Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Do you buy chocolate syrup from the grocery store? When you buy it, do you look at the ingredients on the label? Well, for years I bought it from the store because it was easy, it tasted good and dare I say it...I never looked at the label! However, as my kids were growing up I starting thinking about what I was putting in their bodies and as a result, what I was putting in my body! I want to live a long long time and so I want to make healthy (or healthier) choices when at all possible. Sometimes that means a little more work on my part, but in the long run I feel it is worth it. I'd much rather know all of the ingredients that are in my food, than just claim ignorance. Things aren't what they used to be. Years and years ago there weren't so many processed foods and there weren't so many pesticides used in our produce. Although, now we have to make a concerted effort to avoid such things. So, I'll get off my soapbox and share with you the most amazing recipe for homemade chocolate syrup, thanks to Rachel at smallnotebook.org (who found the recipe on Tightwad Gazette). I can confidently say it tastes just as good, if not better, than the stuff I used to buy in the store and I used a 1/2 cup less sugar than she did (next time, I am going to try using agave nectar as a sugar substitute)!!! Oh, and by no accounts do I claim that chocolate syrup is healthy! It is a treat that we enjoy sparingly. :)

Ingredients:
½ cup cocoa powder
1 cup water 
1 & 1/2 cups sugar (the original recipe called for 2 cups)
⅛ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Mix the cocoa powder and the water in a saucepan. Heat and stir to dissolve the cocoa. Add the sugar, and stir to dissolve. Boil for 3 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Be careful not to let it get too hot and boil over! Add the salt and the vanilla. Let cool. Pour into a clean glass jar, and store in the refrigerator. Keeps for several months. Yields two cups.

NOTE: I bought my jar at a local store that sells specialty beers. Mine contained Schwarzbier. You just need a large enough container to hold 2 cups. Amazon.com also sells a variety of fliptop bottles.