Recipe for Champurrado



This is what you serve Mexican carolers after they've been out singing in the cold

1/2 cup masa flour (masa harina) plus 1/4 cup hot water to make a paste
2-1/4 cups milk
1-1/2 cups water
1 disk Mexican chocolate (see photo -- it's made with cinnamon)
3 tablespoons piloncillo,
chopped (from the cone of brown sugar sold everywhere in Mexico), or 1/3 cup brown sugar plus 2 teaspoons molasses
1/4 teaspoon crushed aniseeds (optional)

Place the water and the masa into the jar of a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a medium sized saucepan. Add the milk, chocolate, piloncillo (or sugar, molasses combination) and the aniseeds if you wish to use them. Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking until the chocolate and sugar is melted and well-blended. Strain the mixture through a medium sieve (optional) and serve hot, in mugs.