Hot creamy Cocoa

The cold season is upon us, time for some creamy, sweet and delicious cocoa. It's old fashioned, it's comforting, it makes the kitchen smell wonderful and it's good for the soul.

Ingredients

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup white sugar

A pinch of salt

1/3 cup boiling water

3 1/2 cups milk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Directions

Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.