Serve it Up With Some Chocolate...

As Valentine’s day is around the bend, you can see stores filled with flowers, hearts, candy and of course chocolate. But why not serve chocolate with a twist? Try the orange scented hot chocolate or a peanut butter hot chocolate drink, or just go in for the traditional hot chocolate. Whatever your choice, here are some of what I think are the best chocolate drink recipes…

Aztec Chocolate
Ingredients:

• Unsweetened baking chocolate – 1 ounce.
• Vanilla – 1 teaspoon.
• Boiling water – 2/3 cup.
• Chili peppers, ground – ½ teaspoon.

Preparation:

Start by grating the unsweetened chocolate in a bowl and pouring hot water over it, this will let it melt a bit and then you can mix and mash it into a paste. Next add the remaining water and the vanilla and using a blender, mix it well till it becomes frothy. Next chili pepper for a twist. Do not let the chocolate completely dissolve; this will add some texture to the drink.

Chocolate Caliente
Ingredients:

• Baker’s chocolate broken in pieces – 4 squares.
• Skimmed milk – 2 cup.
• Vanilla essence – 3 drops.
• Cinnamon – 1 pinch.
• Ground cloves – 1 pinch.

Preparation:

Take a saucepan and to it add the milk, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon and clove and mix gently while on medium heat. Take care not to boil the mixture. Using a whisk mix it will and let it become frothy. Pour into mugs, add sugar and top with some more cinnamon.

Creamy Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:

• Heavy cream, chilled – 1/3 cup.
• Sugar – 1 tablespoon.
• Bittersweet chocolate – 4 ounces.
• Whole milk – 2 cups.

Preparation:

Add the sugar in the cream and using a blender, mix well till it forms stiff peaks. Next chop the chocolate, keeping aside 2 teaspoons. Take a pan and heat milk and chocolate in it over medium heat and let it simmer. Pour into mugs, top with whipped cream and sprinkle the remaining chocolate.

Orange scented Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:

• Milk - 2 cups.
• bittersweet chocolate, chopped - 4 ounces.
• Orange peel strips - 3.
• Instant coffee powder - 1/2 teaspoon.
• Nutmeg - a pinch.

Preparation:

Take a medium sized saucepan and place it on low heat. To this add the milk, chocolate, coffee powder, orange strips and nutmeg. Stir properly
and then bring to a boil. Next remove from heat and beat with a whisk till it is frothy. Place it back on the stove and bring to boil once again. Whisk once more and then remove the orange peel and pour into mugs. Serve hot and frothy.

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:

• Milk - 8 ounces.
• Chocolate syrup - 4 teaspoons.
• Peanut butter - 1 tablespoon.
• Whipped cream from can - for topping.
• Chocolate sprinkles - for topping.

Preparation:

Take a sauce pan and place on medium heat. To this add the milk and heat well. Be careful to skim properly. Next add the chocolate syrup and stir well till well blended. Then add the peanut butter and allow this to melt properly. Take it off the heat and pour in mugs. Top with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.