Chocolate Egg Cream Shooter Food

NEW YORK EGG CREAM

Steps:

• Pour 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup and 1/4 cup of milk or half-and-half into a 16-ounce glass. While beating vigorously with a fork, slowly add club soda until the glass is almost full. Add a straw and serve very cold.

CLASSIC EGG CREAM

Steps:

• Pour the milk into a freezer-proof container and freeze until the milk begins to freeze a little, 40 minutes to 1 hour. It should not be frozen solid, but have milk ice floating on top and attached to the sides. The colder it is, the better your egg cream will come out.
• Spoon the chocolate syrup into the bottom of a tall 10-ounce glass. Pour in the milk (it should only come about halfway up to leave room for the seltzer). Slide a long spoon into the glass, and then bounce the spoon up and down and stir just slightly to agitate the chocolate syrup at the bottom of the glass. Pour in the seltzer water while continuing the bounce the spoon. This method combines the syrup and seltzer and creates the frothy milk on top. The more you bounce the more bubbles you'll get. This is the old school method, and how those fountain shops got that amazing froth on top. If it's not working for you - abandon ship and use an electric frother or a blender. It will still be delicious!

CHOCOLATE EGG CREAM

Steps:

• I find using melted ice cream with milk and chocolate sauce adds extra flavor and richness to an egg cream. I drank these as a kid and really found them to be the perfect blend of sweet and bubbly. I come from a house where my father would keep the champagne for New Years in the freezer until we were ready to drink it. There were always little ice chips in it and I have really grown to love ice cold drinks of any kind. This recipe is no different. For me, all of the ingredients have to be very cold for optimum results.
• Pour the syrup into the bottom of a glass. Add the skim milk and stir to blend slightly. Add the seltzer.;
• In a small bowl, combine and whisk the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt with the water and vanilla extract. Transfer to a small saucepan and simmer over low heat until the ingredients meld together, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside to cool. Refrigerate. Use as needed.

CLASSIC CHOCOLATE EGG CREAM

Steps:

• Pour the milk into a very cold 12-ounce glass. Slowly pour in the seltzer, then gently add the syrup. Using a long spoon, stir well and serve.

EGG CREAM

Steps:

• Pour ½ cup whole milk into a 16-oz. glass and place spoon in glass. Pour seltzer (or squirt if using siphon) into glass to reach ½" below rim; a snow-white foam will develop. Pour ¼ cup chocolate syrup into center of white foam, then stir in syrup and remove spoon through center of foam. Editor's note: This recipe was first printed in the February 2002 issue of 'Gourmet.'