Aztec Chili Chocolate

The Aztecs were the first to serve chocolate as a drink, but they also mixed it with hot chili pepper to make a really special beverage. Try something exotic with your hot chocolate today. You can always reduce the amount of chili if it's too hot for you.

1 2/3 cups milk
1/2 vanilla bean
1 red chili pepper
1 cinnamon stick
1 1/2 oz bittersweet chocolate

Split red chili and remove the seeds. Also split the vanilla bean, lengthwise. In a saucepan, heat milk to simmering with vanilla bean, chili pepper and broken up cinnamon stick.

Continue to simmer for a minute or two. Grate chocolate, and whisk into the hot spiced milk until melted. Remove hot chocolate mixture from heat and let sit for 10 minutes, to steep. Strain, and heat through again if necessary. Serve hot.

Serves 2.

Related recipes:  Chocolate Caliente | Brown Sugar Hot Cocoa