THE chocolate.

       Is there any simpler way to bring a little happiness into life than chocolate?  Well...I think not.  If chocolate = happiness, then my mom (and all of her family) should = very happy people.  For as long as I can remember, my mom has been making this chocolate sauce to go over ice cream that everyone loves.  Even my husband, who is not nearly as big a chocolate lover as I am, somehow guilts my mom into making this chocolate every time we go to my parents' house (even if it means a quick trip to the store).  Really, this happens because she is happy to spoil her kids when they come home, even her in-laws.  She is an enthusiastic purveyor of happiness.

       So...tonight...for the first time...I am making the chocolate.  For some reason, I have hesitated to learn the recipe (not that she actually follows it)  for years now (11 to be exact).  You might be wondering why I wouldn't want to make this happy-inducing chocolate at home.  I guess that I was afraid that once I opened Pandora's box, there would be no going back.  You should have seen my no-bake cookie phase of 2009!  Or, maybe I was afraid that the chocolate is really not that good, and that it is strictly a comfort food to be enjoyed at home (my original home).  Well...we're about to find out! 

       After getting a general idea of the ingredients that mom puts in her chocolate, and listening to what the original recipe (that is probably as old as I am) says to put in the chocolate, I have attempted to tackle the chocolate sauce.  I added an obscene amount of butter and powdered sugar to a sauce pan, a bit of milk and some cocoa...let it come to a boil and continue to boil for two minutes...and voila!

It's going to take a little practice to get it right, but it was a pretty good start:)