We love hot chocolate… we especially love hot chocolate made at home on the stove from David Lebovitz’s recipe using whole milk and chopped bittersweet chocolate … but day to day, when we want just a hit of chocolate, we make a version of “diet” hot chocolate which is really hot cocoa. All you need is a mug, milk, pure cocoa (not hot chocolate mix) and just a little white or brown sugar to taste.

“Diet” Hot Chocolate for one (just make mug by mug)

• 1 mug

• Pour milk, whole milk is best, almost half an inch to top

• Put in microwave on high, heat for two minutes.

• Using a teaspoon, take a heaping spoonful and add to the warm milk and stir vigorously. Add a little white sugar and stir again. If not quite sweet enough for you, add a little more sugar.

Finding 100 percent cocoa can be a bit difficult in some grocery stores. Here are some brands we like:

• Valrhona - makes an almost velvety hot cocoa. Yum. 

• Guittard

• Ghiradelli