Frozen Hot Cocoa

Okay so last night I wanted a chocolatey dessert, but not any baked goods... it's so hot and wanted something cool... but not ice cream... so what's a girl to do?!?!?! FROZEN HOT COCOA! I have had my eye on this recipe for MONTHS! I got it from My Kitchen Cafe and also Sister's Cafe (My Kitchen Cafe is one of the sisters on the latter). I LOVE dark chocolate and will try that next time... maybe half semi-sweet/half dark so it's not overwhelming. My hubbie loved it (and he's not a huge "drink person")... he said, "hmmm this tastes like a drink you would get at Starbucks...so I take that as a compliment because they have some yummy frozen drinks!

Also, this is a great way to use some of your food storage if you'd like... I was out of milk so I used my dry milk, and also used hot cocoa from the LDS cannery (my favorite hot cocoa actually... besides mexican hot chocolate!!). I also made homemade whip cream with heavy whipping cream, vanilla and sugar. I used approx 1 tsp vanilla, 1T sugar to 1 C heavy whipping cream and used an electric mixer till I got the right consistancy. Obviously the easy way is to buy some whip cream in a can from the store! One thing I didn't do, but would make the presentation oh so cute... chocolate shavings sprinkled on top!

Frozen Hot Cocoa

4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, in chips or broken into pieces (about 1/2 C)

2 tsp hot cocoa mix

1 1/2 T sugar

1 1/2 C milk

3 C ice

Whipped Cream (optional garnish)

Chocolate Shavings (optional garnish)

Melt the chocolate chips about 30 seconds in microwave, stir. If not melted all the way, about 20-30 seconds more and stir again until smooth. Add hot cocoa and sugar, and stir till smooth. Add 1/2 C milk slowly while stirring consistantly. Let sit until room temperature. Add remaining 1 C milk to blender, followed by the chocolate mixture, and then the ice. Mix until you have a consistancy similar to that of a strawberry daquiri. Makes about 4 8oz servings (about 3/4 full blender). Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.