European Style Hot Cocoa

(Makes four 6-ounce servings)
3/4 cup organic sugar
3/8 cup cocoa, preferably Dutch
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 generous pinch (about 1/8 of a teaspoon) sea salt
1 cup water
4 cups whole milk, preferably organic
1 cup heavy whipping cream, preferably organic
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1.) Whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch and salt in a medium-sized saucepan, add the water and whisk over high heat until the mixture becomes smooth and begins to boil.
2.) Gradually stream in the milk, whisking all the while. While adding the milk, keep the mixture hot and steamy, just below the boil.
3.) Reduce the heat to medium and stir gently for 3 to 5 minutes, or just until the mixture is slightly thickened and beginning to boil. Remove the cocoa from the heat and stir in the cream and the vanilla extract. Ladle it into cups and serve right away.

In the book, the quilt is a metaphor for the patchwork of life. It contains bits and pieces and keepsakes of the past, as well as little hints and glimpses of the future.

[a quilt-in-progress]

The Goodbye Quilt is a very personal, emotional book. Any parent who has ever let go of a beloved child, or any young person who has ever said goodbye to her family of origin, will relate to the cross-country journey of Molly and Linda.

Happy 2012 to all. I wish you safe journeys, wherever life takes you.