A Spiritful Hot Chocolate Food

A SPIRITFUL HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Microwave milk in a microwave-safe cup until hot, about 1 1/2 minutes; stir in hot chocolate mix. Stir brandy into hot chocolate and top with marshmallow ghost.

THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Place milk and half-and-half in a saucepan and heat to a simmer over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, stir together the cocoa powder, sugar, and cinnamon. A few teaspoons at a time, stir the hot milk into the cocoa mixture to make a smooth paste. Scrape the cocoa mixture into the saucepan with the milk and simmer 2 minutes; do not let it boil. Stir in the vanilla and keep warm in a thermos.
• Pour into small serving cups and place 4 mini-marshmallows on each serving or spritz them with whipped cream. Serve immediately.
• Make the marshmallows: Combine the water, the corn syrup, and the sugar in a saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Bring to a boil and boil to "soft-ball" stage, or about 235 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Sprinkle the gelatin over the 2 tablespoons water and let sponge.
• When the syrup reaches 235 degrees F, remove it from the heat, add the gelatin, and mix. Pour the syrup into the whipped egg whites. Add the vanilla and continue whipping until stiff.
• Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper then sprinkle it with powdered sugar. Pour the marshmallow onto the pan and spread it out. Let cool about 2 hours then with a pair of scissors dipped in cornstarch, cut out football shapes.

DELICIOUS HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• To make the basic hot chocolate, combine the milk with the half-and-half in a small saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat, and then stir in the chocolate chips. Stir until melted (though there will still be lovely particles of chocolate throughout). If it's too chocolaty for you, splash in a little more milk. Add a splash of vanilla extract. If it's not quite sweet enough for you, add 1 teaspoon or so of sugar. Serve in mugs with whipped cream.

A SPIRITFUL HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Microwave milk in a microwave-safe cup until hot, about 1 1/2 minutes; stir in hot chocolate mix. Stir brandy into hot chocolate and top with marshmallow ghost.n

A SPIRITFUL HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Microwave milk in a microwave-safe cup until hot, about 1 1/2 minutes; stir in hot chocolate mix. Stir brandy into hot chocolate and top with marshmallow ghost.n

THE VERY BEST HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, heat 2 1/2 cups milk and 3/4 cup of the whipping cream over medium heat, stirring often until steaming.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together sugar, cocoa and salt.
• Whisk in remaining cold milk and vanilla to make a smooth paste.
• Reduce heat to medium low and gradually whisk cocoa mixture into hot milk mixture until blended. Heat for about two minutes or until steaming hot.
• In a small chilled bowl, using electric mixrer or whisk, whip remaining whipping cream until thick.
• Ladle hot chocolate into four warmed mugs and evenly dollop whipped cream evenly into each mug. Stir toswirl lightly.
• Serve immediately.
• Note: if desired add 1 teaspoon coffee or chocolate flavoured liquer and 1/2 cup strong coffee to each mug of hot chocolate before adding the whipped cream. This is purely optional.