Mint Hot Chocolate

Pour milk into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, about 5 minutes; cover and set aside. (Or warm milk in microwave to take chill off—milk should be warmed; not cooked.)

In another small saucepan, combine water, sugar and mint leaves; bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour mint syrup through a fine-meshed sieve or strainer into a larger saucepan.

Add chocolate to mint syrup and reduce heat to very low; melt chocolate, stirring constantly, about 1 to 2 minutes. (Do not allow chocolate to stick to bottom of pan or overcook.) When chocolate has just melted, add 1/3 cup of warmed milk and stir to combine, being careful that chocolate does not stick to bottom of pot. When chocolate and milk are completely combined, add remaining milk to pan; increase heat to medium-low and warm through. Pour into serving cups and top each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of whipped cream; garnish with mint. Yields about 3/4 cup per serving.