Pioneer Womans Hot Chocolate Slightly Modified Recipes

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. .
• Stir in chocolate chips. Stir until melted ("though there will still be lovely particles of chocolate throughout," the Pioneer Woman's words, not mine.).
• If it's too chocolatey for you, splash in a little more milk. If it's not quite sweet enough for you, add 1 teaspoon sugar (I added the sugar).
• Serve in mugs, and it should be rich and creamy, and perhaps even better with whipped cream and/or marshmallows.

Steps:

• To make the basic hot chocolate, combine the milk with the half-and-half in a small saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat, and then stir in the chocolate chips. Stir until melted (though there will still be lovely particles of chocolate throughout). If it's too chocolaty for you, splash in a little more milk. Add a splash of vanilla extract. If it's not quite sweet enough for you, add 1 teaspoon or so of sugar. Serve in mugs with whipped cream.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick baking spray.
• 2. For the brownie batter: Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second increments, being careful not to let it burn. Set it aside to cool slightly.
• 3. In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar. Beat in the eggs. With the mixer on low speed, drizzle in the melted chocolate. Add the vanilla extract and mix. Add the flour to the bowl and mix just until combined; do not over mix.
• 4. Pour the batter in the prepared baking pan. Spread it to even out the surface. Bake until the center is no longer soft, 40 to 45 minutes. Set the brownies aside to cool completely before icing.
• 5. For the icing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt and vanilla. Mix until slightly combined, then add 1/2 cup of the coffee. Whip until the icing is light and fluffy. If the icing is overly thick, add 1/4 cup more coffee. It should be very light and fluffy.
• 6. Ice the cooled brownies, spreading the icing on thick. Refrigerate until the icing is firm, and then slice the brownies into VERY SMALL squares. A little goes a long way!