Peppermint Hot Chocolate

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 qt milk (4 cups for those of you that don't have a conversion chart taped to their cabinet door)
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 crushed (1/4 cup) peppermint sticks
pinch of salt

Wisk milk into cocoa powder until dissolved. Add chocolate chips and candy. Simmer over medium heat, stirring intermittently. Simmer until chocolate chips and candy are melted (8-10 min). Add salt. Ladle into mugs. Enjoy the "Ooos and awwws" from your children!

For a variation, I added 1 cup of strong coffee and adjusted nothing else.