Union-made Hot Chocolate

[Omaha Steve]

With the country shivering in the midst of a major cold snap we think a smooth, delicious cup of hot chocolate sounds like just the remedy. Union-made chocolatier Ghirardelli has a delectable recipe for what they call “Grown Up” hot chocolate. Can be made just as easily without the liqueur for the kids, and it’s all union made! For a quicker cup of cocoa, they have instant mixes here.


Click here for the recipe: http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101961820057-960/hot-chocolate-2014.pdf





http://www.ghirardelli.com/store/shop-products/collections/hot-cocoa-beverages.html/

[longship]

1. My grandmother's recipe.

She was born in Finland. She lived in the USA for her last 30-some years, and never learned the English language.

I always knew this hot chocolate, since I was very young. And yes, it is not kiddies' hot chocolate.

Ingredients:

Unsweetened powdered cocoa
Sugar
Vanilla extract
Canned condensed (evaporated) milk.
Whole milk.
Shot of bourbon or brandy.

Garnish:
Lots of opportunities here.
Big marshmallows (forget the miniatures)
A mint leaf, crushed and floated on top.


Mix 1 rounded tsp of cocoa and 1 rounded tsp of sugar per serving into a sauce pan. Add enough warm water (hot tap is okay) and stir to form a thick syrup. Add a dash of vanilla per serving.

Put pan on medium low heat. Stir constantly until it bubbles.

Immediately pour in condensed milk and whole milk (about equal amounts, per number of servings) stirring to mix well.

Heat to just barely scalding temp.

Serve immediately.

Pour over two big marshmallows in a mug.

Or, pour in a jigger of booze (your choice, bourbon's great, so is brandy) and top with whipped cream.

We didn't get the booze when we were kids, but those big marshmallows were sure good. Home from school at lunchtime in the winter often meant hot chocolate and bologna sandwiches. Made us kids ready to walk back to school in the cold.

As an adult, I serve it to company in the winter with the shot of booze.

Yummy! Not too sweet.