Hot Chocolate with Mint and Marshmallows

I remember the first cup of a real hot chocolate. I was 24 at the time (don’t be surprise, you may say I’m  a child of a communism) and I had a meeting with a client in his company – Pijalnia Czekolady in Warsaw. When I was offered a hot chocolate I can’t say I was thrilled. At the time I was a heavy coffee drinker (and unfortunately I still am). But after a first sip of this magical beverage, I could no longer concentrate on the meeting. That also was when I discovered, that the proper hot chocolate is not made out of a cocoa, but ganache. 

Also I can share with you the secret of using marshmallows with hot chocolate. It does not only make it look more delicious, but also in a contact with the hot beverage it melts and gives an extra flavor. 

Yesterday I’ve discovered another beautiful and tasty blog – Not without salt, and of course the first recipe I’ve noticed was a hot chocolate. You should definitely check out this site and I guarantee that you’ll fall in love with pictures.

You will need: 

• 1 cup cream
• ½ cup milk
• 5 sprigs fresh mint
• pinch of salt
• 1 & ½ cups chopped dark chocolate (70%)

In a small pot boil the milk and cream. Add the mint and put aside for 30 minutes. Meanwhile chop the chocolate and put it into a medium bowl. Gently bruise the mint in the cream mixture to release some of the essential oils.

Add salt to the cream mixture and bring back up to a simmer over medium-low heat. Remove the mint.

Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for one minute. Whisk the cream and the chocolate together so you will get ganache.

You can refrigerate  ganache for for about 2 weeks.

Whenever you feel like a cup of a hot chocolate, simply put 2 tbsp of ganach into the cup and pour in a hot milk. Tastes amazing with marshmallow.

Enjoy, Marta