Hot Chocolate

This was made during the unplanned frenzy of "no sew" fleece blanket making.  A note on "no sew" blankets: Blanket Madness was inspired by a group of longtime fellow internet bulletin board chums who roped me in with repeated thread titles like: Help!  I can't stop making these blankets.  This sort of posting was followed by picture after picture of said blankets.  I was late to join the frenzy.  The charm of these blankets involves needing no skills or talent whatsoever to make them and the materials being very cheap.  That many considered these blankets tacky (like the other half of the bulletin board members who commented with mixtures of disgust and amusement) was in no way a deterrent.  (No Sew Blanket Instructions)

The particular blanket made this night was for Uncle Meat & Potatoes, who happens to be an amateur pilot, space and aeronautics enthusiast, and has a history of intense relationships with his blankies.  There is a rotting rag of a koala blanket, well over 35 years old, that gets dragged out on a regular basis. Perhaps this airplane blanket will turn out to be this half century's replacement. If not, at least it matches the color scheme of Auntie EQ's family room where weekly family Gray's Anatomy bonding routinely occurs.

But I digress . . . back to the hot chocolate.  It was made with a leftover $.88 cent can of  off-brand sweetened condensed milk, one that didn't fit in the crock when this Vegetarian Slow cooker wasn't making delicious Dulce de Luce (caramel sauce).  This could have been made on the stove top or in the microwave, but then  how would it have been possible for anyone (me) to go back 3 or 4 times and instantly have hot chocolate while slaving away during blanket making?  Please try and keep a straight face. 

This is a great way to make and serve hot chocolate for a party, even if, as in my case, it is a party of one.  After it has cooked properly, simply reduce the heat to warm and guests can ladle up their own throughout the evening.  Try leaving mini marshmallows, whipped cream, and peppermint liquor next to the crock so people can make their own perfect version of cocoa.

Winner, Loser or Meh

Worked for me. Easy, cheap, delicious. Snobs go away.

Recipe

I used a 2 1/2-3 quart crock for this

Ingredients:

• 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 6 1/2 cups water
• mini marshmallows (optional)

Add all ingredients in the order listed.  Stir well.  Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2-3 hours or low for 5-6 hours.  Serve warm topped with marshmallows.  This will store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.