COOKED IN TRADITION HEARTWARMING HOT CHOCOLATE BY GRACE LOWER
Hot, hot – hey, we got it! That’s a Polar Express reference – and if you didn’t know that, then you need to grab your loved ones and a cozy blanket, and sit by the fire to watch one more post-holiday season holiday movie. Don’t forget the hot cocoa, because, spoiler alert, there’s an entire elaborate musical dance scene about hot, hot, hot, hot chocolate
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that’ll make you crave a warm cup of chocolatey goodness. ot chocolate is a wonderful winter delicacy that we all know and love. It is cooked in tradition in my household, reminding me of childhood memories spent sledding and building snowmen, followed by a nice cup of cocoa to defrost my nearly-blue hands. Needless to say, hot chocolate holds numerous happy memories for me – and is also simply delicious! It just so happens that it’s almost time to celebrate National Hot Chocolate Day (January 31), and what better way to celebrate than to whip up some fun hot cocoa and cocoa-inspired dishes?
feel free to mix and match ingredients and ideas as you please. Happy hot-cocoa-ing!
TRADITIONAL HOT CHOCOLATE (makes 4-6 servings) – 3 cups milk – 1 cup heavy cream – ½ cup sugar – ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder – Kosher salt – 6 ounces milk chocolate, chopped – 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract – Marshmallows or whipped cream, for topping In a medium saucepan, combine milk, heavy cream, sugar, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt. While whisking occasionally, cook over
But before we jump into recipes, did you know that the yummy cocoa in that mug keeping your hands warm on a cold winter day is older than modern civilization? Hot chocolate’s roots span hundreds and hundreds of years, with the earliest forms of cocoa being enjoyed by the Aztec, Mayan, and Olmec groups in what is now Mexico and Central America, according to the Institute of Culinary Education. However, this cocoa differed greatly from what we drink today – it was served cold and wasn’t sweet; rather, it was made using cacao beans and water, flowers, and spices. The cacao bean was predominantly used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes in these cultures. Later, Spanish colonizers altered the drink to cater to European tastes favoring coffee and tea, leading to the growing and harvesting of chocolate in tropical-climate European colonies. Edible chocolate gradually appeared as well, giving rise to the modern chocolate bar. To help you spruce up your hot chocolate this winter season, I’ve compiled a handful of unique hot cocoa and cocoa-inspired recipes for you to enjoy. Try any or all of these tasty treats, and 48
CIRCA Magazine
| January • February • March 2022
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