Mornin’ dear ones! 🙂 How was your weekend? Were you relaxing your heart out or dashing about doing fun things? I did a bit of both and it was just what I needed.
I was able to take that new trail in the woods when Mums and I went hiking at Berthusen Park. It was gorgeous!! The forest is old growth and wonderfully dark and cool. Back in 1883 Hans Berthusen single-handedly cleared 100 acres of dense forest for farmland, but kept 20 acres of it as virgin timber so he would remember what the land originally looked like. In 1944 he left it to the City of Lynden so future generations could also remember. I love that.
We’ve had perfect fall weather all weekend with brilliant sunshine and gently breezes sending crisp leaves skittering over the pavement and tumbling across the lawn. Saturday was spent in town running errands and stocking up on groceries. It was one of those months where nearly all my basics were depleted and needed to be replenished. I confess grocery shopping is one of my favorite chores. It’s so fun to wander the aisles and choose delectable things to concoct even more delectable things. 🙂
A while back I picked up an enormous slab of Belgian bittersweet chocolate at Trader Joe’s, and yesterday I used half of it to make these decadent pots de creme with Southern Comfort. Oh my. Best eaten in small portions, these desserts are outrageously rich and delicious, and keep the house smelling heavenly for hours. I made mine with coconut milk and sweetened them with agave so I feel utterly guilt-free indulging. 🙂
Speaking of agave, a couple of months ago, BetterBody Foods & Nutrition sent me a sample of Xagave to try and I keep forgetting to tell you about it. 🙂 Sweeter than sugar with a very low glycemic index, agave has been my non-sugar sweetener for a while now. I love that the Xagave brand is completely organic and that they sell a cookbook full of ideas for using agave in every day cooking. I use it in everything from sweetening my tea and whipping cream to tossing with fruit for pies and tarts and substituting for sugar in much of my baking. For more information on agave in general and the Xagave brand, visit their website here: http://www.xagave.com/
What are some ways that you make your cooking healthier?
PS – My new article on Cancun is up at The Travel Belles today! Click here if you’d like to see it. 🙂
Southern Comfort Pots de Creme
(Serves 4)
Ingredients:
7 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, cut in pieces
1 cup coconut milk
2 large eggs
2 Tbsp Xagave (more if you like your dessert sweet)
2 Tbsp Southern Comfort (or rum)
Pinch of black salt (or any other kind :-))
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Add chocolate and coconut milk to saucepan and melt over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth.
- Set aside.
- Beat together eggs, agave, Southern Comfort and salt. Pour into chocolate mixture stirring constantly.
- Pour into ramekins, custard cups or any small oven-proof vessel.
- Place in baking pan and pour boiling water to within 1/2 inch of the tops of ramekins. Bake 20 minutes.
- Cool a few minutes, then cover and refrigerate.
I’ve never had pots de creme. It looks sensational. And how can you go wrong with anything chocolate?
I hadn’t either, El! This was my first time and OH MY GOODNESS!! Are they ever good. 🙂 Now I’m hooked. 🙂
Really? Chocolate, coconut milk and Southern Comfort? Wow this must be one killer pot de crème! Lovely. And gorgeous pics as usual to set the mood 🙂
I’d eat that! Yum…
Yes really, Jamie!! 🙂 I was inspired to make something decadent and once I got going I kept changing and adding and voila!! 🙂
Your hiking photos are glorious… Happy Autumn! 🙂 I love grocery shopping too! 🙂
Ohhh, your pots de creme are phenomenal!! I love your fabulous different shaped dishes and the way you photographed them outside… and you are brilliant making these with coconut milk and agave!! A dessert both healthy and decadent, and with Southern Comfort??! This Southern girl is swooning… 🙂
Thanks, William! 🙂 Mmm, they’re so good. 🙂
Thank you so much, Astra! 🙂 I had such fun inventing this concoction. I’m so glad it turned out well. 🙂
Mmmm, chocolatey deliciousness! Looks so good! You know, I wish I liked agave, because I know it’ such a great, natural alternative to sugar, but I just don’t! It’s really unfortunate, it almost tastes too sweet to me, and fake in a weird way, like aspartame. Oh well, I don’t eat too many sweets, so it’s not a problem. But I would gobble these up in an instant I’m sure, even with the agave!
xo
ZK @ glitter and ink
I know what you mean, Zoe! I only like agave “hidden” in something else, otherwise it’s too sweet for me too. :_)
I love Berthusan park AND grocery shopping;))).
Are you serious, Janelle??!! I didn’t know you even knew of this place! 🙂 We really need to get together one of these days. 🙂
You have fostered one serious chocolate craving my dear…but that’s okay. I could never complain about such a thing.
Grocery shopping is one of my favorite activities as well! Great minds think alike, I guess!
Thanks very much for your comment on my post about the Jeita Grotto in Lebanon. I came to visit your page. Looks very nice and I like to combination of food and nature in your pictures.
I am surprise they bake for only 20 minutes. Mine have always taken about 40. I love the coconut milk idea. Can you taste it? Is 2 T of Southern Comfort enough. I think maybe I cup would do? ) 😉 )
SOunds really great. I love my chocolate pots, too, I will definitely try these next time.
🙂
Valerie
thanks for the sweet comments over at passage paradis krista!
i’m back on track for a little while it looks. (whew, close one.) these little pots de creme look – how does one say? – de-LECT-a-ble! and so great to be able to make them with “alternative” ingredients. every little bit helps!
cheers and kisses!
Mmmm, pots de creme – you’ve hit the jackpot with this one Krista, Sthn Comfort, coconut milk and chocolate.., that would be so rich it’d be almost sinful…, I must have it 😉
Tagged for future indulgences. 🙂 That looks amazing.
This is called double temptation. Alcomohol and chocolate! 😉 Will have to try it since I have a bottle of Southern I rarely use.
Ooh, your pots de creme look wonderful! I love that you used all different dishes. And I love agave too. I haven;t baked with it much, though. I use it for granola, in coffee , etc but I’ll have to start baking with it too!
I loved the photographs.
I love your twist on pots de creme! The coconut milk is wonderful in there, and so is the agave!
Chocolate and coconut are one of my favourite flavour combinations!!!!!
I’ll never get tire eating pot de creme, especially if there is chocolate in it.
Never been to Germany, one day ~)
You are wicked to share this. It looks delicious and it is CHOCOLATE.