By Libbie Summers for Terra’s Kitchen
With Dr. Lisa Davis for Terra’s Kitchen
Photography by Teresa Earnest Photography

Who says hot chocolate can’t be good for you? Not Dr. Lisa Davis that’s who!! I’m so lucky that I get to work with Dr. Davis on the reg with my job as Creative Culinary Director for Terra’s Kitchen. Lisa is not only one of my favorite cool chicks, she also has a daughter named Libby AND she loves sprinkles. How could I not adore her?

Lisa and I were recently tasked with the job of creating a healthy hot chocolate recipe and this is the magnificent deliciousness we came up with.

Sweet and Vicious Hot Chocolate
serves 4

If you’ve ever been invited to have hot chocolate in the home of a Mexican family, you’ll
never forget how unique the flavor is. The grated piloncillo sugar gives this extra dark
chocolate an earthy sweet flavor while the cinnamon and chili powder kick up the smoky
heat!

What you need:
2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons grated piloncillo (unrefined Mexican sugar found in the ethnic section of the grocery
store/can substitute brown sugar)
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼-1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle chili powder
5 ounces (130 g) high-quality extra dark chocolate (over 70%), chopped
2 pinches of flake sea salt
What to do:
1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the milk, piloncillo, cinnamon and pepper
until warmed through and the sugar has dissolved.
2. Whisk in the chocolate and cook, whisking constantly, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is
steaming hot and beginning to thicken (about 3 minutes).

To Serve: Serve warm. Divide chocolate between 4 cups and sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over each.
Pro Tip: No chipotle chili powder? Cut a jalapeno in half and add both halves to the warm milk to steep
for 15 minutes. Strain and add chocolate.

Health Benefits from Dr. Lisa:
•Dark Chocolate (70% or higher) – Cardiovascular health; Dark chocolate contains oleic acid and
flavonols which can help reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol. The flavonols in Dark Chocolate trigger the
production of nitric oxide which can improve blood flow and help reduce blood pressure. [1] [2] [3].
•Cinnamon – Can help balance blood sugar [4]. Smelling the wonderful odor of this sweet spice boosts
brain activity! [4].
•Chipotle Pepper – Contains a compound called “capsaicin” which can assist in weight loss by
suppressing appetite [6] A 2014 meta-analysis found that the addition of red chili pepper (roughly half of
a teaspoon) before meals contributed to a reduction in food intake of approximately 74 calories [7].

For healthy eating and loads of tips along the way, I urge you to give Terra’s Kitchen a try. You will LOVE it and your now less stressful life will love it even more! The New Terra’s Kitchen Wellness Program (where you actually chew food) starts in January!

Just for a visual, Here’s Dr. Lisa and myself overly photoshopped.