Baltimore Brew

From Francine Halvorsen…

“SPICED OR NOT HOT CHOCOLATE”

This crowd-pleaser needn’t wait for the holidays – it’s a treat on any cold day. If you like, it can be cooled and served over ice as a warm-day dessert drink. For a more conventional hot chocolate, omit the chili powder, cinnamon, and ginger and increase the vanilla to 4 teaspoons.

Yield: 10 to 12 servings

1½ cups water
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
8 cups (2 quarts) milk
1 cup hot chocolate powder
3½ ounces (1 bar) dark chocolate, chopped
2 cups chocolate chips
1 teaspoon ancho chili powder) (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1 teaspoon ginger (optional)
2 teaspoons (double if hot spices are omitted) pure vanilla extract
1 cup (8-ounces) heavy cream, whipped

In a medium to large saucepan over medium heat, bring the water to a low boil and stir in the cocoa powder and salt. Stir constantly until the cocoa is dissolved. Stir in the milk until barely simmering, then stir in the chocolate powder, chopped chocolate, and chocolate chips, Stir and add the spices, if using, and the vanilla. This is a good place to use a wooden whisk or a teflon one. Whisk until all the chocolate is melted and well incorporated. If you want to , you can carry this ready made cold and heat and whisk at your destinatin. Or if you have a large thermos or two that will keep it hot, use that. [OK? Vanilla was omitted.]

Serve immediately, topped with dollops of whipped cream.
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“EASY HOT CHOCOLATE”

Yield: 4 mugs

5 cups whole or low-fat milk
1 cup chocolate syrup
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
Mini marshmallows, for serving

Bring the milk to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium to medium-high heat. Stir in the chocolate syrup, cocoa and sugar. Lower heat and simmer and whisk constantly until hot.

Remove from the heat and pour into mugs. Top with mini marshmallows and serve.

– These recipes are excerpted, with permission, from Francine Halvorsen’s 2007 Crowd-Pleasing Potluck: 225 Delicious Recipes Guaranteed to Win Rave Reviews.