Dessert: Jalapeno Hot Chocolate

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon

Health benefits of Jalapeno Hot Chocolate

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

Ingredients

4 cups Whole Milk
7 ounces, weight Semisweet Chocolate, Chopped
1 Vanilla Bean
1 stick Cinnamon
2 To 3 Jalapenos
3 Tablespoons Sugar (or More To Taste)

Instructions

Pour the milk into a saucepot. Split the vanilla bean down the middle to expose the seeds. Add the vanilla bean and cinnamon stick to the saucepot.
Cut the jalapenos in half. Smell them to determine how spicy they are. If the jalapenos are extra spicy, only add 4 pieces. If they smell mild, add all 6 halves.
Set the saucepot over medium heat. Once the milk starts to warm, add the chopped chocolate and sugar.
Stir until all the chocolate has melted into the milk and the mixture is very warm. Taste the hot chocolate for sweetness and heat. Add 1-2 more tablespoons of sugar if desired. Lower the heat and allow the hot chocolate to steep until the spice level is to your liking (usually 3 –5 more minutes for me). Be careful not to boil.
Remove the vanilla bean, cinnamon stick, and jalapenos. Serve warm!