Perfect Homemade Hot Chocolate

Perfect Homemade Hot Chocolate

Since we now live somewhere with a cold season (yay!) I introduced my kids to hot chocolate.  I never knew it was so simple to make.  I am never buying the packaged stuff again!  I also tried a recipe that you put into the crockpot with sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips.  It was so rich....it reminded me more of pudding.  This recipe though tastes like classic hot chocolate.



The Perfect Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

1 TBSP Hershey's cocoa powder
1/2 c white sugar
1/4 c milk (original recipe calls for skim, but I used 2%)
1 3/4 c milk (to add at later on)
Whipping cream (optional-Mels addition)

Directions (copied and pasted from the original source):
1. Stir together the cocoa powder and sugar in a medium saucepan.

2. The cocoa powder is going to be lumpy, and that’s ok. Just get them blended together.

3. Add 1/4 cup of skim milk. This is where the secret part comes in.  See how the cocoa and milk don’t want to mix together very easily?  We’re going to force them to love each other. 

4. How can you force it? By applying heat.  Bring the mixture to a low boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly.  

5. I let it boil for a minute or two, until the sugar is dissolved an no longer grainy.  Be sure to stir, stir, stir.  Don’t let it burn!

6. Once it’s all good and mixed together, I add the rest of the milk. I’m not going to lie—I didn’t even measure this out, I just poured straight from the jug.  I think it was about 1 3/4 cup.   If you like a super sweet hot chocolate you could add less, if you like it less sweet, add more milk. This recipe is totally flexible, folks.   

When you add the cold milk, you’ll need to turn the heat back up to get the temperature hot again.  You can let this simmer on the stove as long as you’d like, depending on how scalded your taste buds like to be when you sip hot drinks. When I make it for kids I don’t let it heat back up after adding the milk and it makes it just lukewarm enough for my six year old’s tender mouth.

Recipe Source : Unskinny Boppy

Fresh Lemonade

One of the great things about living in the tropics is the abundance of fresh fruit trees. I picked several lemons straight off a tree and made this delicious lemonade. I'm not sure how many lemons you'd need exactly, as they vary in size and how much juice they give. Another Foodnetwork recipe I saw said 12 lemons, but the ones I was juicing were smaller so I needed more. Delicious!!

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1 cup hot water
2 cups fresh lemon juice
1 gallon cold water
1 lemon, sliced
Mint sprigs, for garnish



Directions

In a 1 gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and cold water to render 1 gallon. Stir until well mixed. Pour lemonade over glasses of ice, squeeze slice of lemon on top of each, and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Recipe and Photo Source: The Food Network

Fresh Vegetable/Fruit Juice

If you have Netflix, I suggest watching the documentary "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead." It shows how juicing can be really beneficial to your health, even to the point that it can reverse sicknesses brought on by poor diet choices. By eating and drinking micro-nutrient dense foods, you will be a healthier person and who doesn't want that?! If you look around, you can get good deals on vegetables to juice. At our local Winco, 25 pounds of juicing carrots are just $6.98! The bag is huge so I split the cost with a friend. Score for both of us!

In today's juice, I used 2 celery stalks, a few swiss chard leaves and stems, 1 granny-smith apple, 1/2 cucumber (the no wax kind with the skin on), about 10 carrots carrots, 1/4 of a beet and a few leaves of kale. You can substitute many different items, but we usually do carrots as the base of the juice because they are cheap and super good for you. They are also sweet so it has a good flavor. Go easy on the beet-a little bit goes a long way. We have also thrown in there cutie oranges or a wedge of lemon and it has been good too....but also go easy on the citrus because it has a strong flavor.


Happy juicing!!

Peach Passion Fruit Smoothie

I know this isn't the best picture, but hey, its better than nothin. As I've mentioned before, I'm having a hard time getting my one year old to eat solid fruits. I've found that smoothies are just the ticket. I've been having fun experimenting with different fruits. Seriously, Jamba...why aren't you paying me loads of dough to invent new recipes for you?? :)



Peach Passion Fruit Smoothie

1/4-1/2 C strawberry yogurt

1 C frozen peaches

1 banana

frozen or fresh raspberries and strawberries (I just threw in a big handful of each)

1/4-1/2 C milk

Blend away until smooth. Add as much milk as you'd like for desired consistency. :)

Berry Medley Fruit Smoothie

I've been having trouble getting my little guy to eat most fruits, but if I blend them up in a smoothie, he is all game! This smoothie was SO good. I highly reccomend it-like, HIGHLY. :) I should get a part time job at Jamba Juice for my mad smoothie skills. Try it, you'll see what I'm talkin about.

Berry Medley Fruit Smoothie

16 oz (1 lb) Frozen Berry Medley assortment (found in the freezer section at Walmart) OR fresh strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and red raspberries

1/4 C vanilla yogurt (I like the 'Mountain High' brand, no added processed sugars or corn syrup)

1/2 C milk (or however much it takes to make it the consistency you desire)

1/2 banana

Blend, blend away until smooth. Delicious.

Creamy Fruit Smoothie

I do my best to avoid processed sugar. For a healthier treat, I opt for the more natural schtuff.... This recipe is super yummy and healthy so I don't feel as guilty eating it.

Creamy Fruit Smoothie

2 C frozen fruit (any variety, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, or a mixture)

1 C milk

6 oz plain or vanilla yogurt (I use the brand Mountain High)

1 banana

1. Place all ingredients in a blender.

2. Cover and blend on high speed for about 2-3 minutes or until smooth.

3. Pour and serve immediately.

Makes four 9 oz servings.