Quick mix for chocolate fix

(photos by debra samuels for the boston globe)

Instant cocoa mixes are made for the moments when you come in from shoveling, can't feel your fingers or toes, and need something hot and nourishing - fast. This easy hot cocoa mix requires only boiling water. To make it, mix nonfat dried milk with high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder and a modest amount of sugar. Dried milk is made from milk that's fortified with vitamins A and D. Carnation brand yields the best results. After you stir your homemade mix into a cup of hot water, add mini marshmallows with a few chocolate chips for extra melting richness.

Turn the cocoa mix into a pudding treat by adding cornstarch. Pudding is one of the first things kids learn to cook, stirring the mixture with a long-handled wooden spoon, waiting for the magic moment when the chocolate liquid turns gooey and the wooden spoon turns into a chocolate lollipop. This pudding firms up in the refrigerator but still has a soft creamy texture. Add chocolate chips to this, too, for an intense kick. You'll defrost completely.