December 9, 2008

Hot Cocoa

Hot cocoa is such a treat! It is comforting, warming, and delicious. I grew up mostly on packets of hot cocoa mix, Nestle Quick and Hershey's syrup though I do remember standing at the stove with my mom watching a pan of milk boil almost over - maybe during the Ovaltine craze of the 70s (it was "good for you"). For my children, I used the packets until I started reading labels then it was no hot cocoa until I found some packets at Whole Foods but they don't taste good. I started making my own mix and it is worth the extra effort. I haven't ventured into homemade marshmallows, yet. Look for a future post (have you ever read the ingredients on a bag of marshmallows - just call them chemical-mallows!). Here is my recipe:

Hot Cocoa
1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa (the better the cocoa the better the end result). Lately I have been using Droste because it is what I have on hand.
1/4 cup sugar or to taste
pinch of salt
2 1/2 cups milk (the more fat in the milk the richer it will be)

Put the cocoa, sugar, and salt in heavy bottomed pan and whisk together.
Add some milk and whisk until mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
Heat over medium high heat whisking frequently until hot (4 - 5 minutes).
Do not boil for the best flavor

Serve hot with marshmallows or whip cream or plain if you please.

3 comments:

ORSprueills said...

As always your pics make my mouth water.
I've used powdered milk to make a dry mix with cocoa, which can be added to water. It has a rich flavor too. Nice for traveling.

Shari said...

I love the look of your glaze! This challenge required SO much patience!! Well done.

Anonymous said...

it's a very wet and miserable evening in london and i really wish i had a cup of your cocoa to cheer me up!