Tsokolate (Filipino Hot Choco Drink)

I remember back in the days when my family is preparing for Noche Buena or the Christmas Eve dinner with the family - - kitchen is buzzing and everyone is busy, either wrapping gifts or doing things in the kitchen.  Can you guess what task I am part of?  You guess it right, the kitchen! Though there are times when I am doing last minute gift wrapping for my cousins.

In my family, Noche Buena is sacred, meaning, everyone who is living in that house must be in before 12midnight.  We will start Christmas Eve by praying the Holy Rosary, lead by my Grandmother.  Then comes the opening of the gifts.  While the kids are enjoying the gifts, the adults are preparing the table for the feast.  I say feast for the food prepared can feed an army.  I once ask my mom if we will not cook until New Year because there are so much food already...LOL.  

Noche Buena, for my family, will not be complete without the following: ham, edam cheese or what is called Queso de bola and tsokolate, my favorite.  Particularly myself, Noche Buena is not Noche Buena without this hot, comforting drink and I am glad that mom was able to buy some last Christmas *wink*

Far from the instant choco drinks, Tsokolate is made from freshly grounded cacao beans with all its oil and nutty flavor.  It's not the tablea you can buy in the supermarket.  Texture is paste-like and very thick.  Ah, just thinking about it makes me drool!

TSOKOLATE

Ingredients

1/2 cup freshly grounded cacao beans

1 cup fresh milk

1 cup water

3 to 4 Tbsp condensed milk (sweet milk)

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan.  Simmer with constant stirring using a whisk or a batirol.

You are looking for a thick chocolate drink. Not sauce-like thick but drink-thick, get what I mean?

You know what I like more?  Add a teaspoon of peanut butter to the steaming drink and I tell you, it's awesome!

Serves 2

I hope you had a blast last Christmas just like I did! Cheers!