Hurricane Sandy is pounding up the East Coast over the next several days.  With states of emergency being declared all over, there’s a good chance that you’ll be stuck home from school or work on at least one day this week if you’re within a few hundred miles of the Atlantic Ocean.

So, make something crazy.  How about chocolate?  And cheese?  It’s actually amazing and perfect with coffee on a stormy morning or afternoon.

Panini with Chocolate and Brie (adapted from Giada De Laurentiis)

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of whole grain bread, or whatever you have in your cupboard
• extra virgin olive oil
• Brie cheese
• semisweet chocolate chips
• fresh basil leaves

Preheat a nonstick pan at medium heat.  Lightly brush your bread with olive oil on one side (this will be the outside of your sandwich).  Cover the other side of one piece of bread with thin slices of brie, and add a small handful of chocolate chips (evenly spaced).  Then top with about one large basil leaf, sliced.  (Optional: add another layer of brie on top and some cinnamon.)  Grill in your frying pan and flip so that each side is golden brown (or use a panini press if you’re lucky to have one).  You’ll notice the brie and chocolate beginning to melt (which will smell awesome).  Serve when browned and melted to your liking with your hot beverage of choice.

If you’re interested, pair it with a KHL game, such as:

October 31st, 1:30PM EST: HC Dynamo Moscow vs. HC Donbass

Featuring Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Ruslan Fedotenko, and Alexei Ponikarovsky, among others.