Rich Hot Cocoa (Just Three Ingredients)

Rich Hot Cocoa (Just Three Ingredients)

Today is a grey, drizzly day. What better time for hot cocoa and popcorn? Instead of analyzing the list on the side of a box of Swiss Miss, you can make your own and keep it simple.

For three generous mugs, gently heat the following:

5 cups fresh milk
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 tbsp local honey

If you like your hot cocoa sweeter, double the honey. For a lighter cup, more like "milk chocolate" double the honey and use only two tablespoons cocoa powder. Mint exact or vanilla extra can dress it up a little. 

[We received a Mr Coffee Cocomotion hot chocolate maker for a housewarming gift a few years back. I laughed out loud because I had always wanted a stirring hot plate for the kitchen like I used in my past life... Here is a simple kitchen appliance that uses the same principle as the laboratory staple: a little magnet whizzing around to stir the contents as it heats. No more scorched milk!]


I shared this recipe with Fight Back Friday,  Monday Mania, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Full Plate Thursday,  Simple Lives Thursday and Real Food Wednesday.

Iced Latte or Iced Chai Latte at Home

Iced Latte at Home

Iced Latte. The perfect compromise between a cold, refreshing drink and an afternoon pick-me-up. On countless occasions I have shelled out a fist full of cash at a fancy coffee house (or M-place drive through) for what is essentially a strong cup of coffee poured over some ice. It is really, really easy to make this at home, saving money and time. I have one right now, in fact, and did not have to load the kids into the car to go fetch it.

Chai Latte at Home

Chai Latte at Home

In college, I had no idea what a "tea latte" was, despite the fact that I made and enjoyed so many of them when savouring rare moments at home. There was a positively delicious carob tea on the market at that time. I would brew my cup extra strong and top it with frothed milk. When that tea was discontinued, it inspired a cross-border road trip to buy up as many boxes as I could. My friend wanted a bottle of her favorite fragrance so I picked her up after her late-night shift at a bar and off we went... Border Patrol did not believe us when we declared our purchases on the way home; it was the first time I had ever had my car thoroughly searched. All for pretty perfume and wonderful tea, both of which were rationed for a long, long time.

Lately, Stealthy Dad and I have been enjoying spiced chai. It is a black tea with notes of cardamom and cinnamon that invite a little sweetness. Some cool, frothed milk adds fun and the result is as satisfying as a dessert.

To make your own, coffee-shop style Chai Latte, brew a cup of chai tea in a large mug. Leave room for about a third milk. Let the tea steep a few minutes and remove the tea bag. Stir in sugar or honey to taste. Prepare the froth by adding milk to a lidded bottle and shaking it. Pour it over your tea. Take a moment to watch the milk swirl down into the tea. Enjoy.

(And if this chai tea goes off the market, I promise to just make do with what is on the store shelves instead of getting into trouble having an adventure.)

For easy instructions on making a Cafe Latte at home without an espresso machine or Keurig landfill-hogger click here.


www.stealthymom.com


I shared this post at Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways.

Coffee Break (Latte or Cappuccino at home)

Coffee Break: Latte or Cappuccino at Home

Long morning or late night? Would you like to go out for a fancy coffee somewhere but cannot get away? Try this easy method to make a coffee-house coffee at home without the fuss or expense of an espresso maker.

Materials

French Press (Bodum) coffee pot
microwaveable bottle with lid (I use a Nalgene water bottle)
coffee
hot water
milk

Method

Put the kettle on and put twice the amount of grounds you would normally use in your french press.

Pour boiling water into the press and allow to stand at least five minutes. Longer is better since the nuttiness of coffee comes out during brewing.

Pour milk into the bottle. For a cappuccino, use a quarter cup milk per cup of coffee. For a latte, use a half cup of milk per cup of coffee. Lid off, heat the milk in the microwave.

Pour coffee into your cup. Shake the milk until frothy and pour it over your coffee.

Variations

Coffee syrup, like at the coffee house, is available by the bottle. Add a shot to the milk before you shake it. 

Vanilla and Honey. For a drink that is more natural than the coffee syrup, but just as delicious, add a tablespoon of honey and a quarter-teaspoon of vanilla extract to the coffee.

A sprinkle of nutmeg or cocoa over the top completes the experience. Enjoy with Raisin Spice Omega Cookies.



I shared this post with the Homestead Barn Hop, where bloggers share recipes, do-it-yourself and money saving ideas.


www.stealthymom.com

Strawberry Faux Milkshake (non-dairy option)

Our kids like to cool down with a "milk shake" that is loaded with calcium, potassium and Vitamin C. G-man adds frozen fruit to the blender and the Cadet likes to press the buttons.  While we could use raspberries, blueberries, peaches or cherries, this is the version of the Faux Milkshake that they like best:

Strawberry Faux Milkshake

Blend well:

2-3 frozen, ripe bananas*
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup fresh, homemade yogurt (or non-dairy milk)
1 cup milk (or non-dairy milk)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Pour into cups, or sippy-cups with straws.


*When bananas get overripe on the counter, peel them and freeze in a ziplock for later. At times our grocery store will sell dark bananas at a steep discount and I swoop in and buy a couple dozen. Frozen bananas add texture to a faux milkshake that is close to ice cream.




For other natural food recipe ideas, check out Traditional Tuesdays, Fat Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday,  Real Food Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesdays, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, and Allergy Free Wednesdays,  Gluten Free Wednesday,  Thriving on Thursdays and Fight Back Friday.




www.stealthymom.com