Instructions
Break up the chocolate and place it in a small bowl along with the cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt. Heat milk with the cardamom pods in a small saucepan until just about boiling. Remove the pan from heat and strain into a small pitcher, removing the cardamom pods. Set the pan aside. You will use it again shortly. Pour about two tablespoons of the hot milk into the bowl of chocolate, and mix to make a paste. Continue adding small quantities of hot milk until the chocolate mixture is mostly homogeneous. Now put all the chocolate and the milk together in the original milk pan, and heat up until it begins to bubble. Reduce the heat and cook for about 2 minutes, until the chocolate begins to thicken. At this point, use your judgement to thicken the chocolate to your desired thickness, understanding that the chocolate will get even thicker as it cools.
Add a ½ ounce of pear liqueur to a one-cup heatproof glass or cup, then add the hot chocolate. Sneak a holiday cookie, or serve with some slices of pear, for dunking.
Makes 2 one-cup portions with a bit extra for top-up.

​Recipe and picture from Edible Vancouver

With Valentines Day around the corner I can't help thinking about sustainability in the floral industry.  As a flower farmer that is all about local, sustainable flowers there’s a bit of a disconnect for this holiday.  Flowers are so huge for Valentines Day but we don’t grow flowers here in February (without a whole lot of heated help)!  

I listened to a well-informed and interesting podcast a few weeks ago on sustainability within the floral industry.  It was an interview with Cel Robertson of @forevergreenflowerco on @girlflowerpodcast

I find it a bit overwhelming to engage in this conversation.  It feels heavy.  I feel like such a small cog in a bigger system and being a conscientious consumer feels like it takes a lot of work. But, I seek to do my part to think about this as Valentine’s rolls in.  

Here are some things I know:

1.  there is a lot of weirdness and problems around Valentine’s Day but it is a great thing to tell people you love them
2.  We can show someone we love them and care for the earth at the same time
2.  Flowers are a great way to spread love and beauty
3.  In-season flowers are the most sustainable way to go

Photo by Christine Phillips Spring 2021