From Sampler to Sower

Recently a fellow youth minister whose blog (The Timbo Times) I read wrote about his love of hot chocolate.  I especially liked his description of coffee as “hot of water that’s been carelessly drained through dirty beans.”  It reminded me of my grandfather, who when asked in a restaurant what he’d like to drink, would invariably reply “bean soup.” But I digress.

I chided him that a true hot chocolate lover wouldn’t just write about it, he or she would share their favorite recipe for the drink.  I figured that I ought not council of others what I am unwilling to do myself, (and I was short a post for today), so here it is.  I will warn you, this is true hot chocolate.

Brad’s Hot Chocolate Recipe

Serves two

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups Milk
• ½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• ¼ tsp Ground Cinnamon
• Dash of Ground Cloves
• Dash of Ground Allspice
• Dash of Salt
• ½ cup Ghirardelli’s 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
• ¼ tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper

Instructions:

1. Put Milk and Heavy Whipping cream in small saucepan and begin heating over medium low heat.   Throughout the process pay close attention to prevent the milk from scorching.
2. Add cinnamon, cloves, allspice and dash of salt.  Stirring constantly, bring milk just up to boiling temperature, being careful not to allow it to boil.
3. Add chocolate and stir constantly until all the chocolate has melted.
4. Place hot chocolate and pepper into a blender and blend until smooth.
5. Serve.