Chocolate

Miss Fitzpatrick, my seventh-grade teacher, who we endearingly referred to as “Miss Fitz,” stood about 4’10, had a mop of graying hair, a significant gap between her teeth, and more energy than all the kids in the school put together. She’d frequently hop onto her desk to teach us our lessons, and because she was so tiny, her feet did not reach the floor, so she’d swing her legs back and forth. Miss Fitz’s passion for literature propelled her to frequently eschew our level-seven English textbooks replete with their banal short stories and torturous comprehension questions for her own curriculum. She introduced us to S.E. Hinton, and after we discussed The Outsiders, she’d pass out copies of The Contender for the boys in the class who clamored for more. She insisted we read Death Be Not Proud, and her twelve-year-old class tried to hold back tears as we read passage after passage aloud about a boy battling brain cancer. She introduced me to Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy because she knew I’d love Little Women. We students longed for Miss Fitz to call our name and motion for us to come to her desk where she’d reach into her large canvas tote, give us the book she hand-picked for us, and make us promise to take good care of it and return it promptly after reading.

In Miss Fitz’s class, I realized I could find moments in novels that took my breath away, even in the books I did not particularly enjoy. So many of these scenes still play out in my head. The walk that Celie and Shug Avery take through a field of purple flowers in The Color Purple became the catalyst for this blog. I will never forget reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and how sweet little Charlie broke my heart even after he gained access to the chocolate factory with his golden ticket. I am forever grateful to the eccentric Willy Wonka for scooping up that big mug of chocolate from the chocolate river for Charlie to drink.

“Charlie put the mug to his lips and as the rich warm, creamy chocolate ran down his throat into his empty tummy, his whole body from head to toe began to tingle with pleasure, and a feeling of intense happiness spread over him.”

I hoped I would have done the same. It was the most generous gesture–an ideal treat that embodied genuine concern and love. Just like Miss Fitz and her books.

Warm Drinking Chocolate

8 ounces good-quality bittersweet chocolate

2 cups heavy cream at room temperature

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon espresso powder or 1 tablespoon freshly-brewed espresso

pinch of kosher salt

1/2 tablespoon Baileys Irish Cream per cup (optional)

Break up chocolate into pieces and melt in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add heavy cream, vanilla and espresso powder or espresso and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon until all ingredients are well blended.

Ladel warm chocolate into small cups and stir in Baileys if desired.