Hot Chocolate on a stick.

Crazymumma asked me about these, when I mentioned that I was putting the sleep masks/mug rugs together with an insulated mug and either herbal tea/organic coffee/hot chocolate on a stick. These little gift packs will be going to my work friends, but they are equally great as a xmas gift for teachers, or for rellies where you have no idea what to get them. But … here are some instructions on the hot chocolate on a stick.

You will need:
2 pkts of cooking chocolate – 1 milk, 1 dark (this gives better depth and nice taste) Please get good quality, not homebrand. It will be worth it.
paddle pop sticks
1 pkt of marshmallows (the new stripy ones look great)
a coffee cup 3/4 full of hot water
Sharp narrow blade knife

and …… an icecube tray or two. I find that silicon trays make this much easier. I got this one at Aldi a while back.

Method:
Get a paddle pop stick and stand it in the depression of the ice cube tray. Note roughly where on the stick that the top edge of the hole is. (this will make sense in the future … for now its weird).
Get a sharp knife, dip into boiling water until the blade is nice and hot.
Using the knife, slice a hole through the marshmallow. While the hole is fresh, slide the marshmallow onto the paddle pop stick, to roughly the point where the stick measured on the edge of the ice cube tray (see I told you it would make sense …. sort of).
Melt the chocolate in a bowl over hot water, until nice and liquid and runny.
Spoon the chocolate into the holes in the ice cube trays, stopping a couple of millimetres from the top edge.
Before the chocolate sets, slip the paddlepop stick into the chocolate. If you have judged it right, you should be able to press the bottom of the marshmallow into the chocolate, wedging it into the hole in the tray slightly. This will keep the stick upright, and will mean the chocolate flows up the edges of the marshmallow a little, gluing the whole thing together as well.

Allow to set completely, overnight is best. The next day, turn the silicon inside out, popping the chocolate sticks out. Package in cellophane bags, decorate with pretty ribbon or stickers, and give with the following instructions.

Hot chocolate on a stick: Heat milk, drop in one chocolate stick, stir until completely melted, enjoy.