4 Indulgent Hot Chocolate Recipes

One of the best parts of winter is curling up on the couch with a nice large comforting mug of hot chocolate. While we all have our go-to hot chocolate recipes or that easy packet of instant hot chocolate, if you’re really in the mood of spoiling yourself you should try one of the four recipes below! We are sure that once you’ve made them, your family will be asking for them time and time again.

1) Hot chocolate with peanut butter whipped cream

We all know that hot chocolate goes great with whipped cream, but have you ever thought about adding peanut butter to this wonderful drink? Whether you did or didn’t, you’ll now see how to make this wonderful drink that’s going to be a surefire hit among your family and friends.
Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy 

Ingredients for peanut butter whipped cream: 

• 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
• 2 tbsp. powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. peanut butter
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract

Ingredients for hot chocolate:

• 4 cups milk
• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 60 g milk chocolate chips
• 60 g dark chocolate chips
• ¼ cup peanut butter

Directions for peanut butter whipped cream:
1. Place the whipped cream in a medium bowl and add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Gently fold the contents together till well mixed and transfer to a piping bag with a star-shaped piping tip.
2. Place in the refrigerator until use.

Directions for hot chocolate: 

1. Place all the ingredients into a medium-sized pot and heat over medium heat until the peanut butter and chocolate melt together. It’s very important not to bring the mixture to a boil!
2. Pour the drink into 4 cups, add the whipped cream and decorate with cookies, chocolate syrup and any other toppings you like.

2) Red Velvet hot chocolate

You don’t have to wait for Valentine's Day to prepare something special for the people you love. Just surprise your loved ones with a warm, comforting and delicious drink in red that proves that there isn’t only black and white in chocolate milk...
Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy 

Ingredients: 

• 4 cups milk 
• 400 ml sweetened condensed milk 
• 120 g white chocolate
• ½ cup chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 4-5 drops red food coloring
• Whipped cream – for topping 

Directions: 

1. Place all the ingredients except the whipped cream, into a medium sized pot and stir well.
2. Place the pot over a medium heat and continue stirring until the chocolate melts.
3. When the drink is hot but not boiling and the chocolate melts completely, mix quickly and carefully until the drink turns red. 
4. Pour the drink into mugs and top with a good helping of whipped cream.

3) Mexican hot chocolate with chili

You may not know this, but the decadent cocoa drink we all love originated in South America where the Aztecs would drink it bitter and spicy. The next recipe brings this drink back to its roots only with added ingredients such as milk, sugar, cream and rum that create a real pleasure and a sense of indulgence.
Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Difficulty: Easy 

Ingredients: 

• 50 g dark chocolate
• ¾ cup milk
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 ½ tsp brown sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 1 chili pepper, whole and dry 
• 2 tsp. coconut vodka
• 2 tsp. white rum 
• Some cinnamon for serving

Directions: 

1. Break the chocolate into cubes and place in a medium heat-proof bowl.
2. In a small saucepan or pot, heat cream, milk, brown sugar, salt and chili over a medium heat. Don’t let the liquids boil!
3. Pour the contents of the pot over the chocolate, let sit for about half a minute and mix together till you reach a smooth consistency.
3. Remove the chili and set it aside for decoration if you’d like or throw it away.
4. Pour the drink into a large mug, add the coconut vodka and the rum and stir well.
5. Garnish the drink with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon or simply sprinkle with cinnamon and serve.

4) Hot white chocolate with marshmallows

Hot chocolate is a real treat, and if you make an upgraded version of this drink using white chocolate and marshmallows, there’s no doubt that everyone will want to taste it. Try this velvety and comforting drink at any hour of the day and enjoy a few minutes of pleasure that you won’t want to give up.
Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy 

Ingredients: 

• 4 cups milk
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt (optional)
• 1 cup marshmallows – for topping

Directions: 
1. Place all the ingredients, except for the marshmallows, in a medium-sized pot over a medium flame, and melt the chocolate without bringing to a boil.
2. Once the chocolate melts and the liquid is hot, pour into cups, top with marshmallows and serve.

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How to Cook Rice And Store Properly

When it comes to cooking rice, high temperatures that kill germs are your best friend, so you should also keep an eye out on cooking temperatures and make sure to cook rice at a temperature above 60°C (140°F). Beware that lower cooking temperatures could do the opposite and urge bacterial growth, so we recommend making sure the temperature is high by using a kitchen thermometer.

Once cooked, serve the rice immediately and don’t let a bowl or rice sit at room temperature for more than an hour at any time.

2. Storage Tips for Cooked Rice

Since bacteria typically thrive in temperatures between 5-60°C (40-140°F), cooling the food as quickly as you can would prevent this from happening. It doesn’t matter if it’s plain rice, risotto, cabbage rolls filled with rice or any other rice dish, you should follow these tips to ensure the rice dish doesn’t harbor harmful microorganisms:

1. Freeze or refrigerate leftovers immediately after cooking. Side note: check the temperature in your refrigerator and make sure it’s below 5°C (40°F).

2. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature for over 1 hour.

3. Don’t store leftovers in the fridge for more than 3-4 days and in the freezer for more than 3 months.

4. Package your leftovers smartly: divide the rice into portions to avoid reheating and refreezing a dish several times.

3. How to Reheat Rice Properly

When reheating leftover rice, it’s important to make sure it has been heated up to a temperature of over 75°C (165°F) as quickly as possible and for at least 3-4 minutes irrespective of the way you’re reheating the rice (steaming, microwave or stir-frying).

This will ensure that the rice is piping hot and any bacteria potentially present in the food died off. Serve the rice immediately and try to avoid reheating for the second time. If you have a large quantity of leftover rice, we recommend dividing it into serving-size containers or bags.

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How to remove wax from apple

We have grown up hearing the popular adage, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’. But when we often come across worrying news of the artificially added layer of wax (not the natural one) in apples (that can reportedly impact our colon, respiratory health and even cause certain infections), it naturally leaves us baffled. Those who are caught in this health dilemma, here is some news for you. A minister  was making a Russian salad when he asked his cook to wash the apples. They realised that the shiny apples that were bought from a posh  market were actually covered in layers of wax. 

Now talking about the process of how apples are prepped, normally the farmers or sellers put a layer of edible synthetic wax on apples to add back the protective layer that is lost while they are washed thoroughly to remove dirt and litter. The wax also helps to shine and enhance their look. Furthermore, it also helps to seal the moisture, thereby extending its life. 

You’d be surprised to know that waxed apples look so fresh that even a year old apple looks the same as a fresh one. You should also know that there are some food grade waxes that are approved by FSSAI and are safe to consume. However, there is a possibility that your apples may have wax beyond the permissible limit. But if you feel that the apple peels are too slippery and waxy, it is always best to remove it before consuming it.
A lot of us think that simply removing the apple peel also removes the wax present in it, but it may not entirely be true. So if you fear the shiny apples that you have bought have wax in them, there are some ways you can remove it.
Ways to remove wax
OPTION 1: You can leave the apples in extremely hot water for a minute and then rub it with a rough towel to remove the wax.
OPTION 2: You can also add some lemon juice and baking soda in water to remove the wax coat.
OPTION 3: You can also use vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in water 

 

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Tricks with salt while cooking

The word salt only reminds us of the taste. Well, it is used by experts for more than one way.

I always used to wonder why only when chefs cook, the green veges retain their green colour. Here is the simple trcik.

1) Green vegetables to retain the green colour while boiling-  When we boil without salt, it will make the chloryophll to leach out, and have the molecules break down which will produce a drab green colour. Using a little salt not only enhances the flavour of your vegetables, but it also stabilizes the chlorophyll leading to the beautiful vibrant green colour. To maximize colour retention with salting, it is recommended 1 1/2 tsp pf salt for every quart of water.

2) Here's a little known fact, salt masks bitterness , it works by blocking the bitter compounds thereby enhancing other less prominent flavours we use in the Test kitchen. Everything from eggplants to coffee, where we found that just a pinch into the grounds for every quart of coffee will help reduce the perceived bitterness.

 3) another useful skill that salt can perform is that in the same way a salt water brine helps to tenderize the protein networks in a cut of meat.
Salt will dissolve the proteins found in an egg, this prevents the protein and the egg from forming too tight bonds which is basically a fancy way of saying that your scrambled eggs will stay tender without becoming tough and dry we like 1/8 tsp. of salt for every 2 eggs added just before cooking

 

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Rum Balls

 

Rum balls are super popular, and for good reason. Something about their shape, texture, and flavor is just so delectable! Though rum is in the name, and it definitely upgrades this simple treat, it is entirely optional, so you can opt to remove it if you’re planning on serving these to children and don’t want them to get tipsy.

Ingredients: •    9 oz. plain cookies or sweet crackers
•    14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
•    ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
•    1 cup shredded coconut, divided into two half cups
•    3 tbsps. rum (optional)

Instructions:

1. Using a food processor or a plastic bag and a rolling pin, crush the cookies into crumbs. The end result doesn’t have to be a fine powder, and having larger chunks is okay.

2. Place the crushed cookies, one half of the shredded coconut, condensed milk and cocoa powder (optional: and rum) in a bowl and mix using a wooden spoon and your hands until a thick mixture forms.

3. Scoop out tablespoon portions, roll into a ball and roll in coconut. Lay out on a baking sheet and refrigerate before serving.

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Chocolate Fudge- no bake

 

Nothing satisfies a chocolate craving quite like fudge does. The pure, chocolate taste, coupled with a texture that’s chewier than mousse, but suppler than your average chocolate bar… mmmm…

Ingredients: •    14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
•    2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
•    1 tbsp. butter
•    ½ tsp. vanilla extract
•    For some flavor complexity, ½ tsp. kosher salt (optional)
•    For a bit of a crunch, ½ cup crushed unsalted nuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare a baking pan with parchment paper and coat with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter, then add chocolate chips and condensed milk and whisk until mostly melted.

3. Add vanilla extract (optional: and kosher salt), whisk until you get a uniform mixture and remove from the stove.

4. If you opted to add nuts, now is the time to add them into the mixture. Pour the mixture evenly into the baking pan, and cool in the refrigerator for around 2 hours.

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