Its cold here and wet, well semi-cold this winter.  Little Chef A wanted to help make some Delicious Hot Chocolate.

  When she found out she had to cut the orange she wanted to try out her knew knife which is made especially for kids. I first explained she did not need to cut the orange in half, just the rind which is the outside orange part. She said “Why don’t I just peel the orange?” I explained the white part is bitter and that wouldn’t taste good.  She took her new knife and started sawing back and forth to take off the rid. I explained about the contour of the orange and how she should move her knife accordingly to get a longer piece of rind. That information was way over her head. She decided to just cut small pieces and count them as the 4 needed. I convinced her one side of the orange is longer then the rind she cut so she needed more then 4 pieces.

    Little Chef A poured the milk into a glass measuring cup. While she was doing it the jug was moving the measuring cup. I was ready to catch it if it fell over!

   Next was the half and half. This time it wasn’t as heavy so it didn’t move the measuring cup.

    Little Chef A then poured both into the saucepan. The milk was first, she poured with the cup just barely over the pan. I was afraid she was going to spill it down the front of the cup and onto the floor. I explained this concept to her. She did understand this time and understood for the next time she needed to put the cup way over the pan so if it drips it drips in the pan.

  It took longer then expected to whisk the milk, half and half, and orange rind until it became warm.

   I think she was tired of waiting and just dumped in the chocolate chips which splashed ALL over the pan and the the stove top! I explained if she put the measuring cup with the chips lower to the milk then poured it wouldn’t splash all over.

   “It tastes good” she said. My first thought was really she did that! “How did you taste it?” I asked. I lifted up the whisk and put my finger on it to try it she explained. If you do that and then put the whisk back into the pan, your germs then will be in the pan, and are NOW in the pan.
   She was becoming too impatient again and asked if it was ready yet? “No it isn’t.” I quickly said as my back was turned. She responded, “How can you tell if you don’t see it.” What an observant girl!
   Little Chef A tasted it with a separate spoon, which then went into the sink. She decided to add sugar and a little milk.  She said, “I don’t want too much milk because I want to get all the flavors.”

  When she thought it was warm enough it was served to all the Little Chefs.

  Little Chef A said, “It is mostly of a chocolately flavor and I love it.”  Th
e consensus was the orange taste was not detectable. I asked if anyone wanted seconds, no one wanted more. They are little and I didn’t expect them to have more. They have never had seconds with any hot chocolate. Little Chef A said, “No, it makes my mouth too chocolately.”
  For my review,  I have never tasted hot chocolate not from a powder. Perhaps when I do have the powder I do not put enough in because this hot chocolate had a definite chocolate taste much stronger then I have ever tasted.  The Little Chefs were correct, I could not taste the orange at all. Perhaps adding some orange syrup would give it a stronger taste, or perhaps adding more orange rind to the milk. Next time I want to try half milk chocolate chips and half semichocolate chips, I’m not a semichocolate fan. Overall, great success. A good recipe for kids. All the kids I know love hot chocolate!

Delicious Hot Chocolate

Ree Drummond

Ingredients

• 2 cups Milk
• 2 cups Half-and-half
• 1 cup Good Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 teaspoon Sugar (optional)
• VARIATIONS: Orange Rind, Orange Syrup, Cinnamon Sticks, Raspberry Syrup, Abuelita Chocolate, Mint Extract, Peppermint Patties, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Shavings

Preparation Instructions