*what i wouldn't do for a french press right about now...

to ward off the winter blues, i've been trying every variety of tea and instant coffee (there is literally no whole bean or ground coffee here... just nescafe, and lots of it, which is SO unfortunate) possible.
and i had a revelation of revelations. it was one of those really good ideas that i get only once or perhaps twice a year.
so the russians/kazakhs really enjoy having sweetened condensed milk with their tea or coffee. thick, sweet, and syrupy, i must say it is indeed pretty tasty in your hot caffeinated beverage. but my host mother came home with a surprise: sweetened condensed milk with cocoa added! it's basically gooey chocolatey goodness.
so i was making myself a cup of instant coffee, because after teaching (or attempting to teach, anyhow) 6 lessons back to back, full of kids who refuse to listen or pay any kind of attention, i really needed a pick-me-up. and then it struck me: why not put the chocolate sweetened condensed milk into my coffee? and
presto! i have invented the mocha, KZ style. while it's not a barista-made mocha, it's as good as it's going to get here.
and it is delicious.