Italian Hot Chocolate
By Enzelika
My brother and I didn’t grow up with many traditions, so we settled on creating our own. Like when we were younger, whoever called shotgun on a road trip would have to buy the other a snack at the next gas station; which then turned to us fighting over the back seat for more comfort. When we put up a Christmas tree, it was often I, the youngest, shortest sibling, who had to put the angel on the very top of the tree whilst being recorded. Now it’s my brother's job as I’ve outgrown him.
When something misfortunate happens: we fail a class, go through a breakup, lose a loved one-- we make hot chocolate. Even in the summer.
Late night, the snow had fallen in the back of my jacket and not even the driver's attempt to overheat the bus had managed to warm me. The cold left me lethargic and my fingers could barely move to pull out my phone. I texted my brother and asked if he could plug in the heated blanket and make me hot chocolate, as I was nearing my stop. He complied to the former, yet was unable to make a hot mug of chocolate, as we didn’t have an instant package. It used to be a quick packet of chocolate dust, add it in a mug and put in milk, then froth it. My brother excused himself from that step, he’s a texture avoider and the bubbles made him gag.
Already set on the idea of having hot chocolate, I looked up how to make it without an instant packet. I came across something simple, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, milk, and boiled water. Yet, the next article, despite its required dexterity-- something my frozen limbs barely possessed at this hour, was much more appealing to my craving. And that was classic Italian hot chocolate.
Ingredients
100g Dark Chocolate chopped into small slivers
2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
2.5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
The recipe calls for 240g of milk, but I eyeball it
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Heat up a pot and add your milk in, I usually add in as much as I’d like to drink. While thats heating, start cutting up your dark chocolate pieces, make sure to continuously stir the milk. Add you cocoa powder, corn starch, and sugar to the pot with the milk. Let it sit till it simmers, and slowly add in your chocolate pieces, making sure they fully dissolve into the milk mixture before adding the next handful. Let it cool before adding it into your mug, then serve with whatever toppings of your choice. I always add marshmallows, whip cream, and if I have left over chocolate slivers i’ll put them on top!
My brother and I didn’t grow up with many traditions, so we settled on creating our own. Like when we were younger, whoever called shotgun on a road trip would have to buy the other a snack at the next gas station; which then turned to us fighting over the back seat for more comfort. When we put up a Christmas tree, it was often I, the youngest, shortest sibling, who had to put the angel on the very top of the tree whilst being recorded. Now it’s my brother's job as I’ve outgrown him.
When something misfortunate happens: we fail a class, go through a breakup, lose a loved one-- we make hot chocolate. Even in the summer.
Late night, the snow had fallen in the back of my jacket and not even the driver's attempt to overheat the bus had managed to warm me. The cold left me lethargic and my fingers could barely move to pull out my phone. I texted my brother and asked if he could plug in the heated blanket and make me hot chocolate, as I was nearing my stop. He complied to the former, yet was unable to make a hot mug of chocolate, as we didn’t have an instant package. It used to be a quick packet of chocolate dust, add it in a mug and put in milk, then froth it. My brother excused himself from that step, he’s a texture avoider and the bubbles made him gag.
Already set on the idea of having hot chocolate, I looked up how to make it without an instant packet. I came across something simple, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, milk, and boiled water. Yet, the next article, despite its required dexterity-- something my frozen limbs barely possessed at this hour, was much more appealing to my craving. And that was classic Italian hot chocolate.
Ingredients
100g Dark Chocolate chopped into small slivers
2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
2.5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
The recipe calls for 240g of milk, but I eyeball it
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Heat up a pot and add your milk in, I usually add in as much as I’d like to drink. While thats heating, start cutting up your dark chocolate pieces, make sure to continuously stir the milk. Add you cocoa powder, corn starch, and sugar to the pot with the milk. Let it sit till it simmers, and slowly add in your chocolate pieces, making sure they fully dissolve into the milk mixture before adding the next handful. Let it cool before adding it into your mug, then serve with whatever toppings of your choice. I always add marshmallows, whip cream, and if I have left over chocolate slivers i’ll put them on top!