As I was flipping through Twitter this morning, looking for Blizzard updates, I came across this tweet from Food Network daring its followers to create Alton Brown's "top-rated hot cocoa." Always up for a challenge, especially on a snowy morning when all of NYC was at a standstill, I clicked on the link. I was expecting to find a complicated recipe involving cream and a candy thermometer. Instead, I found an easy to follow recipe and was able to locate most of the ingredients in my pantry. Even, to my surprise, powdered milk.

Amy, Maya and I went out in the snow so that for once in our lives we could have the playground to ourselves. Maya ran around off-leash and Amy slid down the snowy slide. We froze and then came inside and I set out to make the hot chocolate. I only made half of the recipe and didn't quite fill the cup when I measured the sugar. I also omitted the corn starch (didn't have it) and the cayenne (not kid-friendly enough). Amy's mug of hot "shoklet" got seriously watered down and I mixed my portion with a shot of espresso for a mocha that rivaled The Smile cafe's. --Bec

The Recipe: Alton Brown's Top-Rated Hot Cocoa

The Verdict: Not your ski hill watery hot chocolate!

Make it Again Factor: Yes! And it won't take another MTA shutdown to do so.