Spiced Hot Chocolate with Vanilla Whipped Cream

by Linda Spiker

https://www.theorganickitchen.org/spiced-hot-chocolate-with-vanilla-whipped-cream-yes-more-comfort-food/

Prep Time

3 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

8 mins

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Hot Chocolate:

• 3 cups 2% milk (my raw milk drinking friends...knock yourselves out! It will be really rich but you are used to that!
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2/3 cup Bittersweet Chocolate chips 60% cacao
• 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
• 2 tsp vanilla paste (can use same amount of vanilla)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 small pinch sea salt
  
  

Vanilla Whipped Cream:

• 1/2 pint heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp vanilla paste
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar or liquid stevia drops to taste

Instructions

Hot Chocolate:

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium sized pot on medium heat. Stir with a whisk till chocolate is melted and all ingredients are blended well. When milk/cream mixture is steaming remove from heat. Pour into mugs and top with vanilla whipped cream.

Whipping Cream:

1. Place cream in large bowl and whisk by hand or use mixer till cream is slightly thick. Add vanilla and sugar. Continue beating till desired consistency.
   
   
   

   
   
   

Sweet Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

• 1½ cups heavy cream
• 1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 6 cups milk (I used Skim)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and stir until the condensed milk is well blended into the mixture.
2. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours - whisking it every 30 minutes.
3. Once the 2 hours is up give it a final whisk and serve. Makes about 12 (1 cup) servings.

http://realmomkitchen.com/9832/sweet-slow-cooker-hot-chocolate/

Lavender Lemonade

Made this for a baby shower and everyone loved it!

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup of sugar
1 TBS dried lavender flowers
2 1/2 cups cold water
1 cup lemon juice
ice cubes

Directions
In a large saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and add lavender. Cover and let stand for 1 hour. Strain, discarding lavender. Stir in cold water and lemon juice. Serve over ice.


To fill an entire beverage dispenser (and enough for 40-50 people)
15 cups water
6 cups sugar
6 TBS lavender
15 cups cold water
6 cups lemon juice
ice cubes

Raw Banana and Chocolate Breakfast Smoothie

1/2 banana (frozen is best, or you can add some ice)
1 medjool date
1 Tbs almond butter (or other "butter" of choice)
1/2 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
1+ tsp freshly ground flaxseed
1 Tbsp raw cacoa powder or 2 Tbsp cocoa powder

Put it all in a blender and enjoy. 

Chris's Green Smoothie

Per Brie's recommendation, here are my smoothie ingredients.  I also do not measure, but I will give you approximate amounts.  I use a Vitamix blender.  I kind of wish I'd bought a Blendtec.

My smoothies recipes make 1 liter of green smoothie which I drink for one meal.

1.  I FILL my blender with Kale and chard OR Kale and spinach OR all three, BUT about 3/4 of the green is Kale.

2.  I pour in probably about a 3/4 - 1 cup of unsweetened coconut milk that I buy at Trader Joe's in a half gallon box for $1.99.

3.  For a 1 litre smoothie, I make sure there is at least 3 cups of just this green mixture of greens and coconut milk.  Usually I have to add more green stuff after my initial blending to get it up to 3 cups.

4.  Next I add frozen fruit...about 1 cup (overflowing) or 1 large, peeled orange.  I also usually add some ice cubes and sometimes some water .  I usually end up with slightly more than 1 liter.  Here are my 3 different fruit combinations so far:

• Costco frozen organic combo of mango, pineapple, peaches
• 1 whole large orange (with the vanilla this taste a little like an orange julius)(thanks, Josh, for this recipe.)
• Costco frozen berry mix...blueberries, blackberries, raspberries

5.    I also add some vanilla.  I add a lot.  I've never measured, but I'd guess at least 2 tsp. 

6.  1 packet of Truvia which is a stevia based sweetener with erythritol.

7.  I have, on occasion, added some freshly ground flaxseed or some salba, but both thicken it, so you have to drink it all immediately, or it becomes a little too think and icky.  I don't usually add either anymore.

That's it.  They are VERY good.  It's important that you add enough liquid, because when it is too thick, it doesn't taste as good.  You will be shocked at how much green stuff you can get in one serving.  Good stuff.  

xoxo

Brie's Smoothie Recipes

Since several of us have gotten into green smoothies lately, I thought we should post our recipes so others can try them out. I don't measure anything do I'm just going to put down the ingredients.

Green:
Equal amounts Kale and Spinach
Vanilla Coconut Milk (or regular, or cow milk)
Ground Flaxseed
Sometimes a few clippings of wheat grass

Lately, I've been adding a little wedge of lemon (with the rind), really good, you just need a little.

Fruit Added (I usually use frozen, but have started using some fresh):

Mixed Berries (the Costco bag)
Pear

Mango
Peaches

Banana
Strawberry
Oranges
Pineapple
Mango

Banana
Strawberry
Pineapple
Mango

Peanut Butter
Banana
Blueberries

Raspberries
Pear
Banana (little bit)


I'll add more as I find variations that are good. I like to make a big batch and put the extra in a jar in the fridge. Still tastes great at lunch!

Homemade Ginger Ale

2 cups peeled and chopped fresh ginger (I prefer twice as much ginger...I want it to burn)

2 cups water

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 large bottle of sparkling water

fresh limes 

fresh mint leaves

To make the Ginger syrup:  In a medium size sauce pan, heat the water and ginger until it reaches a low simmer.  Simmer for five minutes.  Remove from the heat and cover.  Let stand for 1 hour.  

After one hour, drain the juices through a fine mesh strainer.  Discard the ginger pieces.  Let cool then place in a jar and refrigerate.

To make the Ginger Ale:  In a tall glass, add 1 part lime juice (about 1/2 lime per glass), 2 parts ginger syrup, and 3 parts sparkling water.  Stir to combine the liquids.  Fill glass with ice.  If desired, add fresh mint.

Adjust to your liking.  

Christmas Wassail

1 qt water (4 cups)

1.5 cups sugar

8 allspice berries

10 cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

1 (6 ounce) can frozen OJ [alternate OJ]

1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade

64 ounce bottle cranberry juice

Boil sugar and water 5 minutes. Put spices in spice/tea ball and place in syrup. Let stand 2-3 hours. Add remaining ingredients PLUS 3 OJ cans of water. Serve hot OR over ice. Store in fridge.

Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

8 teaspoons sugar
4 teaspoons baking cocoa
4 cups milk
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions

In a saucepan, combine the first four ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until the marshmallows are melted, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Ladle into mugs.

Caramel Apple Cider

1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 cups apple juice
bring cream and brown sugar to boil over med hear, stirring constantly. Add 6 cups apple juice, stir until warm.

Whipped topping:
beat 1 cup cream and 1 TBS brown sugar until thick.  Top cider with cream and (optional) toffee bits (or a crunched up Skor bar)

Hot Chocolate

If you have a craving and run out, or if you are like me and can't drink commercial hot chocolate

1 TBS cocoa
2 TBS sugar
2 TBS water
1 cup milk*
vanilla (optional)

Mix cocoa, sugar and water in a saucepan on low heat for a few minutes and then add milk and a dash of vanilla. May also add a drop or 2 of peppermint extract. Heat to desired temperature.

Originally from here

*I use rice milk