love these questions Fiona
because I can remember having quite a thing for hot choc myself. I made it with water, a splash of milk and Green and Blacks cocoa because that was what I grew up with seriously Unsweet - but I think the comfort factor was part of it

Instead I used the green and blacks for a breakfast pudding, hand blender = cocoa, cottage cheese and a bit of Greek yogurt. As breakfast food it wasn't half so interesting and lost all that on-its-own thing, became just part of nourishment really.

As for parties, I appreciate that I have really super understanding friends. I ask instead in advance, quite jokily really I say oh you know me Im SUCH a fusspot, and people fall over themselves to help. I have some standby plans so if they let me bring something I go for falafel, chicken drumsticks piri piri, cheese that sort of thing

there have been one or two impossible situations - I remember a funeral - where its been more appropriate of course to eat before I go, and then done what I can there, but that's been rare

Its my experience that afterwards, thanking my friends for their efforts, they just love to have a very happy guest , same as I would feel doing the same for them. I love to cater for vegetarian friends or theres someone who doesn't like a certain meat - see we are quite ordinary really

I think it so good you had that experience because you now get the basics and info for next time. Its always meeting these situations that primes me better for the next one. So congratulations on getting through that one in more or less one piece