After Party Drink -- Russian Hot Chocolate

Photo courtesy of: http://www.olivenation.com/

Planning a party after your reception?  Consider serving this wonderful hot chocolate to your guests.  The recipe is from http://olivenation.com.  One taste and your will fall in love!  And isn't that what you want people to remember about your wedding, LOVE? 

Russian Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
1 quart low fat milk
1 vanilla bean split lengthwise (our huge vanilla beans are perfect for this recipe)
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3 Tbsp + 1 tsp. Star Kay White pure chocolate extract
2 tsp. honey
2 tsp. cognac
whipped cream and shaved chocolate for garnish

Combine sugar and cocoa powder with 1/3 cup of cold milk. Combine remaining milk and sugar in a non-reactive pot. Cut the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the inside of the pod. Add vanilla flecks and the bean to the milk and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil. Remove the vanilla pods and pour the mixture into the cocoa mixture whisking into a frothy mixture. Add the pure chocolate extract and cognac. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate. For a great froth, steam the finished beverage with a steam (cappuccino) attachment on your espresso maker.