Nutella Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows

Just when I had regularised my body clock to a decent sleep-wake up routine, the World Cup happens. And South America always comes with its share of late night/early morning excitements. Naturally, body clock again goes for a toss. So what do you do when you stay up for an Italy-England face off till the dead of the night after the sporadic rains that evening has made the weather somewhat bearable that you can survive without the AC? You make hot chocolate. Stop, don't shudder. I know it's June and this is India...not really the best time-place combination to have hot chocolate. But wait, this is not any hot chocolate, this is Nutella hot chocolate.

For all those who don't know what Nutella is, or have never tasted it, rush to your nearest store immediately and get hold of a jar before you read through the rest of the post. Nutella is my absolute favourite chocolate spread. Every time I get a jar, I make grand plans to cook this or that with it. But greed o greed! Greed gets the better of me and even before I get down to do some actual cooking with it, it mostly disappears into my ever-expanding tummy.

To make matters simple, Nutella is God's gift to fat people and curse to thin people who don't want to get fat (case in point: my sister, 5 years older than me and at least two inches taller, who except for her pregnancy has never allowed her body weight to go past 50, also lusts after Nutella in her dreams. And waking moments.) So you understand the kind of damaging effect it has on people and their psyche? Good. Now don't blame me for falling victim to it.

So this Nutella Hot Chocolate. It's delicious, it's sinful, it's everything that anything to do with Nutella should be. Rich, creamy, chocolatey, hazelnut-y and so, so comforting, It's a cakewalk really (I've always wondered why you call cakewalk "cakewalk". Does it refer to walking towards the cake or away from it? In the former case, of course you can walk blindfolded, but away from it...how is THAT easy? Walking away from cake is NOT a cakewalk.) It's as easy as scoring a goal (well, only when you're Robin van Persie). You just need 3 ingredients, a gas, a pan, a cup to pour it in, and of course an open mind to welcome all the calories that are coming your way.

And oh, don't forget to dunk your marshmallows in the thick, gooey, frothy heaven first. And then feel the fluffy chocolate-covered sugar balls melting in your mouth. I think I'll die!

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

Milk: 1 cup
Nutella: 2-3 tbsp (be generous or don't complain about taste)
Frangelico (hazelnut liquer, optional): 1 tsp
Marshmallows (for garnish): as many as you want

Method:

1. In a deep-bottomed pan, heat the milk over medium heat for 2 minutes.

2. Add nutella, stir it in and allow to melt completely and bring to a bubble. Now lower the heat and let it simmer for another minute.

3. Pour into a cup, top it with marshmallows and Bazinga!