Sweet (& Spicy!) Hot Chocolate

Drinking a cup of this is like getting a hug from the inside.  It is super cocoa charged drink.  My friend Rich is a lover of everything chocolate, and the stronger, the better!  It's nice and sweet, just like the kind from your childhood.  NOTE:  This works well with dairy milk as well as vanilla flavored soy milk, so your vegan and lactose intolerant friends will be able to enjoy a steaming cup.  And it's ready in about 10 minutes!  Sometimes for an added kick, I sprinkle a little cayenne pepper on the top. 

1 cup of dutch processed cocoa
1/2 cup of sugar
a dash of fine sea salt
4 1/2 cups of milk
2 teaspoons of vanilla
cayenne powder (optional)
whipped cream (optional)

In a medium sized saucepan, combine cocoa powder, sugar, and salt, making sure to mix well.  Over low-medium heat, add 1/2 of the milk and stir with whisk.  (I need to warn you: this recipe requires almost continuous whisking to make sure the cocoa is broken up.)  After a minute or two, the mixture will look like chocolate syrup.  Keep stirring and let it bubble up for no more than two minutes.  Do not burn!  After the time is up, slowly add the remaining milk and combine well.  Whisk often, if not constantly, with few rest breaks in between.  The cocoa will get a layer of thick and creamy bubbles on top.  It take about 7 minutes or so until the hot chocolate is heated through. After it's at the desired temperature, take off of the heat and whisk in the vanilla.

Pour into mugs and add cayenne pepper and top with whipped cream, if desired.