Friday, November 5, 2010

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!

      3 comments:

      Sarah Ann said...

      That does sound SO delish!
      I've never made it from scratch! I'll have to try it!!

      Liz Mays said...

      I've never tried to make my own, but I'll bet it's way better!

      Auntie E said...

      Oh this sound good , my daughter love hot chocolate.
      Auntie E's Kitchen