Chocolate Chai Truffles

I’m not that into Valentine’s Day, and I can’t decide if it’s because there’s just way too much pressure to not be single, or because I’ve never had a particularly good one. The worst Valentine’s Day, by far, was the spring semester of my sophomore year of college when a guy I’d been seeing for a while decided for the both of us that we were going to bypass the holiday altogether; it was just going to be a regular Tuesday. The only problem with that? He forgot to fill me in on it. So there I was the night before, burning a CD filled with happy songs (a few of them my own), and carefully cutting out a homemade card with a track listing on the back. We hadn’t been dating that long, so I knew to avoid the “L” word at all costs, but I thought a nice little gift would let him know that he was appreciated.

Since our colleges were within walking distance of each other, we had plenty of opportunities to spend time together. Twice a week, we had a standing coffee date at a new shop right downtown, and as luck would have it, that fateful V-Day happened to fall on one of them. I couldn’t wait to see him, and even got my hopes up that maybe, even though we hadn’t talked about how we were going to handle the holiday, he’d surprise me, too. And boy, was I surprised. The look on this guy’s face when I gave him the card and CD would make anyone beg the floor to open up wide and swallow them whole. “I…didn’t think we were doing anything special today,” he said, with a voice filled with gentle caution generally reserved for calming spooked horses. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get you anything.” And because we were freshly an item, I tried with all my might to brush off my utter embarrassment, and act like his gift was just one of MANY I was handing out that day, and that the playlist HADN”T taken me a full hour to curate because I wanted to get the flow just right. I think I mumbled something about how it was totally fine, then tried to finish my piping-hot coffee as quickly as possible without completely eviscerating my taste buds.

So did this incident sour Valentine’s Day for me forever? Not really. I don’t blame him for what happened - we were brand new, young, and in the end, not emotionally mature enough to properly communicate. And in case you’re wondering whatever happened to our dear friend, the Valentine’s Day Dodger, I heard he got married a few years ago and had a kid. So all’s well that ends well.

At any rate, Valentine’s Day isn’t all bad. The new movies and books that come out around this time are usually heartwarming, and It’s one of the biggest days of the year to celebrate everything sweet. I can’t think of anything sweeter than making homemade Chocolate Chai Truffles.

Making truffles might seem intimidating at first. For quite some time, I believed that it took a certain amount of mastery before you could even attempt such a delicious and professional-looking act of confectionery, but it’s just not true! When it all boils down, chocolate truffles consist of just two things: heavy cream, and pure chocolate. Put those two together in the correct ratio, give your mixture plenty of time to set, and you’ve got yourself the perfect, chocolate-y canvas for whatever decorations your heart desires. And while simple chocolate truffles are amazing on their own, why not take it up a notch? I love chocolate, and I love chai, so let’s put them together!

These Chocolate Chai Truffles are by far some of my favorite things to make. They’re incredibly chocolate-forward with floral, spicy notes of star anise, black tea, cardamom, and cinnamon, finished beautifully with just a hint of sea salt. These feel perfectly weighted in the hand, but aren’t so solid that when you bite into them, you break your teeth. Quite the opposite actually! Each bite melts in the mouth into nothing but decadent creaminess, making it totally impossible to have just one.

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a long-term partner, a virtual Zoom date, or just yourself, these Chocolate Chai Truffles guarantee that the day will be nothing but sweet (and a little pleasantly spicy)!

Chocolate Chai Truffles

What You’ll Need:

• 8 oz (two 4 oz bars, NOT chocolate chips) semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped

• 10 cardamom pods

• 5 whole star anise pieces

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 5 chai tea bags

• 2/3 cup heavy cream

• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 1/2 cup unsweetened coca powder

Directions:

Place the chocolate in a medium, heatproof bowl. Set aside.

Using a mortar and pestle, or the side of a knife, gently crush the cardamom pods. Place the cardamom pods, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and heavy cream in a small saucepan. Set the saucepan over medium-low heat, and bring the cream to a simmer (be careful not to burn the cream).

Take the saucepan off the heat, add the tea bags, then cover the saucepan and let it sit for 10 minutes.

Remove the tea bags, then place the saucepan over medium-low heat again and bring the cream back up to a simmer. Remove from heat and strain the cream into the bowl with the chocolate. Discard the spices.

Let the cream and chocolate sit in the bowl for three minutes until the chocolate has softened, then slowly begin to whisk the chocolate and cream together, starting in the center and working your way to the edges of the bowl. Whisk until completely smooth. Add the sea salt, then whisk to combine. You’ve just made ganache!

Place a sheet of plastic wrap directly on top of the ganache, making sure no air can come through, then chill the ganache in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours until it has set.

Just before you’re ready to roll your truffles, place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and set aside. Next, fill a small bowl with the unsweetened cocoa powder.

Remove the plastic wrap from on top of your ganache and discard. Using a melon baller the size of a teaspoon, a teaspoon cookie scoop, or an actual teaspoon measuring spoon, roll two teaspoons of the ganache at a time, then mold, shape, and roll them together until you have a smooth truffle. Roll the truffle in the coca powder, then place on the cookie sheet. Repeat this process until you have run out of ganache. You should have about 20 truffles at the end.

Transfer the cookie sheet to the refrigerator and let the truffles set for at least 1 hour.

TO STORE: Truffles can be kept in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for one week.

Book Review: In a Holidaze

Childhood friends Mae and Theo were made for each other - or, so say their parents, all college friends themselves who have been rooting for the union since the kids were in diapers. There are just two problems: 1. Mae sees Theo as more of a brother than a potential lover and 2. Mae’s been in love with Andrew, Theo’s brother, for almost two decades. Ever since the kids were born, the families have been meeting up for Christmas in Park City, Utah where Theo’s parents own a cabin. One night, after far too much eggnog and a journey to rock bottom, Mae gives in to Theo’s flirty overtures, and the two share a sloppy kiss that Mae immediately regrets. The next morning, Theo, usually warm and open, gives her the cold shoulder reserved only for his many conquests, and Andrew, the love of her life, congratulates her on finally making things official with his brother. To top it all off (as if things couldn’t be any more dire), an announcement is made that the decades-old cabin, a safe-haven for Mae and the rest of the gang, is in need of a laundry list of repairs - the only option is to sell. Mae is devastated. Though she knows the relationships formed there over the years are rock solid on their own, the yearly tradition of going to the cabin is the only thing that ensures they all have a reason to come together.

On her last day in Park City, quite possibly for good, Mae is left with her thoughts, forced to confront the ramifications of a romantic mistake, the prospect of life changing forever, and no escape from the dead-end job waiting for her when she gets home. In a moment of desperation, Mae implores the universe to show her what will make her happy. A moment later, she finds herself thrown back in time - before Christmas, before the kiss, and before her life officially went up in flames. Mae realizes she’s been given the gift of a do-over - a second chance to keep a friendship alive, save the cabin, and maybe, just maybe, get the relationship she was meant for all along. But is what she wants to make her happy the same as what she needs?

In a Holidaze by the writing duo Christina Lauren is the hilarious, sometimes bittersweet story of a young woman’s fervent pursuit of happiness over the holidays, and the family - both biological and chosen - who help her get there…with a few twists, turns, and false-starts along the way!

The Good: I loved the way the authors were able to inject all the warmth and coziness of a holiday rom-com into this novel without the shallow cheesiness you sometimes get with books in this genre. As the reader, you really get a sense that the characters all really know and love each other, and that this chosen family is very close. I also appreciated that everyone included in the story has a purpose in some way, they aren’t just throwaway background characters you see mentioned a couple of times and then never again. The romantic scenes between the two main characters felt really realistic, and Christina Lauren did a great job of swiftly pulling you into the most intimate moments to make you feel like you’re actually there.

The Bad: While I appreciated the “groundhog day” aspect of this novel, I felt like it didn’t have the effect that the authors intended. In my opinion, either Mae should’ve been taken back in time more often, or only once. She felt a lot of anxiety about making the wrong choice and getting “reset” in a way, but I felt like there was so much build-up around it that ultimately wasn’t necessary. I also wish there were more scenes with Theo, perhaps a scene leading up to their kiss or maybe a few scenes from Christmases past to demonstrate more of Theo’s flirty personality. The story begins right after their kiss, but it would’ve been nice to see what sparked the moment; maybe then the reader would understand why that time, of all times, Mae would choose to cross that line with a person she’s never looked at romantically.

Bottom Line: This was a perfect and fast read to get me into the holiday mood (and also get me out of the reading funk I’ve been in lately). Sure, it’s got an ending that you can predict, and it’s not the deepest novel on the shelves at the moment, but it made me laugh, it made me smile, and I truly couldn’t put it down until I reached the very last page. If you’re looking for a super fun, festive read this holiday season that comes with a twist, I highly recommend this one!

Find In a Holidaze HERE!

Holiday Gift Guide

Happy holidays, friends!

Usually, around this time every year, I haven’t even begun to think about the gifts I’m giving. I come from a family that loves the holiday season but waits until the last minute to do everything. We never get the tree until two weeks into December (but we DO leave it up until mid-January, so there’s that), admire all the greeting cards at the store for weeks, but don’t buy any until there’s mere days left to send them before the deadline, and wait to purchase gifts because no one tells anyone what they want in enough time for the shopping experience to be anything but stressful and panicky. But not this year, ya’ll! This year, I am on TOP of things. I officially finished my shopping on Saturday, have at least ordered my cards (progress!), and have even started the long process of tracking down the decorations that were hastily thrown into boxes 11 months ago. The 2019 version of Sydney wouldn’t even recognize 2020 Sydney, and it’s a beautiful thing! Of course, the thousands of emails I’ve gotten from every store I’ve ever placed an order with telling me that I need to order my gifts ASAP or risk having nothing under the tree probably helped push me along... but I like to think that’s it’s just me finally growing. (Time will tell. Check back next year.)

Since I got such a blessed head start on getting gifts this year, I actually got a chance to take my time and see what cool new things are out there. If you’ve still got a few people to shop for on your list but don’t know where to start, don’t panic! I’ve put together a little guide of some of my favorite finds this holiday season that you may find helpful. Most of the items on this list come from independent businesses, and I encourage you to shop small as much as you can. You’re guaranteed to find unique items of excellent quality, AND you’ll be directly impacting the lives of small business owners everywhere.

Scroll down to see my top gift picks for the cooks, book lovers, co-workers, and best friends in your life, plus some excellent stocking stuffers!

Hedley & Bennett Carryall Apron, $85

Perfect for the serious home cooks in your life, the Hedley and Bennett Carryall Apron has deep pockets to keep essential tools close, strong stitching to withstand years of wear-and-tear, and handy towel loops so that wipes are always on-hand for inevitable workspace spills. If you ever watch baking competition shows on Food Network and wonder who makes the snazzy, colorful aprons the contestants wear, now you know!

Stasher Reusable Sandwich Bags, $11.99

Help your friends save the environment and cut down on waste with these reusable storage bags made of non-toxic platinum silicone. If you happened to read my review a few months ago, then you’ll know how much I love them! They come in beautiful colors, are easy to clean, keep food fresh, and have already saved me quite a bit of money on single-use sandwich bags.

Diaspora Co. Build Your Own Trio pack, $36

Founded in 2017 by Sana Javeri Kadri, Diaspora Co. is a single-origin, small-batch spice company based in Oakland, CA that works directly with spice farmers in India to provide extremely high quality spices to their customers, and ethical pay to the farmers. Disapora Co. specializes in aromatic spices like Pragati turmeric. Nandini coriander, and Baraka cardamom, and can guarantee that each batch sold has been harvested within the year. If you know a home chef who enjoys flavors that pack a punch, why not give them a trio of these amazing spices sold by a person-of-color and woman-owned company?

In Bibi’s Kitchen by Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshen, $35

Written by Hawa Hassan with Julia Turshen, In Bibi’s Kitchen focuses on the cuisines of eight African countries that all touch the Indian Ocean: Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, and Comoros - specifically chosen for their rich histories and the vital role that each plays in the spice trade. What makes this cookbook so special, and one of my all-time favorites, is that it provides the opportunity to meet real women, all grandmothers, who tells stories of love, loss, and resilience through absolutely phenomenal recipes. (Read my full review here!)

Ideal Bookshelf “Read.” shirt, $24

Help the book lover in your life spread the word that literacy matters with this super cute, VERY soft cotton t-shirt designed by Jane Mount, author and owner of Ideal Bookshelf! This unisex t-shirt comes in sizes XS-2XL.

Art of Tea French Lemon Ginger Tea, $18 for a 4oz zip pouch

Name a more iconic duo than a good book and a nice cuppa. This soothing organic loose leaf tea blend boasts tasting notes of citrus, grass, and spice.

RatherKeen “Night Owl Book Club” enamel pin, $10

Who hasn’t said “just one more chapter” with half-closed eyes in the wee hours of the morning? Now your favorite bibliophile can wear their around-the-clock dedication to reading like a badge of honor with this lovely enamel pin!

Book of the Month gift subscription, $50 for 3 months

You’ll never hear the words “I have nothing to read” from your loved ones again when you give them the gift of Book of the Month. Here’s how it works: each month, a curated list of 5 new releases ranging in romance to non-fiction is announced, and members are invited to choose one from the list to make their book of the month for $15. If more than one title catches their eye, they can add up to two more books (either from that month or previous ones) to their box at a deeply discounted price. if they don’t like any of that month’s books, they can always choose to skip, won’t be charged, and their credit rolls into the next month. I’ve been using this service for almost a year and absolutely love it!

Raaka Chocolate 3-Bar Gift Box, $25

What’s better than delicious, high-quality chocolate in gorgeous packaging? Treat your favorite co-worker to chocolate bars with unique flavors like “Ginger Snap,” “Pure Cacao & Strawberry & Coconut,” “Bananas Foster” and more!

FlowieStyle Camila Zipper Pouch, $26

This beautiful floral pouch is perfect for the co-worker who likes to keep all her belongings just-so. It’s a great size for storing make-up, tech cords, small office supplies, or even some out-on-the-town essentials!

LOOK Cotton Candy Stripe Mittens - Mint, $24

Depending on where you live, the weather might not be all that chilly yet, but summer’s still a long ways away! Make sure your work buddy’s hands are protected from the elements with these soft, pastel-hued mittens.

SugarSpoonMugs “Creative Juices” mug, $11.25

Nothing like a morning coffee to get that brilliant mind of theirs firing on all cylinders during your daily brainstorming sessions. Let your other co-workers know that the secrets to success lie within this “creative juices” mug!

7Sages “Woman Up” tote bag, $15.95

Make sure your favorite feminist has a vessel to carry everything she needs to smash the patriarchy with this awesome “Woman Up” tote bag made out of 100% cotton canvas.

Otherland “Daybed” candle, $36

Perfect for a self-care spa day, this pretty and pink candle from Otherland, made out of a coconut and soy wax blend the burns for 55 hours, boasts the irresistible scents of rosebud, peony blossom, and pear water.

Runcible Studios Cyan Grid Face Mask, $18

A gorgeous cyan-colored mask like this one will help your bestie stand out in the crowd and stay safe at the same time. Made from 100% quilting cotton, this handmade non-medical mask features two layers for extra protection, and a pocket for a filter. Best of all, for each mask purchased, a mask gets donated to a healthcare professional working tirelessly on the front lines!

S’Well Rose Jacquard Bottle, $35

Whether she likes to stay hydrated with an ice-cold flavored seltzer or piping-hot green tea, this rose-patterned, stainless steel, triple-layered, vacuum-insulated bottle from S’Well will become her constant companion.

McCrea’s Single Malt Scotch Caramels, $24.95 for a case of 6 boxes

I stumbled upon McCrea’s caramels last summer when I was visiting a gourmet kitchen store on Martha’s Vineyard. These caramels are rich, decadent, whiskey-forward but not too overwhelming, and totally addicting. Plus, they’re made right here in New England, which to me makes them extra special!

Beetle Ink Co. Peach Sunnies enamel pin, $12.95

Perfect for warm-weather days or when you just want to remind your favorite person of how cool you think they are, this adorable enamel pin goes with everything: backpacks, scarves, and even jean jackets.

Amplified by Adrielle sunflower coasters, $35 for 4

If you're looking for a great housewarming gift for a person who brings endless sunshine to your life, look no further than these hand-knit sunflower coasters from Ampified by Adrielle, a Black and female-owned business out of Atlanta, GA!

Areaware Little Puzzle Thing Series 5: Ice Cream, “Affogato,” $15

Who doesn’t love a good puzzle on a snowy day? Help your friends keep their minds sharp with this quirky ice cream puzzle from Areaware! Part of a series, this 70-piece puzzle is ideal for someone who doesn’t want a big commitment but still wants a big payoff.

What are some of the gifts that YOU are excited to give this season? Sound off in the comments below!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Today and every day, I’m grateful that you take the time out of your busy lives to read the words I publish on the Internet every week. Your support lifts me up and keeps me going, even when life has me feeling a little down. You’re simply the best.

Love always,

Sydney

Homemade Dinner Rolls

Some things about Thanksgiving are going to be different this year. Usually, for the cold-weather holidays, my family heads down south to see our relatives, watch football, play Spades (I don’t personally know how to play, but the temporary drama that ensues between my extended family could rival any Real Housewives franchise), and eat our weight in cornbread and stuffing, But this year, my immediate family is staying home and celebrating everything we’re grateful for by having a micro-Thanksgiving. We’re still planning to eat all the foods we’re used to (in smaller quantities), and a well-coordinated Zoom call is scheduled so that we can pretend to all be at the same table, but I’d be lying if I said I won’t miss fully participating in our traditions.

Yes, some things will certainly be different, but one thing that will never change? The battle between my mother and myself for control of the dinner menu.

Every year since I was in my early twenties, my mother and I have duked it out over who would make what come Thanksgiving Day. The turkey, macaroni and cheese, pies, and stuffing are all up for discussion as we’ve tried every year to lessen the load for my elderly grandmother who plays host. Even though we’re in New England this year, we’ve managed to keep the spirit of that particular tradition alive and well. And in keeping with tradition, I have once again lost. (So long, Thanksgiving turkey. I hope to learn how to cook you by myself one day...) But I didn’t totally concede! While everything else was claimed before I could get my hands on the shopping list, I DID manage to negotiate making one thing for the table. I usually call dibs on dessert since baking is in my wheelhouse, but it was the first item on the menu to be finalized. So, I chose the second most important thing: dinner rolls.

Hear me out for a sec. The turkey, all golden and crispy, is the showstopper for obvious reasons. The greens, macaroni and cheese, and stuffing all have their rightful places on the plate because they’re classics (and, if you cook them like my family does, filled with enough butter to make your heart stop), but the rolls? They’re the silent supporters who keep the meal in check. Good for eating quickly as you wait in line to fill your plate or for mopping up the remnants of leftover food, the dinner roll can do anything. Humble though the roll may be when placed next to perfectly-toasted marshmallows atop sweet potatoes, without it there, you’d notice. And yes, you could buy some already made, but with just a few ingredients you can make your own, and believe me, it’s worth it.

The perfect dinner rolls are pillowy soft, buttery (but not overwhelmingly so - gotta make sure you can add extra butter for yourself), golden brown, and deliciously yeasty. These homemade dinner rolls, based on the world-famous Parker House rolls, check all the boxes. Add a little flaky sea salt on top and you’ve taken a classic and made it extra fancy!

Homemade Dinner Rolls

What You’ll Need:

• 1 envelope active dry yeast

• 1/4 cup water, warmed to 110 degrees Fahrenheit

• 1 cup whole milk

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature and divided into two 1/4 cup halves

• 3 tablespoons sugar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons fine kosher salt

• 1 large egg at room temperature

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting your work surface

• Vegetable oil

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

Whisk yeast and warm water in a small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes until the yeast has dissolved and bubbles have formed on the top.

Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until it has just warmed through, about 2 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix together 1/4 cup butter, sugar, and kosher salt. Next, add the warm milk and whisk until the ingredients are fully blended (the mixture may look curdled at this stage if the butter has not completely melted - that’s okay, just keep going!). Add the flour all at once and stir continuously with a wooden spoon until a dough forms. Lightly flour your hands and a clean work surface. Turn the dough out onto the surface and knead until the dough has become smooth and pliable, about 5-6 minutes (if the dough is too sticky, feel free to add more flour to the surface a little bit at a time until it becomes easier to work with - careful not to add too much!)

Lightly oil a large bowl with the vegetable oil and transfer the dough into it, turning the dough over once to make sure it is covered on both sides. Loosely cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest and rise at room temperature until it has doubled in size, about 90 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and adjust the oven rack to the center of the oven. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan then, using a pastry brush, brush some butter into a 9x13 -inch baking dish. Set the remaining butter aside for a moment.

Punch down the dough (it should’ve risen quite a bit at this point!), and transfer it back onto a lightly-floured, clean workspace. With floured hands, carefully shape the dough into a 12-inch log. Using a sharp knife or bench cutter, carefully cut the log into 18 pieces that are roughly the same size. Next, cut each piece in half so that you end up with 36 pieces in total. Roll each piece into the shape of a ball.

Working one at a time, roll each ball out into a 3-inch oval using a floured rolling pin. Brush the interior with a light layer of melted butter, then fold the oval in half lengthwise so that the butter-covered interior is covered. Next, reshape each piece back into a ball and place it in the buttered baking dish with the seam side down. Repeat this step until all the pieces have been buttered on the inside and four rows of dough balls are in the baking dish.

Brush the tops of the rolls with the remaining melted unsalted butter (if it has started to resolidify, just pop it on the stove for a few minutes on low until it has reliquified), then lightly cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 6 hours.

Bake the rolls in the oven until they have puffed up and taken on a golden color on the top, about 25-35 minutes. Brush the tops of the warm rolls with the 3 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter and sprinkle liberally with flaky sea salt. Rolls are best served warm.

TO STORE: Rolls can be kept at room temperature when wrapped tightly with aluminum foil for at least 3 days. When ready to serve, heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, wrap the rolls in aluminum foil, and let them warm in the oven for 5-10 minutes.

(Tip: For best results, if you don’t have a scale, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and sweep off the excess with a knife to avoid over-packing.)

SOURCE: Adapted from Bon Appetit