Beyond hot chocolate: Going nuclear

Hot chocolate screams comfort. It's the perfect stay-inside, curl-up and re-lax beverage, especially now that the weather is turning colder.

Hot chocolate is more adaptable than some folks realize. There are scads of ways to dress it up. I sometimes like mine with with a kick — by that, I mean spicy.

Another plus: In this age of the microwave oven, hot chocolate is easier to make than ever.

Sarah's Nuclear Hot Chocolate

1. pour favorite milk (e.g. 2%) into microwaveable mug
2. nuke approx 2 minutes
3. stir in 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
4. stir in preferred sweetener (to taste; I use sugar in equal parts with cocoa)
5. add dash of cayenne pepper.

Voila, one mug of radioactive goodness.

When feeling indulgent, I'll top it with freshly whipped cream. (Commercial "dessert toppings" can't compete in flavor or texture. And frankly, I'm wary of what's put in them.)

And consider these options: 

• dash of chili powder (vs. cayenne)
• block of dark chocolate
• cinnamon stick
• pure vanilla extract
• shot of espresso (or Tbsps of strong coffee)
• topping of frothed milk.

Oh, if you're old-school, you can always dispense with the microwave and let fly with saucepan on stovetop.