chocolate and wine

Yesterday was one of those days. The day where nothing goes right. The kind of day where you wake up practically in tears, overwhelmed with the ‘everything’ of life, where the walls are closing in on you. The kind of day where all you want to do is escape from your own mind… It was one of those days.

I needed to turn this day around. I wasn’t going to let one of those days get in my way, not today. Step one, turn of the computer and get out of the office! Two, crawl back into bed for a nap. Waking up feeling somewhat better, but not out of my funk just yet, the third step, get out of the house. Off to Barnes and Nobel. With a good book in hand, and then deciding even Barnes and Nobel was a bit overwhelming today.

Off to the library.

Ahhhh, peace and quite. Small quaint little areas set up for pure enjoyment. Over sized chairs with high backs. Privacy… It was perfect.

Indulging for close to two hours, it was the perfect start to clearing my head. (Which with a tiny tot in tow, might be unheard of in a library, and yes she was awake!) Although I only made it seven pages deep into my new book, it was peaceful. The tiny giggles and the pure joy in my arms was enough to clear any one’s mind.

A change of pace, a change of secenery…

Coming home, I dumped all my things right there on the floor. Walking straight into the pantry… Before I mixed a bottle. Before I played with the dog. Before I took off my shoes.

Chocolate chips. Graham crackers. Marshmallows. Butter. Wine.

I poured a tall glass of wine and began melting the butter. Counting out graham crackers, I began crushing them into tiny crumbs. Stirring and scooping, dumping and baking, melting and topping.

They were ready.

Carefully sliding a fork into the small crevasse between the pan and the toasted marshmallows, I scoop them out one by one. The fork covered in warm chocolate, I place one on a plate. With a tall glass of wine in hand I walk out of the kitchen. I sat down and indulge, again.

Before dinner, before they had cooled, before I did anything, I indulged. With crumbs falling onto the plate, warm chocolate covering the fork, a gulp of wine, and a deep breath… I had won. I was no longer having one of those days. It was no longer the day where nothing goes right. The day where you wake up practically in tears, overwhelmed with the ‘everything’ of life, where the walls are closing in on you. The kind of day where all you want to do is escape from your own mind…

It was now… One of those days! The day where you realize how blessed you are. The kind of day where you are able to pack up at noon and indulge at the library for close to two hours, the perfect start to clearing your head. The kind of day where you have tiny giggles and pure joy in your arms. It was now the kinda of day surrounded in a home you and your husband have created, full with a beautiful family and the dog you have yet to play with squirming at your feet. The kind of day where you can eat chocolate and drink wine, before dinner.

It was now, one of those days. And theses are the days I am grateful for. It is in those day I realize that sometime all life needs to not let one of those day get the best of you, is a little privacy in a over sized chair with a high back, a little bit of warm chocolate on your fork and toasted marshmallows. And of course wine, a tall glass of wine.

With the crazy pace of life sometime we just all get lost. Caught up in the worry and fear. Stuck in the rut of routine. So the next time you need to indulge with some warm chocolate on your fork, with your tall glass of wine in hand, remember this recipe. Go ahead… Indulge.

S’more Cups

• 7 whole graham crackers, finely crushed)
• 1/4 cup powered sugar
• 6 tbsp butter, melted
• 4 bars (1.5 oz each) milk chocolate candy, divided
• 12 large marshmallows

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place graham crackers into a large resealable plastic bag. Finely crush into crumbs. Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and butter in  a small bowl. Place scant scoop of crumb mixture in each cup of muffin pan. Press crumbs to form shallow cups. Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling. Meanwhile, break two of the candy bars into rectangles. Remove pan from oven; place one rectangle into each cup.
2. Cut marshmallows in half crosswise using cooking scissors dipped in cold water. Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to oven 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened. Remove from oven to a cooling Rack; cool 15 minutes. Carefully remove cups from pan. Cool completely.

As you can see, I have made some adjustments, go ahead. Make them to suit your day. Use what is on hand. No chocolate bars, use chips. Minis work the same as large, same for marshmallows. I typically skip the powered sugar, I think they are sweet enough with out it. Covered in chocolate, toasted, layered… However your day needs, to change one of those days into, One of those days!

Melissa Beck is a professional Wedding Photographer and Engagement Photographer who has been featured on several blogs and publications.

Melissa Beck Photography is a Wedding Photography Studio specializing in Modern Wedding and Engagement photos in Maine, New England, Kennebunk, Portland, Freeport, Falmouth, Yarmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Denver,Colorado and the Rocky Mountains.

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