Hot Chocolate Bombs

This is such a fun way to do a Hot Chocolate Bar! My boys love a good cup of hot chocolate and I love that they can just heat up milk and drop one of these babies in!  I found the recipe here. 

Hot Chocolate Bombs

(about 15 balls)

2 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 T sugar

1/4 t salt

2 t vanilla extract

cocoa powder, crushed candy canes, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows for rolling

Place all ingredients in a pot (except the items for rolling) and melt together on low heat until smooth.  Stir constantly.  

Let cool in the fridge until stiff enough to scoop (I left mine over night).

Make small scoops, about 2 Tablespoons each.  I used my cookie scoop. Place on wax paper and freeze for an hour.

Roll each scoop into a ball and then roll in your choice of decoration.  Crushed candy canes, cocoa powder, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows or anything you want! You will need to push the bigger things in to make them stick.  

Keep chilled until ready to use. (I leave mine in the freezer)

When ready, drop 1 hot chocolate ball into 1 1/2 cups of hot milk and stir until completely dissolved.

Yum!

Orange Dream Machine (Our Version)

Our boys wake up almost every Saturday and ask to go to Jamba Juice. Their preferred flavor choice?  Orange Dream Machine. Everytime!! SO I finally decided I could probably make it cheaper and maybe even healthier.  Here is what I came up with and it has passed the taste test by every boy, including my husband!

Orange Dream Machine (Our Version)
(about 6 cups)

2 cups Orange Juice
1/2 cup Greek Yogurt (I used Honey flavored, if using plain you will need to add more sweetener)
1 scoop (2 oz) vanilla protein powder
1/2 t vanilla extract
2 T agave, or more to desired sweetness
3 cups of ice, or until desired consistency
2 Calamondin oranges (optional, I happen to have a tree.  They are really small about the size of a large grape) You could add 1/2 of a mandarin or a couple slices of a regular orange.

Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Adjust ice for consistency and agave for sweetness.

Mint Oreo Milk Shake

I have a VERY hard time resisting mint Oreos!  Regular Oreos I can walk by all day long, but there is just something about mint that tempts me!  For this reason they are NEVER in my house, but seeing as how it was St. Patrick's Day AND my husband has some Irish heritage, I thought, why not?!  And boy am I regretting it, I guess I have to put in 24,000 more hours at the gym to make up for this weekend's mint Oreos!  But oh, they were soooo good!  Here is what I put into these mint Oreo milk shakes...

Mint Oreo Milk Shake

(about 6 servings)

Vanilla ice cream

mint Oreos

milk

malt powder

whipped cream (for garnish)

green sprinkles (for garnish)

Ok, I fill my blender with vanilla ice cream (do NOT pack it down).  Add a tablespoon or 2 of malt powder, and 9-10 mint Oreos.  Add milk until it fills the cracks and crevices about 3/4 of the way to the top of the blender. (I like my shakes thick, so I add more after I start to blend).  Blend until smooth, adjusting the milk or ice cream as needed until the shake is the consistency you like (I stir, carefully, as it blends with a spoon to get things moving).  Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and sprinkles.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix

I saw this recipe on Pinterest and was so excited to try it.  First off, homemade hot chocolate is divine!  Not to mention Mexican hot chocolate!  I whipped up a batch to take to my kids teachers and am already dying to make more for myself!  It is quick and easy and so great to have on hand!  This recipe will take the place of any instant hot chocolate that is now in my house!  I altered the original recipe to fit my liking.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix

(about 25 servings)

3 cups non fat instant dry milk powder

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cups cocoa powder

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 t salt

2 t corn starch

1 t cinnamon

1/8 t cayenne pepper

In a large bowl, whisk together all the ingredients.

In batches, pulse through a food processor until smooth and well combined.

Store in a sealed container in a dry, dark place.  

To make the hot chocolate, mix 1/3 cup of the mixture into a mug of hot milk or water.  Serve with fresh whipped cream sprinkled with cinnamon.

Hot Chocolate

It is so that season, and I am LOVING it!  Hot chocolate season, of course!  I gave up a long time ago searching for the perfect hot chocolate mix.  It doesn't exist and making your own is simple, cheap and easy! So, here is my favorite recipe.  Now, go get your favorite mug and indulge in a big mug and a bubble bath!

Hot Chocolate
(1 serving)

1 1/2 cups (12 oz) skim milk
2 T milk
1 T cocoa powder (the unsweetened kind)
2 T sugar
a dash of salt
a splash of cream
3-4 drops vanilla extract
a dash of cinnamon (optional)

Put milk in a sauce pan and heat over medium.  In a small cup or bowl mix the 2 T milk, cocoa powder and sugar together with a whisk until it is the chocolate is totally incorporated.  (The cocoa powder can be stubborn to mix in and I have found this is the easiest way.) Pour this mixture into the milk that is heating up and whisk to blend.  Now add salt (not too much) vanilla, cream (this gives it just the perfect amount of creaminess) and cinnamon (if using).  Stir until hot (or the perfect drinking temperature).  Pour into your favorite mug and slide into that bubble bath!

Nutella Hot Chocolate

I think I have died and gone to H.E.A.V.E.N. Nutella heaven, that is! I have made no secret of my nutella obsession but this takes it to a new level! I saw this recipe pop up on quite a few different food blogs I follow, the recipe was essentially the same, just a few small changes. But the one I like the best is from my friend Brenda's blog. I only changed it slightly...

Nutella Hot Chocolate

1 cup milk (I used 1%, it is what I had)

a splash of heavy cream (probably not necessary if you use whole milk)

1/4 cup nutella

a pinch of salt

a dash of cinnamon

Heat the milk and cream until hot but not boiling. Add the nutella, salt and cinnamon and whisk until the nutella is totally melted and combined. Serve with fresh whipped cream!

Peanut Butter Banana Blender Drink

This has been a breakfast that has been in my life since I can remember. I loved it (and still do) and now my kids love it. It brings back memories, it's healthy, and can pack some protein. So what are you waiting for, make this for breakfast!

Peanut Butter Banana Blender Drink

(about 2 servings)

1 ripe banana

1 spoonful of peanut butter

1 cup of milk

1/4 t vanilla

protein powder (optional, but so good)

ice

Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. These measurements are just a guess, I alter the amounts to taste. So, if you LOVE peanut butter, add more. If you like it thick add more ice. You get the point!

Our Favorite Smoothie

This is just a list of ingredients. I just start putting these things into my blender and taste/adjust amounts as I go. I do always put the same things in though. After trying so many different combinations of things, this is our favorite. My kids love it and I love that they love it! This makes for a happy family! And who doesn't want that?! We do smoothies for breakfast all the time, but they are great whenever and can even be frozen into popsicles.

Our Favorite Smoothie

ripe bananas

yogurt (I like Greek, more protein and probiotics...Greek Gods is the best brand in my book)

orange juice

vanilla, just a few drops

protein powder (we use the soy,vanilla flavored, it adds sweetness)

a handful of baby spinach and/or kale (the beauty is you can't taste it)

frozen or fresh berries (we like blueberries, strawberries and raspberries the best. Plus the color hides the green from the veggies)

ice (you won't need very much or any at all if you use frozen berries)

Blend this all together until smooth. I don't add any additional sweetener, it is always sweet enough for us. But if you want it sweeter, honey or agave both work great.

Holiday Wassail

This is one of my favorite Fall drinks. As soon as the weather turns cold I crave this! I make a full batch just so I can heat up a cup whenever I want. I got this recipe from my sis-in-law. I have never had any other that even came close, in my opinion.  Happy Fall!

Holiday Wassail

1 qt water

2 cups sugar

2 cups lemon juice

12 oz orange juice concentrate

10 cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

1 whole piece of ginger (about 2 inches)

2 quarts apple juice

Add all the ingredients together, except the apple juice, in a large pot on your stove or your crock pot. You don't even need to peel the ginger, just drop it in, skin and all. Let this simmer for about 1 hour. Add the apple juice, then add as much water as you need to desired potency. (For me this is about 3-4 more cups of water, but I like it strong).

Grandpa's Chocolate Malts

My dear, sweet, honest, loveable Grandpa passed away a couple of weeks ago so in honor of him I just had to post this recipe. He was an amazing man, a selfless and giving person with a great sense of humor and a love for chocolate malts. We have loved this simple recipe for years and years in our family and hope it brings some love to your family as well. I have spent many wonderful nights deep in conversation with a malt in my hands. So, in memory of you, Grandpa! Thanks for sharing the love!

Grandpa's Chocolate Malts

Vanilla ice cream

Hershey's chocolate syrup

Malt powder

milk

Put all of these ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. We like our rich and thick, so add ingredients to taste. For 4 servings I fill the blender with ice cream add 2 heaping T malt powder fill in with milk about 1/2 way up and douse the whole thing in chocolate syrup.