PREVIEWING CHRISTMAS DINNER - #2 Decadent Dessert Drinks

Before I give you an idea of what else we will be eating on Christmas, let's talk about desserts - or more specifically, dessert drinks. Non alcoholic ones.

We are experimenting with creating some intensely rich versions of coffee and tea.

1. Tea latte

A version of what Starbucks began selling this year (click ). Something they called a London Fog, but has since disappeared. A tea that actually got me to drink tea. The approach is something like this. Place an Earl Grey or a Chai tea bag, maybe 2, in a large cup with a tablespoon or so of simple syrup. I've used an orange syrup in the past because I had it, but a regular simple syrup is just as good. Fill it 5/8's full with 2% milk (5/8's is the critical point... yes, I'm not serious). Or use 4% if you must. Steam the drink, using an espresso steamer until it is hot, aerated and richly foamy. Remove from the steamer and allow the bag to steep as long as you want, then pull it out and enjoy your drink.

2. Hot Chocolate

The real stuff. This 2 step process is the current thinking, but the experimentation continues and the final approach may be significantly different. First, leave all that instant hot chocolate, 75% sugar bullshit in the cabinet (or like I do, at the store) and take 4 ounces of a good quality, dark chocolate. Chop it finely and set it aside while you scald a cup of 2% milk. (Scalding being the process of bringing milk to the verge of boiling and stopping.) Add the chocolate and whisk until it melts and is smoothly incorporated in the milk. You can drink it at this point or Step 2, take it to the steamer for some aeration or for an addition of some steamed milk. Dust with cocoa or cinnamon and drink up.

Note: For real hot chocolate, most cookbooks call for 2 oz. per cup. I made some with 3 oz. per cup last week and it was rich - but not decadent. I'm thinking 4 oz per cup is the answer but as I said, the experimentation continues.

Seriously, both of these drinks are more of a dessert than a casual drink.