Hot Chocolate Love!

Oh I love my hot chocolate on cold days (well, as cold as it may get a few times a year in California!). Three or four simple ingredients - milk, cocoa or chocolate, sugar, vanilla - It is the prefect way to get a chocolate fix without all the fat and calories but still enjoy the antioxidant benefits and taste of chocolate! Anyway I know many of you elsewhere  in the nation are in the perfect Hot Chocolate weather/time of year right now, so I just wanted to share a few of my favorite way to enjoy the drink of the Gods! As I actually rarely drink milk, I usually make my hot chocolate with a combination of cocoa, stevia and a teeny tiny bit of salt to bring the flavor out and add to heated vanilla almond milk.  Also if you use chocolate vs cocoa you get a much richer experience (but more calories).   So try one tonight and post what YOUR favorite way to drink or make hot chocolate is!

BLEND IT! Take your favorite hot chocolate recipe and after it is nice and hot, pour it in the blender for 15-30 seconds and pour back in your mug and top with a bit of cool whip. This gives you a yummy, frothy, delightful mug of hot chocolate!

TOP IT WITH ICE CREAM! If you have not had hot chocolate with a dollop of PEPPERMINT ICE CREAM on top, you have not lived.  The creamy icy coolness of peppermint ice cream on top of warm dark chocolate is a decadent combination! 

DARKEN IT! If I am really craving chocolate I make my hot chocolate European style! Basically the same combination of ingredients for a cup and reduce the liquid by 1/3-1/2 so you get a richer, thicker experience.  Honestly sometimes I only need 1/4 of a cup of rich goodness to satisfy me and warm me from the inside out and hit all my taste buds too!  Experiment with this a little and you will know what the Europeans rave about!

A few recipes:

EUROPEAN HOT CHOCOLATE

2 servings

Ingredients

1 cup milk

1 1/2 oz. semisweet chocolate, shaved

whipped cream or creme fraiche (optional)

Directions

Split the chocolate in half, but reserve a couple teaspoons, and put it in two mugs.  Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat, making sure to stir continuously.  When it starts to foam, take off heat and pour into each mug.  Stir until the chocolate has fully incorporated.  Top with whipped cream or creme fraiche and some chocolate shavings.

Healthier (non dairy) Hot Chocolate

(Serves 1)

Based on this recipe.

• 2/3 cup milk of choice
• 1/3 cup full-fat canned coconut milk (for notes on lower-cal options, see nutritional info link below)
• 2 T cocoa powder
• 1/16 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• sweetener, such as 1 stevia packet or 1 tablespoon sugar or agave

Combine all ingredients and stir. Either cook on the stovetop, or: microwave 30 seconds, stir, microwave 30 more seconds, stir, microwave 30 more seconds or until hot and completely mixed.