With the frosty january on the calendar the mind stops to ponder on the climatic conditions everywhere in the world!at some places it is as hot as a furnace while some parts of the world are experiencing “one of the coldest winters” with unbelievable snowfall occurring in areas where there was not even a trace of snow till last year. So here is a recipe for such days when we shiver to go out, don ourselves in mufflers, scarves and woollens and sit in front of a fireplace dreaming about beautiful days long past, and seeing the flames leap up and down thinking all the while of how fast the years passed and the years to come and what they herald! traditional hot chocolate is made with a block of cocoa rich chocolate, either dark or milk. Some people love to add a dash of brandy, rum, irish whisky or bailey’s irish creme or advocaat or coffee flavoured liqueurs like tia maria. My combo is a good quality milk chocolate and a dash of rum!if you are serving children then cut out the alcohol.