Chosen bites: Snuggle up with a cup of hot chocolate

Executive chef Laura Frankel prepares for "snow-mageddon" by ensuring she is stocked up on rich and creamy good quality chocolate.

By LAURA FRANKEL
Hot Chocolate 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Hot Chocolate 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
With the Midwest bracing for "snow-mageddon," I am calmly making sure that I am stocked up on supplies for hot chocolate. The possibilities are endless for making hot chocolate. Milk, chocolate (good quality please), sugar and heat. That is about it.
Keep kosher and want to keep the hot chocolate pareve? No problem. I drink Hot Cocoa almost every night. Rich in antioxidants, deep flavor and completely satisfying.
Looking to snuggle up with someone special and watch the snow pile up? Try any of the hot chocolatey beverages and add a shot of liqueur. I like adding Sabra, Godiva, DeKuyper’s Butterscotch. Whichever your favorite chocolate beverage is-enjoy!
Hot Chocolate is velvety and luxurious. Hot Cocoa is rich and deeply satisfying without the added dairy ingredients. I love both.
Hot Chocolate
-2 cups 2 % milk-3 ounces dark bittersweet chocolate, chopped chocolate-2 teaspoons sugar
-Heat the milk slowly over low heat. Add the chocolate and sugar. -Garnish with marshmallows, whipped cream, cinnamon, white chocolate shavings, peppermint candy.
Hot Cocoa
-2 cups water
-2 heaping tablespoons Dutch Process cocoa (I use Valrhona)
-1 tablespoon sugar
-Dash of vanilla
-Heat the water over low heat.
-Add the remaining ingredients and whisk until combined.
-Garnish with marshmallows, cinnamon stick.
White Hot Chocolate
-2 cups of 2% milk
-3 ounces white chocolate
-1 teaspoons sugar
-Dash of vanilla
-Heat the milk over low heat.
-Add the remaining ingredients and garnish with marshmallows, whipped cream, dark chocolate shavings, lemon twist, lavender leaves.
Hot Hot Chocolate
-2 cups 2 % milk
-3 ounces dark bittersweet chocolate, chopped chocolate
-2 tablespoons Dutch process cocoa powder
-1 teaspoon ancho chili flakes
-Pinch of cayenne pepper
-2 teaspoons sugar
-Heat the milk slowly over low heat.
-Add the chocolate and sugar.
-Garnish with marshmallows, whipped cream, cinnamon, white chocolate shavings, dash of hot sauce.