Holiday Open House: Hot Chocolate

I love the Holiday season.  I love it so much that each year it seems that we start getting into the festivities just a little bit earlier.  My girls and I love decorating, baking, and doing Holiday themed crafts.  I love the fact that I get to have them home to myself for a week!  There just aren't enough days during the year where you can stay home in your PJ's and enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate.  The week after Christmas, we love playing games by the fireplace while indulging in some very yummy cocoa!  Although, I will admit that we typically go for the instant cocoa, it is nice to have homemade creamy Hot Chocolate once in awhile.   Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup white sugar

1 pinch salt

1/3 cup boiling water

3 1/2 cups milk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Directions
Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Stir in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't burn. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

Don't this sound delicious?  If you get a chance to try it out, I'd love to hear your feedback. What is your favorite thing to add to your Hot Chocolate?  For me it is a toss up between marshmallows and mint.  Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!