Hot Cocoa Many Ways And Many Tastes Food

CREAMY HOT COCOA

Steps:

• Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

SIMPLE HOT COCOA FOR ONE

Steps:

• Whisk together the cocoa, sugar, salt, and about 2 tablespoons milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until cocoa and sugar are dissolved. Whisk in the rest of the milk and heat it over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until it is hot. Stir in the vanilla and serve.
• If you like it frothy, blend it in the blender.
• This recipe multiplies easily. When you get up to a quart of milk, use 1/4 teaspoon salt.

HOT COCOA (MANY WAYS AND MANY TASTES)

Steps:

• In medium saucepan, stir together sugar, cocoa and salt; stir in water.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil.
• Boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add milk; heat to serving temperature, stirring constantly.
• DO NOT BOIL.
• Remove from heat; add vanilla.
• Beat with rotary beater or whisk until foamy.
• Serve topped with marshmallows or sweetened whipped cream if desired.
• Spiced cocoa: Add 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg with vanilla.
• Serve with a cinnamon stick, if desired.
• Mint Cocoa: Add 1/2 teaspoon mint extract or 3 Tablespoons crushed hard peppermint candy or 2 to 3 Tablespoons white creme de menthe with vanilla.
• Serve with peppermint candy stick, if desired.
• Citrus Cocoa: Add 1/2 teaspoon orange extract or 2 to 3 Tablespoons orange liquer with vanilla.
• Swiss Mocha: Add 2 to 2 1/2 teaspoons powdered instant coffee with vanilla.
• Canadian Cocoa: Add 1/2 teaspoon maple extract with vanilla.
• Cocoa Au Lait: Omit marshmallows or sweetened whipped cream.
• Spoon 2 Tablespoons softened vanilla ice cream on top of each cup of cocoa at serving time.
• Slim-Trim Cocoa: Omit sugar.
• Substitute skim milk for milk.
• Proceed as above.
• Stir in sugar substitute with sweetening equivalence of 1/2 sugar with vanilla.
• Quick Microwave Cocoa: To make one serving, in microwave safe cup or mug, combine 1 heaping teaspoon Hershey's Cocoa, 2 heaping spoons sugar and dash of salt.
• Add 2 teaspoons cold milk; stir until smooth.
• Fill cup with milk.
• Microwave on HIGH (100%) 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until hot.
• Stir to blend.

HOMESTYLE HOT COCOA

Steps:

• Whisk together sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and salt in a saucepan; stir in boiling water. Whisk until sugar is dissolved.
• Bring cocoa mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes; stir milk and 1/2 cup half-and-half into water mixture. Cook and stir just until hot, about 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in remaining half-and-half and vanilla extract.
• Divide cocoa into mugs, top with marshmallows, and serve.