Every once in awhile something is so surprisingly good that you never forget the first time you tried it.

I was standing around a giant campfire freezing my ass off somewhere near the Ortega Highway when a fellow camper handed me a big, warm thermos of cocoa. Mmmm, chocolate - and mint - and alcohol.

Alcohol! How was it possible that it never occurred to me to put alcohol in cocoa? She had spiked the thermos with peppermint schnapps. Chocolate and mint - it was so obvious. It was a revelation along the lines of, "Hey, you got yer chocolate in my peanut butter! Hey..."

Try it out the next time you are hankering for something warm and sweet, but with a kick.

Cocoa for Big Kids

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
4 cups milk
5 Tbsp (2 1/2 ounces) peppermint schnapps

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and cocoa.

Add about 1/2 cup milk and whisk together until thoroughly mixed.

Stir over a medium flame, gradually adding milk. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Do not allow to boil.

Add schnapps and enjoy the magic.

Photo by Elise Thompson for LAist

Incredible homemade marshmallow courtesy of Julianna