Horchata hot chocolate?

Just returned from a little late night shopping at HEB. Since browsing the hot chocolate, hot cocoa and baking aisles is a mandatory requirement, I came across Horchata by Klass. Horchata is a traditional beverage among Spanish, Latin American and Mexican families. Although each region placed their own flair on the drink, it usually consists of ground almonds, sesame seeds, rice, barley, or tigernuts and is served cold. Originally, Horchata was made with barley. But rice has since replaced that ingredient.



The ready to drink carton purchased today is made with a rice, cinnamon and milk. I look forward to trying this tomorrow with one of my cocoa powders or hot chocolate mixes.

Is it that easy? Homemade marshmallows

Lately, I've been thinking about making my own marshmallows to pair with a few of my favorite hot chocolates. Or, to perk up a poorly tasting hot chocolate conquest (I can never get myself to throw out a bad cup of hot chocolate).

So, I reached out for a little how to lesson...

Heavenly Hot Chocolate with Chef Christopher Brooks

Colonial Inspired Hot Chocolate

Transporting us back to our American chocolate roots, Mars, Inc. launched the American Heritage line of chocolate, coffee and tea. The colonial inspired beverages are served at the only 18th century coffeehouse in America, R. Charlton’s Coffeehouse. Constructed over 240 years ago in Williamsburg, Virginia, the coffeehouse was newly reconstructed on its original site. Founded in the early 1760’s by Richard Charlton, a local wigmaker, R. Charlton’s Coffeehouse was located just steps away from the state capital. Open for ten years, the coffeehouse was a gathering place among politicians, mostly notably our first president George Washington, conspirators and local patrons to dine and converse about the ever changing nation.

Paying homage to a long history of chocolate indulgences, the American Heritage Chocolate is based on an authentic colonial recipe. The handcrafted, all natural and preservative free chocolate product line consists of a Chocolate Block, Grated Chocolate Drink, Chocolate Sticks and Chocolate Sticks in a Muslin Bag. Indulge in hot chocolate the way our American founding fathers did.







If you are interested in learning more about the archaeological aspects of this coffeehouse, click here for more information about the reconstruction efforts of the Richard Charlton Coffeehouse provided by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

18th annual hot chocolate festival

Get ready for New York City's The City Bakery's legendary Hot Chocolate Festival! Don't forget to bring your knitting needles. This years theme is How to Knit a Marshmallow.

A new addition to the menu is a dark chocolate, espresso, pomegranate and lemon hot chocolate that has yet to be named.

The 18th annual event starts February 1st and ends February 28th.

A Simple Hot Cocoa Receipe

For a quick and easy hot cocoa beverage:

1 cup milk
2 tsp cocoa powder
2 tsp cinnamon orange sugar or pre-blended sugar mix

Pour milk in a microwave safe mug. Heat in the microwave for 25 seconds. Remove mug and add cocoa powder and sugar. Blend ingredients well. Return to microwave for 60 seconds or until heated appropriately.

Remove mug from microwave. Garnish with whipped cream or chocolate shavings.

To create this recipe, I used Droste Cocoa Powder from Holland and a Cinnamon Orange Sugar from Surfas. The pre-blended sugar provides a simple way of creating a savory chocolate beverage without a lot of hassle.