Chocolate Soup

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...If you are looking for something out of the ordinary to intrigue your guests try a dessert soup. This one's a cross between a thick, rich hot chocolate and pudding. It's a lovely way to end a special meal or surprise the book club. The recipe comes from Cuisine At Home and it has much to recommend it, not the least of which is ease of preparation. It can be topped with an optional fruit salsa or whipped cream. The "soup" can be made well ahead of serving time, but the "salsa" should be prepared just before serving to keep it fresh and crisp. Here's the recipe.

Chocolate Soup...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
4 cups whole milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
1 bag Ghirardelli bittersweet choc chips (11 1/2 oz)
1/4 cup Kahlua or other coffee-flavored liqueur, optional
1/2 tsp salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon espresso powder, optional
.Optional Fruit Salsa
1/2 cup strawberries, diced
1/2 cup fresh pineapple, diced
1/2 cup kiwi, diced
1 teaspoon sugar
Whipped cream

Directions:
1) Combine whole milk, condensed milk, choc chips, liqueur, and salt in a saucepan.
2) Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to low and cook, whisking ofter, until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth, 20-25 minutes (as the chocolate melts, it may look a little grainy but don't worry-it will smooth out, but whisk it often as it heats). Remove soup from heat.
3) Whisk vanilla and espresso powder together in a small bowl until dissolved; stir into the "soup."
4) If using salsa, toss strawberries, pineapple, kiwi and sugar together in a bowl
5) Serve soup warm and top with "salsa" and a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

Cook's Note: You can make the "soup" ahead and reheat (over LOW heat) but make the "salsa " right before serving so it is fresh.

Recipe courtesy of Cuisine at Home - Splendid Soups and Spectacular Sides