We woke up to a bunch of beautiful snow!  It looks like a snow globe out there!  I always make this cocoa for the kids because it gets rave reviews, and I remain their favorite mom for another day.  I want to preface this recipe with the fact that we have 5 people who like more than one serving of this stuff because it is in fact delicious.  So, I usually add a bit more water and milk and keep the amounts of dry ingredients the same.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup unsweetened  cocoa powder

3/4 cup white sugar

1 pinch of salt

1/3  cup boiling water (If I'm running low on milk,  or if more kids that aren't my own are going to be over here, I've been known to use more water.)

3 1/2 cups milk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Instructions:

Start to boil your water in a pan.  Combine the cocoa, sugar and salt in a small bowl.  When the water is boiling blend in the cocoa mixture.  Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir.  Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes.  Watch that it doesn't scorch.  Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil.   Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Divide between 4 mugs.  Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.