The Weather Outside is Frightful

                                                                             

Here in the midwest the weather has been brutal.  Try coming home and warming up to a "grown up" cup of hot chocolate.  I discovered this recipe when I went on vacation and visited a Ghirardelli chocolate shop. I purchased a tin of drinking chocolate and it reminded me of the hot chocolate Vianne(Juliette Binoche) made for Roux(Johnny Depp) in the movie Chocolat.

"Grown Up" Hot Chocolate 

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

4 oz. 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips

1 cup half-and-half

1 TB amaretto   (may omit)
1 TSP vanilla extract

1/2 cup whipped cream

Directions:

In a saucepan over low heat, bring chocolate and half-and-half to simmer, whisking constantly.  Simmer 1 minute or until mixture thickens slightly.  Remove from heat; whisk in extract and amaretto.

Pour into four 1/2 cup demitasse or coffee cups.  Top each with 2 TB whipped cream, dust with unsweetened cocoa (if desired).  Serve immediately.