It’s officially gas-station hot chocolate season

When Mother Nature decides to spit freezing rain down upon me, I know only two ways to cope — salting my steps and stopping for gas-station hot chocolate.

After a yearlong layoff, I inevitably fail to stop holding the button before the cup is full and hot cocoa runs freely into the catch basin beneath. I burn my tongue on the first sip because I don’t wait for it to cool. And in truth, the overly sugary drink isn’t particularly good hot chocolate. But for me, it wouldn’t be winter without a to-go cup of cocoa.