Malted Milk Chocolate Pots de Crème: Rich and creamy pots de creme made with milk chocolate, malted milk, and topped with chocolate Whoppers Malted Milk candy.
“I wish I could eat the way you do”…that got said in different forms to me the last two weeks. Guess what?
You can.
BUT what you really meant to say is that I wish I could eat the way you do but be a size 2.
Which guess what?
You can’t.
Let me just say that the last two weeks don’t represent how my husband and I eat on a daily basis.
Two weeks ago we had food bloggers here and we tried to show them as many food places as we could.
So of course we are going to eat awesome over the top food.
Then if you follow me on Instagram you would have seen that this last week hubby and I were in Denver.
And when hubby and I are in cities we have never been to we like to again find as much over the top food as we can find as well (that and watch hockey).
We also don’t usually finish it all.
Especially since we tend to order more food than we can possibly eat because we want to sample so much.
Hubby and I rarely order entrees we tend to be small plate peeps.
Twice we ate at a breakfast spot where I had pancakes that were the size of a Frisbee (and you got two of them).
Both times I only made it through half of one pancake.
Which brings me to something controversial.
But I think needs to be said.
Because just like the media and these actresses that say they never work out or they eat what they want it drives me crazy when food bloggers who are on the slimmer side will show a photo on Instagram of four cupcakes.
And then say something along the lines of “all mine I’m not sharing…I ate them all”.
And I really just want to write the f#@& you did…but I don’t.
But I will tell you, having been to many an event with food bloggers, a lot of them (and me too) photograph more food than what goes in our mouths.
I want to stop this ideology that we eat whatever we want and we don’t gain weight.
I’m quite sure I gained weight these last two weeks…and it was so worth it.
Anyone who says nothing tastes as good as skinny feels did not have the bacon pecan sticky bun that I had on Tuesday.
Just saying.
When I was on WW and worked for the company I had an eating disorder.
I didn’t realize it then but I did.
Because I lied about food.
All. The. Time.
Now I didn’t lie on this blog when I said that I ate everything I made, because I did.
But I would take one bite and count it as ten points when in reality it was about two points, if that.
I would then eat cucumbers the rest of the day and of course punish myself at the gym.
Sadly, I would also lie to anyone who accused me of not eating.
If I went to lunch with friends I would eat hardly anything and say I was still stuffed from my huge breakfast (that I didn’t eat).
If I had hockey that night I would eat nothing until right before game time.
In which I would eat a Fiber One bar which was a whole 110 calories (keep in mind I burned like 500 at hockey alone).
So that I could appear to be normal later and throwback beers and wings with the guys.
I also would have gone to the gym early that day and burned AT LEAST 1000 calories knowing I was having those beers and wings.
Why tell you all this?
Because I know what the chunkier woman (and men) who read these food blogs are thinking.
I was where many of them are now just 10 years ago.
Where I would be disheartened that these women were saying they ate half a pan of cinnamon rolls in public when in reality they took a bite…but I didn’t know that.
I would think to myself what is wrong with me?
Why do I look at cinnamon rolls and gain weight and this size 6 woman is scarfing down a half a pan while watching re-runs of 90210?
So my plea is to fellow food bloggers…if you aren’t actually eating ALL four of the cupcakes in the photo you took on Instagram please don’t tell people you did.
Or if you did please tell people you did it over four days. That it was all you ate that day.
Maybe that you ran 15 miles to work off the calories.
Because you are hurting people and you don’t realize it.
And to those of you looking at these plates of food know that we food bloggers probably aren’t eating everything you see in the photo.
Yes, there are a few individuals who have amazing metabolisms but honestly those people are few and far between.
But most of us aren’t like that.
Most of us who eat four cupcakes in one sitting will find pulling the zipper up on your jeans a little harder the next day.
As for me when you see the photos of Denver we didn’t eat all the food.
We did drink all the drinks :D.
And we also walked an average of 6 miles a day.
Unfortunately, we did not have a car (car rental was INSANELY priced there due to a conference) and so we walked everywhere.
Especially since with was sunny and in the high 60’s the whole time we were there.
This Malted Milk Chocolate Pots de Crème I made right before we left.
I made them to use up some of the leftover Halloween candy since we had a whole 2 trick or treaters…and one of those was a dog.
Ate about four bites of it.
It was yummy.
And it was rich.
I was packing and forgot about it in the fridge.
So these chocolate pots of goodness really didn’t get eaten (which I feel bad about).
But I’m trying to keep it real for you all.
*This post is not intended to offend anyone.
People of all shapes and sizes are wonderful and have something to offer the world.
This is intended however for people to be honest to set realistic expectations for others.
P.S. It’s a great day to buy my cookbook Holy Sweet!
Want More Recipes with Malted Milk?
Strawberry Malted Milk No Bake Cheesecake
Chocolate Orange Frosted Vanilla Malted Cake
Strawberry Malted Milk Jelly Shots
Strawberry Malted Milk Cupcakes
Malted Milk Chocolate Pots de Crème
Ingredients
- 4 ounces milk chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Rodelle)
- 2 ¼ cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup malted milk powder
- 5 large yolks
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 24 malted milk balls (I used leftover Whoppers), for recipe and garnish
- Whipped cream for garnis
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F.
- Place 8 (4 oz.) ramekins in a large baking or roasting pan (the pan will hold water). Put a malted milk ball at the bottom of each ramekin.
- Then place chocolate into a heat proof medium bowl. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan heat the heavy cream, cocoa powder, and malted milk powder over medium high heat. Whisking the whole time…the malted milk will want to clump don’t worry as you will strain it out.
- Heat until mixture comes to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Using a fine mesh sieve, pour the mixture into the bowl with the chocolate.
- Let mixture sit for about a minute and then whisk the chocolate cream mixture until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, egg yolks, and salt.
- Using a ¼ cup at a time slowly temper the egg mixture with the hot chocolate mixture as to help avoid cooking the egg. Continue to slowly pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture ¼ cup at a time…whisking the whole time.
- Divide custard evenly among the 8 ramekins.
- Carefully pour hot water into the pan that holds the ramekins (I like to put the pan in the oven before I add the water…less spilling usually) until the water reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the custards are set at the edges but still slightly wobbly in the middle.
- Remove the ramekins from the water and let cool for 20 minutes to come to room temperature.
- Then place ramekins in fridge for 3 hours to fully set up and chill properly.
- Top with whipped cream and extra Whoppers.
- Best to eat within 24 hours of making.
Junglewife says
You always have the best, most honest, tell-it-like-it-is posts. And I love them. That is all. 🙂
Jaime says
I, as someone who’s struggled with my weight and is ultrasensitive about this issue, have noticed this as well. Some food bloggers are very intentional about saying that they eat a very healthy diet most of the time with their weekly “taste splurges”, which I appreciate, but it definitely bugs me that some bloggers go on and on about eating huge quantities of whatever they baked that week because it was so good, every single week, and they’re very thin. Just doesn’t feel honest somehow.
Karen says
I love this post. I am not skinny and have been working very hard to change/improve my eating habits. I love to make so many of these desserts that are shown each day by so many bloggers. Yes I eat what I make–kinda the point but I also am careful about how much I eat. Thank you for putting it out there that you eat but not “the whole thing” and that you exercise also. There are many women (also men) like me who need to know that it is okay to eat these wonderful creations but in moderation and to do some extra calorie burning to help maintain a healthy weight.
Gina says
Thank you for keeping it real!
Kita says
My bestie was a size 22. She was confident. Amazing. Drop dead STUNNING. At my core, I feel I would give anything to be her size and OWN IT than be “skinny” and trying so damned hard. It makes you miserable. There’s no just sitting back and enjoying. There’s the guilt every single bite builds. Everything taste better than skinny feels, and anyone who actually believes that can suck on their sugar free chemical filled bottle of protein. I do bust my booty at the gym – but (as you saw) I am not afraid to shove a burger down my face. I used to finish every single thing on my plate (years of psychological conditioning from my parents) and it wasn’t until just recently that I discovered that I didn’t have to. I think its about finding out balance and not feeling like enjoying food is a something to feel awful about. We are allowed to eat and to enjoy vodka infused milkshakes from time to time. But you’re right, who are we fooling – there’s no way any of us are eating 4 cupcakes in one sitting! I’ll totally try to be more mindful of what I’m presenting to my audience in the future 😀
Kita says
PS, please tell me you did eat all of that biscuit you posted? Because it looked soooo freakin good.
Peabody says
@Kita- sorry no we did not eat all that biscuit. I tried. I even brought it back to the hotel. But once it went in the fridge it sort of lost it’s awesomeness since it got a little stale. I should have just ordered that…but we also got the biscuit breakfast sandwiches as well which were giant. I did eat the whole pecan bacon sticky bun the day before. 🙂
Johnna says
LOVE this post and your honesty. I battle with this. I want to eat all of everything that I make. I want to wear the smallest jeans in my closet. But mostly I want to be honest with my readers. You do such a great job at that!
Marie Roald says
I love this. LOVE it! I’m a foodblogger myself and I hate it when other bloggers are like: Oh I ate the whole pan, and I’m over here like : please, you wouldn’t even let your hands touch the butter while weighing it… I’m totally sharing this!
Chris says
You Rock, Peabody….I love this (and all) your posts. Thank you
Erin M. says
Thank you. That is all 🙂
Amanda says
Well said! You are good to speak truth and encourage the rest of us to do the same!!
julieD says
these look amazing! And I’m so guilty about saying this on IG and my blog when it comes to French fries. Bc I really do eat all of it. I love your posts, they always make me think. xoxo
Lisa says
Geez I love you!
KB says
I’ve had people say stuff like that to me before. Sometimes they even say what they really mean, “I wish I could eat what you do and still be your size.” No, no you don’t, because I can only eat what I do and stay this size (which is not a fun size to be, trust me) because I have a digestive disorder that means I can’t put on weight. I have to nearly eat myself sick and I’m constantly in pain just so I don’t lose more weight, I’m always in and out of the doctors’ offices as they can’t figure out what’s wrong with me, and it functions as a reminder that I dug this hole myself and now I have to dig myself out.
They don’t want that. Nobody really wants that. They want the benefits, but not the consequences.
I guess the lesson is that the grass is always greener, until you have to mow the lawn yourself. And I don’t mean with a ride-on mower.
Jennifer | Bake or Break says
Love these! And I’d honestly eat 1/2 to 1 of these. For reals.
Chris at Hye Thyme Cafe says
That’s actually why I don’t blog as often as others do – I couldn’t possibly eat all that food! Not to mention that you would never be able to eat the same thing twice if you want/expect to blog more frequently. Personally, if I make something I really like, I want to have it again sometime lol. And I only have so much freezer space for leftovers. I just posted something the other day and commented that I was mad that I had sliced a cucumber and de-stemmed some grapes to go with it because the featured item was so good I wanted more, but there was NO WAY! Your pots de creme are beautiful and look silky smooth and delicious. That’s funny that one of your two trick-or-treaters was a dog. 🙂
CakeSpy says
AMEN to everything you said, Peabody!!! I think there is a lot of lying about food with food blogs, actually. I commend you for speaking up about it and being “real” about what you eat. People say things all the time to me like “how do you stay so skinny with all those sweets around? You can’t eat them.”. I used to laugh it off, but more and more it really upsets me. Because it plays into a false notion about consumption. It seems very chic to say things like “I eat 6 cupcakes a day!” when you’re very slender, and it annoys me, because I know this is really not the truth for a lot of petite ladies. I don’t get it.
Anyhow. Rant over!! I saw this recipe on social media and thought it looked SO elegant and creamy and luxuriant. Of course it’s a BAKED recipe. You are a perfect pairing with them!
kka says
Thank you very much for this post – it struck a nerve. I am a size 2/4, don’t have an eating disorder, and love making your sweets (eating a little and sharing a lot). I used to have a serious eating disorder as a teen. Like you said, I would read crap magazines and the early food blogs of the day and agonize over what others said they ate and how they worked out. As a teen, I was looking for role models on which to base my eating habits (and body image) because I couldn’t figure it out myself. Lying about them can do more than just irritate and frustrate – if a young woman that loves to cook and that has an eating disorder is reading, misrepresented eating and workout habits can do damage.
Nicole Johnson says
PREEEAAAAACCCCCCCHHHHHH.
My desk jobs and food blogging have definitely had a major impact on my weight. It is…embarrassing, and I have a slew of issues attached to how I, personally, feel about being the size I am, and how I’m now perceived by the world. Ugh.
JulieD says
You didn’t offend me one bit. I agree with you…I went on a trip a while back and someone took a picture of my dessert and instagrammed it. I offered them a bite and they said no thank you. And then I saw it on her instagram account. That was my first eye-opening…OMG people instagram or share things online that they don’t eat? It didn’t make sense to me and it still doesn’t make sense to me.
When I say I ate all of something and didn’t share, I mean it…this applies to cupcakes and french fries. 😀 It’s really sad that people are not truthful on social. Sigh
leslie says
This post is sad but OH SOOOOOO TRUE!!!! Sooooo many bloggers feeds are filled with misconceptions and lies just so their feeds can be colorful and pretty. I know there is NO WAY IN HELL they are eating a rich and sinful dessert EVERY DAY.
Thanks for brining this to all those non-bloggers out there.
Ive gained 40 pounds since I stated my blog 9 years ago, so I must be eating All.the.things!! lol
leslie says
I was thinking f your post all night. The pretty pictures of the food DOES NOT bother me at all. Infact, I love looking at pretty IG feeds. Some of my closest blogger friends have great colorful food feeds. But you hit the nail on the head..it all is about the wording. Don’t say you ate 27 donuts if you didn’t!!!! THAT is what makes people feel bad about themselves, not the photos themselves.
Peabody says
Yes, I think the photos are totally fun. But why not just say it was so big I was only able to eat a few bites…or better yet we all had to share this. Because the first time I watched a bunch of food bloggers photograph and then throw away (after they smashed them with a fork to look eaten in a photo) eight cupcakes I was both saddened at the food waste as well as had an ah-ha moment. Since I talk a lot about body positivity on my blog, I have many people who read it with former (or current) eating disorders. They really do think bloggers eat all that and stay skinny and that there is something wrong with them…I know because they email me about it.