easy homemade chocolate sauce
The girls run across the studio, screaming. Two of them jump up on window sills. For a moment, I am unsure of what is happening. I look for an axe wielding maniac and simultaneously suffer cardiac arrest. I turn to Mr. Kallio (my accompanist) behind the piano. He looks confused for a moment, throws his hands over his ears, and calmly mouths the word mouse. Their screams start to register. The word mouse is shrieked over and over again, and fingers are pointing wildly in every direction.
movita: Girls.
My students are huddled together on the other side of the studio. They continue to scream.
movita: Girls!
The screams continue, and the huddle is scurrying from side to side.
movita: GIRLS!
Mr. Kallio: (to no one) My ears are bleeding.
movita: Girls! Mr. Kallio’s ears are bleeding!
They scream more quietly.
movita: Girls, I am sure that creature is more frightened of you than you should be of it. Settle down! This is not the first time we’ve seen a mouse at the Conservatory, and it won’t be the last.
Chloe: Wait, wait, (her voice lowers an octave) WAIT. What did you say?
I speak very slowly, emphasizing every word. “I said: that mouse is more frightened of you than you are of it.”
Chloe: Mouse?
movita: (exasperated) Yes! The mouse you were just running from!
Chloe stares at me for a moment. Then her eyes open wide, and she looks completely relieved.
Chloe: Oh, a MOUSE! I thought everyone was screaming, ‘a ghost! a ghost!’ So I was running away from the ghost.
movita:
Mr. Kallio drops his head on the piano keys.
. . .
This is a rich chocolate sauce. Particularly soothing after encountering mice or ghosts. Very sweet and perfect spooned over French vanilla ice cream or drizzled over a mountain of meringues and whipped cream. The sauce might seem thin at first, but it will thicken and set up as it cools post-cooking. Store in a mason jar in the refrigerator, and reheat over low heat (or very gradually in the microwave) before serving.
. . .
Easy Homemade Chocolate Sauce
recipe: adapted in the barest of ways from a Carmichael Family recipe passed to the Dyer Family
Yields about 3 cups.
- 13 ounces evaporated milk*
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 ounces (4 Baker’s squares) unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
* I use a 370 ml can, as that is what is commonly sold here in Canada. That’s just under 13 ounces, but still works out perfectly.
Mise en place – begin by getting organized. Measure out all of your ingredients.
In a medium sized saucepan, bring evaporated milk and sugar to a rolling boil over medium-low heat, stirring constantly.
Once boiling, continue to boil for one minute and then reduce heat to low. Add the chocolate and stir until completely melted. Whisk in the butter, vanilla and salt. When smooth, remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly – the sauce will thicken as it cools.
Serve immediately or cool and store in a mason jar in the refrigerator.
Sauce stored in refrigerator can be re-heated over low heat (or slowly and gently in the microwave) before serving.
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So if I haven’t seen any ghosts or mice lately, can I still have some chocolate sauce? I mean, the thought of not having an excuse to eat chocolate sauce is distressing enough that I just might have to shriek… so obviously it’s totally on par with mice and ghosts.
I just made cookies and cream ice cream the other day and this would be sooooo good on top!!
That would be a feakin’ brilliant combination.
Brilliant!
Those darn ghosts! This chocolate sauce looks dreamy.
My ears are bleeding just reading the story! Fabulous chocolate sauce.
I don’t think I’ve ever made homemade chocolate sauce but I certainly need to. This looks soooo decadent. Yum!!! Now I just have to make a new batch of homemade ice cream to go with it. Also, I’d totally be ok with seeing a mouse. They’re so cute.
They ARE cute. But also, rude. Would you spend all of your time startling people? Rushing out of closets or from behind pieces of furniture? Crawling into someone’s ballet bag? Or boots? No, Amy. You wouldn’t.
Now go make yourself some chocolate sauce.
Thank you for the nice recipe.
You’re welcome, Liz!
i just learned that you would be USELESS in the case of a ghost or mouse attack. i know now not to turn to you in such an event.
Lan, I’d YELL at the mouse. It’s very effective. And hands-free.
I remember this story … by the way isn’t this about the time last year when you almost dropped a tray with 8 christmas cakes on it … 😉
I actually considered telling that tale! No lie.
Oh, Movita… you always have the best stories. And, also, the best desserts. That chocolate sauce looks so good, I don’t think I need the ice cream. Just a spoon, please!
We are in the midst of a screaming heat wave – I’m so on this. Also, your stories make the interwebs all that more interesting. Thank you!
I love Mr Kallio.. c
He’s the bomb. It’s really nice having someone you can roll your eyes at when a kid says something dumb.
I probably would have run from the ghost also. But not from this…sooooo…
Jen. There was no ghost. It was a mouse. Try to keep up.
To be honest, I’m not sure whether I would run from either one but I do understand the fear. I would climb anything not to be tickled by a mouse. It’s the tickle that bothers me. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a ghost. I keep a cat just in case either one crosses my path.
I love your easy chocolate sauce.
Mr. Kallio cracks me up.
It’s the startle factor. Why must mice insist on startling people? If they would just announce themselves, and then walk calmly into the room, we’d probably have a much better relationship.
I love your long-suffering accompanist. Bless that man 20 times over and you, yourself, for continuing to educate girls. I remember once an elementary teacher many years ago telling me that she could always tell the young girls who took ballet because they could sit calmly and attentively. Not around mice though, I’m sure. Then ALL BETS ARE OFF.
Chocolate syrup is always a good thing to have in the refrigerator and yours looks lovely. One never knows when one will need unexpected soothing.
There is nothing graceful about a screaming, teenaged ballerina. NOTHING.
Thank gawd for Mr. Kallio.
Oh yum, my favourite……now all I need is the icecream. My mouth is watering. 🙂
HAHAHAHHAHA – screaming is only useful against mice, silly girl, ghosts only respond to punching.
If I ever saw a ghost I would punch it in the face.
The Conservatory is, apparently, full of ghosts. During the Halifax Explosion, the basement was used as the official/makeshift morgue, as funeral homes couldn’t handle all of the bodies. (It was 1917 – about 1500 people were killed.) So, the odds of me wrestling with a ghost are pretty good…
I feel like my eyes popped out of my head at the first photo, need to make this asap 😀
Cheers
CCU
About 4-6 mos ago I made homemade hot fudge. It was a conglomeration of a few diff recipes I combined and it was so good, and way too easy. Your sauce looks the same! Hide the spoons from me 🙂
This dialogue is hilarious. You have a way with words, movita.
Who are the Carmichaels?
Family friends when we were growing up! Mr. Carmichael worked with my dad…
Lol, that Chloe is a sharp one 😉 But I’m with her – I’d run faster from a ghost than a mouse! Just as fast as I’d run towards this chocolate sauce in order to drink it straight from the mason jar.
everyone should have a go-to chocolate sauce they can make and store in mason jars to soothe them in times of need, like when mice or ghosts appear. or when your ears are bleeding from teenage girl screams. whichever.
now i want meringue and whipped cream swirls. *sigh*
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