Pbenjay's Blog

Hot Cocoa

If you’ve been faithfully reading this blog, then you know that I’ve been all about February being the month of RED, as in American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day.  Ahhhh but of course February is also all about  CHOCOLATE.

Here in New York City, Maury Rubin’s City Bakery celebrates HOT CHOCOLATE like nobody else. They hold an Annual Hot Chocolate Festival every February;  each day City Bakery offers a special Hot Chocolate such as Bourbon Hot Chocolate,  Banana Hot Chocolate, Malted Milk Hot Chocolate and on and on and on.  I used to try to get there at least once during February to experience the world’s greatest hot chocolate.  Unfortunately, most of February is usually spent bemoaning my weight which has been enhanced over the holidays OR it’s Lent and I, in the spirit of sacrifice (read dieting lol) decide to give up chocolate!  This year with only a handful of days left in the month, I’m committed to a 17 day diet and even if I fasted for two days, I think the caloric intake of one cup of Maury’s hot chocolate would put me over the calorie count edge 😦 THEY MAKE IT OUT OF MELTED CHOCOLATE !!!!  Below is a link to City Bakery’s web site – http://www.thecitybakery.com/hot-chocolate.html

But if you don’t live in New York City, try these two delicious make-at-home Hot Cocoa treats.

Milk Chocolate and Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa

2 cups whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

5 oz milk chocolate chopped (1 cup)

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Warm milk and cream in a medium saucepan overa medium-low hear.  Add chocolate, and whisk until melted and combined.  Continue to warm mixture until thick, about 5 minutes.  Whisk in peanut butter until smooth.

Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa

2 cups whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

5 oz bittersweet chocolate chopped (1 cup)

2 TBS light-brown sugar

1/4 tsp grated fresh nutmeg (probably use ground)

Warm milk and cream in a medium saucepan over a medium-low heat.  Add chocolate.  Whisk until melted and combined.  Add sugar and whisk until dissolved.  Continue to warm mixture until thick, about 5 minutes.  Whisk in nutmeg.

Recipes from Martha Stewart Living

Related Articles

• Hot chocolate recipes: one fattening, one not (chicagonow.com)