Easy Recipe: Salty Caramel Hot Chocolate

Throughout my life, my family has always had a vacation home in Florida.  The hot Florida weather produced many happy and fun summertime memories over the years.  However, now as a resident of Florida, I have experienced a surprise…cold weather.  Depending on where you live in the sunny state, you can experience cooler weather days in the Fall and Winter.  For example, today’s weather started at 55 degrees and will only go up about 65 degrees.  Coming from New York and the Washington D.C. areas, 65 degrees might not seem so cold, but for a state that has 90 degree weather through the year its COLD.

Flavored milk is a delicious ingredient in many desserts, recipes, and warm beverages.  Flavored milk contains the same nine essential nutrients as white milk and is a healthful alternative to soft drinks.  Milk drinkers, in general, consume more calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and vitamin A than non-milk drinkers.  Flavored milk drinkers have lower intakes of soft drinks compared to those who do not drink flavored milk.


Whether you live in the warmer southern states or are used to the colder northern and midwest climates, this Salty Caramel Hot Chocolate www.eligeleche.com  recipe will be a sweet & salty treat for a cold day.
 

Ingredients
• 4 Tbs caramel syrup
• 1 Tbs cocoa
• ½ cup water
• 2 cups low fat chocolate milk
• 2 Tbsp light whipped cream
• Pinch of coarse sea salt

Directions
1. Pour 2 Tablespoons of caramel syrup into each one of the 2 mugs so the inside of the mug is coated well
2. In a saucepan, mix the cocoa and water. Place at medium heat until mixture comes to boil, add the low fat chocolate milk and heat through until boils. Remove from heat and add to the mugs previously coated with caramel.
3. Add whipped cream and a pinch of salt to each

Nutritional Bonus
To reduce the amount of calories consider decreasing the caramel syrup to 2 Tbs and avoid the whipped cream.