• Hot chocolate made from scratch.

  • 6 oz high-quality bittersweet chocolate, plus some for shaving
  • 1 qt whole milk
  • 1 ¾ cups plus 1 Tbsp high-quality cocoa powder
  • 3 ½ Tbsp sugar
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Cut the chocolate into small chunks.  In a saucepan, combine the milk and cocoa, and place over medium heat.  Bring to a simmer, whisking until smooth.  Stir in the sugar.  Reduce the heat to very low, and stir in the chocolate a little at a time, until melted, 3–5 minutes.

Strain through a fine mesh strainer, and stir in the vanilla.  Serve in mugs, with a few chocolate shavings over the top.

Yield:  6 servings