Fall Recipes - Hot Cocoa & Chocolate Syrup

Happy First Day of Autumn!

My hips will let you know that I love, love, love hot cocoa. I confess. I'm working on the whole French women don't get fat thing, but it's slow going with my other ailments. (A good excuse if nothing else. :sheepish grin: ) So in the mean time, I'm stopping to enjoy some of the good things in life.

After being raise on my mom's good cooking and fresh produce, I'm a bit of a food snob. I don't like just any hot cocoa. I only enjoy the good stuff, made from scratch.

Old Fashioned Hot Cocoa
For about 3 cups

1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
3 tablespoons of sugar - I use turbinado or some other lesser processed sugar.
dash of salt
2 1/2 cups of milk

Stir together dry ingredients. (Stirring all the dry ingredients together first keeps the cocoa from clumping when you add the liquid.) Add water or milk in small quantities stirring to make a paste that gradually thins when all liquid is added. It will be watery but thick.

Heat on the stove top or in the microwave until the desired temperature and the sugar is melted. ~

I keep the following made up for the boys so they can have chocolate milk.

Chocolate Syrup
Makes about 6 cups

3 cups cocoa powder
4 1/2 cups sugar - again, I use turbinado or some other lesser processed sugar.
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 cups water (or milk for a richer blend)
1 tablespoons vanilla extract

Stir together cocoa, sugar & salt. Add water or milk in small quantities stirring to make a paste that gradually thins when all liquid is added. It will be watery but thick.

Boil 5-7 minutes, stirring rapidly, until sauce begins to thicken. (I put it in the microwave and stir every 30-45 seconds until it’s properly thick.)

Stored in the fridge and use just as your would Hershey’s syrup. ~

Enjoy!