An Ode to Chocolate

Since I had an Ode to Mint, I thought I should have one to chocolate as well.

This is a very easy and absolutely delicious dessert. It is not guilt-free, but it was adapted from Cooking Light, so it can't be that bad. Right?

• 2 cups 1 % milk, divided
• 2 cups fat-free half-and-half
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (or any sort of chocolate you want)
• 6 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 1/2 tablespoon orange extract

1. Combine 1 cup of milk, all of half-and-half and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until it begins to simmer. Add chocolate chips and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes to let the chocolate melt.

2. Place chocolate mixture over low heat, return to simmer, stirring frequently. In the meantime, combine remaining 1 cup of milk, cornstarch, eggs and egg whites in a medium bowl and stir with a whisk. Gradually add about a cup (or 1 1/2 cups) of chocolate mixture to the cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Add this back to the remaining chocolate mixture in the saucepan and cook, stirring constantly, over low heat for about 10 minutes or until thickened (it won't be very thick, but it will thicken more when it is cooling).

3. Stir in orange extract. Cover and chill.