Recipe: Hot Chocolate (<i>Chocolat Chaud</i>)

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Patissier Cedric Thullier, pastry chef at the Chateau du Pont d’Oie in Belgium, says to reduce or increase the amount of chocolate to vary thickness and the degree of bittersweetness. You’ll love it-it’s like drinking a bar of chocolate.

1/2 pound fine-quality semi-sweet chocolate with 60% cocoa content, such as Callebaut

4 cups whole milk

Finely chop the chocolate and place the pieces in a double boiler set over, but not touching, simmering water or in a heavy saucepan over low heat.

Add 2 cups of milk and stir, using a small whisk. Break up the chocolate until it starts to dissolve. Whisk continually until all chocolate is uniformly melted.

Raise the heat to medium, add the remaining milk and cook until it comes to a simmer (do not allow the chocolate to reach a full boil).

4 servings. Each serving: 422 calories; 126 mg sodium; 33 mg cholesterol; 25 grams fat; 47 grams carbohydrates; 10 grams protein; 3.34 grams fiber.