Recipe of the week: South American Style Hot Chocolate

I found this recipe for South American Style Hot Chocolate on allrecipes.com, and it’s pretty similar to the hot chocolate I make for myself—especially on cold, snowy weekends.

My version is a little simpler—milk, melted dark chocolate, chili powder and cinnamon in your favorite mug—but this one looks tasty, too. If you’re willing to be a little adventurous with your hot chocolate, I’d recommend giving this recipe a try.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 cup water
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons cherry brandy (optional) 

Directions

In a saucepan over low heat, stir together the sugar, cocoa powder and chili powder. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Add water and bell pepper strips, and mix well. Bring to a simmer, and stir in milk. When the mixture is heated to your liking, remove the pepper strips with a slotted spoon. Add cherry brandy if using, and serve. 

The original recipe can be found at allrecipies.com by clicking here.