Dreamy Hot Chocolate (or Carob)

Ingredients:
1 cup plus 2 T half-and-half or plain coconut milk 
1 t arrowroot
1 T sugar or 1 t Truvia
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (at least 70 percent cacao), chopped or 2 ounces sweetened carob drops
1 T Grand Marnier or Triple Sec, optional

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of half-and-half or coconut milk with arrowroot, whisking until smooth.
Place remaining 1 cup half-and-half or coconut milk in a small saucepan over medium heat and simmer. When half-and-half begins to bubble around the edges, whisk in sugar or Truvia. Whisk in arrowroot mixture until half-and-half thickens slightly, usually less than a minute. Remove from heat and quickly whisk in the chocolate and Grand Marnier or Triple Sec, until smooth.
Pour into warmed cups, top each with a orange zest.

*For a hot chocolate sauce to drizzle over berries, cut half-and-half or coconut milk down to 1/2 cup. It will be thicker and richer.