I spent my snow day on Cocoa (pt. 2)

Gingerbread Cocoa

combine:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar
• 1/4 cup Sugar in the Raw (crushed to powder)
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp powdered vanilla

in a mixing bowl.

To enjoy, mix 2-3 Tablespoons into 1 cup of hot water or milk.

Sugar in the Raw comes as rather large crystals and will need to be crushed down somewhat for this recipe to make sure it dissolves completely. It's added for it's molasses content and could be replaced with superfine sugar without sacrificing much taste.

I get my powdered vanilla at Kitchen Krafts in Quakertown.

I spent my snow day on Cocoa

First off, any day spent creating and sampling homemade gourmet hot cocoa recipes, automatically qualifies as awesome. Plus the snow was gorgeous and hubby was home to share it all with me. Or I should say, I was home to share it with him. It's unusual for me to have a Saturday off.

Anyway, here's the cocoa recipes.

Deep Dark Cocoa


Combine

• 1/2 cup dark cocoa
• 3/4 cup superfine sugar
• 1 Tbsp powdered vanilla
• 2 Tbsp grated dark chocolate (70% or so cacao)

in a mixing bowl.

To enjoy your cocoa, mix 2-3 Tablespoons in 1 cup of hot water or milk.

I like to use the side of the grater normally used for cheese to grate my chocolate. Something like Ghirardelli's Twilight Delight (72% cacao) works great for this.

If you're local to the Allentown area, I got my powdered vanilla that Kitchen Krafts down in the Quakertown Farmer's Market (Q-Mart) I haven't seen it anywhere else.

Gotta get back on track.

This week, when I get paid, there will be a hard-core, fill the pantry farmer's market trip. I need to make granola bars. I have an idea for almond bars. I'm out of zippy bags. I need veggies. (All i have is mutant cucumbers from my garden.)

I might try to make some popcorn bars, also.

In other news, I made amazing Wasabi mustard this past week. I'll measure next time and post the recipe. Which brings me to the next item - Robyn is going to teach me to can, which means healthier eating (with no Onion - yay) and reusable packaging (ball jars).

This all makes for a very happy hippy. Now if only my house would clean itself.

Back on Track

Mom is back home and I have off from work tomorrow. I think that this calls for a shopping trip so that I can get back on track with all the stuff I've been trying to accomplish.

Reusable bags + Farmer's Markets = Win.

In other news, Rothschild Farms will not be making oils anymore. I'll have to start making my own garlic oil. This could be fun.