Hot Chocolate

In a heavy saucepan, combine the milk, vanilla, and salt and bring the mixture just to a boil over medium heat. In a small heatproof bowl, combine the chocolate with about 2/3 cup of the hot milk mixture and whisk the mixture until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Whisk the chocolate mixture into the remaining milk mixture and simmer the hot chocolate, whisking, for 2 minutes.

Serves 2

Variations

You can make your own hot chocolate recipe by adding additions of spices, extracts, nuts, teas and candies.  Here are just a few tasty options!

Amaretto—add 1 tablespoon Amaretto liqueur

Mexican—add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and 2 tablespoons brown sugar to mixture

Peppermint—substitute vanilla with ½ teaspoon of essential oil of peppermint

Mayan—add ½ teaspoon of ancho chili and 1 tablespoon of honey.  For the adventurous, add 1 tablespoon of finely ground toasted almonds

Coconut—substitute half the milk for cream of coconut (3/4 cup)

Mocha—add 1tablespoon powdered espresso to the mix

Caramel—add 2 tablespoons of caramel syrup

This is just the beginning!  Don’t forget the garnish—fresh marshmallows,
cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate sprinkles or crushed peppermint candies are a great beginning!