It's getting chilly out there. This is my favorite time of year. Roasted pumpkin seeds. Sweaters and jeans. Crazy Halloween costume ads. This weekend is a 3 day weekend for most of us. Besides being a shopping "bonanza", it's also a celebration of Columbus Day. I intend to celebrate by doing some cleaning, going to an art opening, watching a movie one afternoon, and sipping hot chocolate (i.e. taking it easy). To help you take it easy, here's my recipe for hot chocolate mix. It's really a dark chocolate mix. No sugar laced brown water here. I altered Alton Brown's recipe to create a dark chocolate version, enjoy!
1 cup cocoa (baking or dutch. Dutch is better IMO)
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup powdered milk
1/2 tsp salt (finely ground sea salt is best, don't use iodized)
2 tsp cornstarch
1 pinch finely ground cayenne pepper
I use skim milk to make this. You will have to experiment with it if you use other kinds of milk. Don't use water. It is just so... wrong IMO. Heat 1 3/4 cups skim milk. Place 2 heaping tablespoons of mix into your mug of choice (mine holds 1 3/4 cups, a big travel, insulated thing). Pour half of hot milk into mug, stir. Pour in the rest, stir. Enjoy.
