Diet Chocolate-flavored Syrup

Ingredients

 * 1/2 cup firmly packed cocoa powder
 * 1 1/4 cup cold water
 * 1/4 tsp salt
 * sugar substitute equal to
 * -½ cup sugar **
 * 2 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
 * 1/4 tsp chocolate extract - optional
 * personal notes from ursula
 * -taylor - original recipe
 * -did not call for chocolate
 * -extract but i find that it
 * -does help the flavor.
 * **also found that substitute
 * -to equal ½ cup sugar was
 * -not quite sweet enough for
 * -me - so adjust to your own
 * -taste...

Directions
Mix cocoa, water and salt in a heavy saucepan until smooth. Bring to a boil, and simmer gently, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool 10 minutes. Add sweetener and vanilla and mix well. Pour into a jar, cover, and store in refrigerator. Stir in jar before measuring to use. Yield: 20 servings - 1 ¼ cups. 1 serving = 1 tbsp. nutritive values per serving: cho 2 g, pro 1 g, fat 0 g, fiber 0.1 g, sodium 25 mg, chol 0 mg. Food exchanges per serving: up to 2 tbsp. may be considered "free". If ¼ cup is used - count as 1 vegetable exchange or ½ fruit exchange. Low sodium diets: omit salt from recipe. Variations: chocolate milk - 1 cup skim milk and 1 to 2 tbsp. syrup. Combine ingredients in a tall, cold glass and stir vigorously to mix well. Yield: 1 serving of 8 oz. nutritive values per serving: cho 13 g, pro 9 g, fat 1 g, cal 97, fiber 0.1 g, sodium 151 mg, chol 4 mg. Food exchanges per 1 tbsp. syrup - 1 skim milk exchange. Low sodium diets: omit salt from syrup recipe. Hot milk chocolate - ingredients same as for chocolate milk. Heat milk and syrup together in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently until very hot. Serve immediately to a warmed mug or cup. Serving size, nutritive value, exchange value and for low-sodium diets are the same as for chocolate milk. Mocha milk drink - 1 tbsp. syrup, 1 tsp. instant coffee powder and 1 cup (8 oz). Skim milk. Measure syrup into a tall glass, add instant coffee powder, and pour milk on top slowly, stirring vigorously to blend well. If you have a blender, measure ingredients into blender, cover, and mix at low speed for about 30 seconds. Yield: 1 serving of 8 oz. nutritive values per serving: cho 14 g, pro 9 g, fat 1 g, cal 100, fiber 1.1 g, sodium 152 mg, chol 4 mg. Food exchange per serving: 1 skim milk exchange. Low sodium diets: omit salt from syrup recipe. Double chocolate soda - 2 to 3 ice cubes, cracked into small pcs., 2 tbsp. chocolate syrup, 6 to 8 oz. chilled club soda. Place ice cubes in a tall beverage glass. Measure chocolate syrup on top of ice. Add club soda slowly; stir vigorously with a long-handled beverage spoon to blend. Serve at once. Yield: 1 serving of 8 to 10 oz. some call this drink a chocolate phosphate. Nutritive values per serving: cho 3 g, pro 1 g, fat 1 g, cal 22, fiber 0.2 g, sodium 109 mg, chol 0 mg. Food exchange per serving: 1 serving may be considered "free". Low sodium diets s- omit salt from syrup recipe