Hot chocolate

Description
Spicy and will warm you right up.

For some, hot chocolate is a comfort food.. it's warm and sweet. Sometimes it's part of a family bedtime ritual.

Hot chocolate recipes usually involve chocolate melted and dissolved into warmed milk. Variations include different spices to intensify the flavor, especially "warm" spices. Alternatives to the milk include cream, water, soy milk or other milk substitutes. Some recipes include sweeteners or liquors. To add a special touch, finish it off with whipped cream, whisked foam, chocolate shavings, a stirrer made of a peppermint stick, marshmallows or sticks coated in rock candy (crystalized sugar).

Ingredients

 * 1 	quart milk
 * 7 	ounces Mexican Chocolate
 * 1/4 	teaspoon ground cinnamon
 * 1/4 	teaspoon Vanilla Extract
 * 1 	pinch salt
 * Chili Powder (optional)

Directions

 * 1) Cut the chocolate into small pieces.
 * 2) In a saucepan, bring the milk to a boil and then add the chocolate.
 * 3) After the chocolate is incorporated, add the cinnamon, vanilla, chili powder and salt.
 * 4) Simmer for 10 minutes and then whisk briskly to a foam right before serving.
 * 5) Divide evenly into 4 cups and serve.

Alternate Recipe - Mexican Cocoa #2
In this alternate recipe, chocolate bar pieces are blended as opposed to being melted gradually. Many believe that all things being equal, blending does more to improve the quality of the hot chocolate than using a more expensive chocolate.

Ingredients

 * Half a bar of 65% to 80% Chocolate
 * Milk
 * Salt
 * Vanilla Extract

Directions

 * 1) Break up chocolate bar into small pieces and put into a blender, food processor, or a cup suitable for use with a stick blender
 * 2) steam milk using an expresso machine until it is thoroughly hot
 * 3) pour enough milk into the cup/blender/food processor to just cover the chocolate.
 * 4) put in a dash of salt
 * 5) put in a teaspoon of vanilla extract
 * 6) blend until frothy, about 45 seconds
 * 7) serve immediately

Other Hot Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes

 * Hot spiced chocolate
 * hot cocoa mix
 * Perfectly Chocolate Hot Cocoa
 * Hot Cocoa for a Crowd
 * Italian-style hot cocoa
 * Instant Cocoa
 * Laura Bush's Hot Chocolate
 * Maple Hot Chocolate
 * Chilled Hot Chocolate
 * Frozen Caramel Hot Chocolate
 * New England Hot Chocolate