Mexican Hot Chocolate to Knock Your Socks Off

This recipe is straight from "The Chocolate Bible" by Christian Teubner, a book my teammates and I at Half Price Books drooled over when it came through our stock room. I was so excited to find this recipe after watching the movie "Chocolat" that I ran straight to the store that night to pick up the ingredients. Absolutely brilliant stuff.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 3 1⁄4 cups milk
• 1  vanilla bean
• 9  ounces  mexican chocolate, tablets, crushed
• 1  cup water
• 1⁄2 chili pepper, seeds removed
• 3  tablespoons honey
• 1  pinch salt

Directions

1. Bring milk to a simmer with the vanilla bean and infuse for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, combine water and crushed chocolate in a bowl.
3. Remove vanilla bean and slit lengthwise.
4. Scrape out the contents and stir into the chocolate and water.
5. Using a whisk, stir chocolate mixture into the hot milk and whisk briskly until the chocolate has melted completely.
6. Chop the chili very finely.
7. Stir into the drink with the honey and salt.
8. Serve hot.