My Drinking Chocolate

Tips: This is exactly what I’d want to drink on a chilly evening. It’s very bittersweet, rich beyond the dreams of avarice, and steaming hot. A few years ago, I developed a Liquid Decadence drinking chocolate, but I think this is better; it’s certainly simpler. You will need a one quart, heavy-bottomed, nonaluminum pot, a small whisk, and a heat-resistant rubber spatula to make this.

You must use best-quality chocolate here; the supermarket stuff simply won’t do! It’s easy to play with the flavor of this; you can add a bit more sugar (preferably superfine), or add 1 to 2 teaspoons of a sweet liqueur (such as dark rum or Grand Marnier), adding it with the vanilla. Incidentally, don’t omit the salt here. You use a tiny quantity, but without it the drink will taste flat. Lightly sweetened whipped cream isn’t mandatory as a garnish, but it cuts the richness and adds to the elegance; I also think that the use of such whipped cream negates the necessity of adding more sugar to the drink.

Yield: Generous 1-1/2 cups; 2 to 3 Servings

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces best-quality bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped
• 1 ounce best-quality unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• Few grains of salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
  
  
Optional
• Additional sugar (preferably superfine)
• Small amount of a sweet liqueur
  
  
Garnish
• Lightly sweetened whipped cream

Method:

In bowl of food processor fitted with steel blade, combine both chocolates, sugar, and salt. Cover; process at high speed just until chocolates are finely ground. Set aside near stovetop.

In a one-quart, heavy-bottomed, nonaluminum saucepan, heat milk over low heat, stirring often with small whisk, until it is steaming hot. Carefully add chopped chocolate mixture (don’t let the hot milk splash you as you do this!).

Continue cooking mixture over low heat, stirring almost constantly with whisk and scraping bottom and sides of pot with rubber spatula frequently. Mixture will steam for several minutes before coming to a boil, and as temperature increases it will thicken slightly. When mixture achieves a boil, continue cooking and stirring for 30 to 45 seconds.

Remove from heat; whisk in vanilla and either optional ingredient, if desired. Divide among small mugs, top with whipped cream, and serve immediately.

Note: If you have leftovers, cool briefly, then chill, covering tightly when cold. This will last for a day or three in the fridge. To reheat, make sure your mug is microwaveable. Heat in microwave at 50% (medium) power for short intervals, stirring well after each, just until mixture is very hot.

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