, floc and Armagnac.  I love Armagnac.  These farmhouses get cold in the winter and nothing warms your body like a hot, hot chocolate with a splash of Armagnac.  It’s a bit chilly now, but not that bad.  Though we like to practice and prepare our winter habits in advance especially after a long day and especially when Die Hard 2 is up for viewing.

• Cacao Powder, 3 soup spoons
• Suger, five soup spoons then taste
• Milk, 1 litre
• Cream, 1 cup
• Armagnac, shot per cup or less

We have a big jug of Armagnac.  I pour it into something that will pour it into something smaller as to not lose any along the way with silly overpours.  The cup on the right is for the cook.  I have my Gascon Hot Chocolate neat, hold the chocolate.

But for the boys, it’s nice to sip some sweet after a day of work on the farm.

Milk and cream heat up in the pan.  Add the sugar.  Add the cacao powder.

Whisky whisky.

Check out the browny-ness. Does it look inviting? No? Add a dash more chocolate powder magic. And maybe some sugar.

Pour some Armagnac in a mug. Add the hot choc. You can also not add the Armagnac and be equally warmed.

Sit back, enjoy the action man movie and warm up. If you get the Strawberry Shortcake mug, don’t panic.