Who wants cocoa???

Baby, it’s cold outside!!!

Deano had it right, and I don’t know about you but when our weather report says its going to drop to 29 degrees and it feels that way just from looking out the window, there’s no remedy like home made hot cocoa. And if you are like me and a little more aware of how much you are spending verses how much you are trying to save you may have notice that Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Cocoa runs (at the cheapest I found) $2 a box. A box having a maximum of 4 envelopes. (ouch! I know!) So I decided to take a family favorite recipe and adapt it to make “Momma’s Dark Chocolate Cocoa Mix” Oh yeah!

Now before posting the recipe I want to mention a few things. The original recipe my family fell in love with 3 years ago can be found at a wonderful site called “The HillBilly HouseWife” This lady know how to tighten a budget and still keep you on that path from your man’s stomach to his heart!! I’m not sure who this quote is by, but they really are words to live buy. “Face powder may catch a man, but baking powder will keep him” ~_^

Anywho I’ve side tracked, know that you know where to find the original recipe, I want to mention a few other things about powdered milks. My youngest is lactose intolerant, I buy her Whey milk powder, because its high in protein and low in lactose. My friends daughter is allergic to milk protein (this would be the whey mentioned before) there for we make her mix with Soy milk powder, now my friend’s son is allergic to milk and soy so for this kind of allergy you’d want to use Rice milk powder, and those of you watching your waist lines you could also sub my fattening milk powder (which you can find in the ethnic section in your grocery, its called Nido and made by Nestle) with non-fat instant dried milk powder. (notice I provided links to these products so I don’t look like I made it up.)

And finally if you or someone you will be serving this beverage has allergies, please remember to leave out the pudding mix (its really just there for thickening).

Momma’s Dark Chocolate Cocoa Mix (printable version)

• 2 Cups powdered whole milk
• ½ Cup Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Cocoa powder
• ½ Cup powdered non-dairy creamer
• ½ Cup Sugar
• ¹⁄₈ Teaspoon salt
• 1 Package (serves 4) instant Vanilla pudding mix

You’ll want to mix all of these ingredients together and store in an air tight container. I would HIGHLY suggest sifting the cocoa powder to prevent clumps in your cup, or even just dumping all the ingredients in your food processor and giving a few pulses.

The Printable version of this recipe has all of the powdered milk information (minus the links of coarse) for reminders.

And the Marshmallows are for fun but if you really want to treat yourself, whip up some cream with a tad bit of vanilla..

SouthWestern Chicken Noodle Soup

Now if that doesn’t scream fall, I just don’t know what does!! I look forward to the colder climates of the year, not to mention the comfort foods that go with them. My idea of heaven, is snow on the ground, sweater and slippers, and of coarse a hot bowl of soup with fresh home made breads.

SouthWestern Chicken Noodle Soup (printable version)

• 4-5 Bone in Chicken thighs (skinless cuts down on the fat content)
• 3 Large carrots, chopped
• 4 Celery stalks, chopped
• 1 Large onion, chopped
• ½ Cup frozen corn
• ½ Cup frozen peas
• ½ Cup frozen green beans
• 2 TBSP minced garlic (I think that’s around 3-4 cloves)
• 1 Can diced tomatoes in juice
• 2 Qt water
• 1 TBSP salt
• 2 TBSP Mrs. Dash “Original” seasoning
• 1 Tsp black pepper
• 1 TBSP Mrs. Dash “SouthWestern” seasoning
• ½ LB. Fettuccine, broken into thirds

I just threw all of this into my crock pot on high for 6 hours this morning (with the exception of the pasta, I boiled that before serving, drained and added it to the soup). And I wanted to add that I used fettuccine pasta because it doesn’t bloat like other types of noodles. Its holds its shape and texture and really bulks up the soup making it more hearty.

Now my families’ favorite bread recipe is Anitra’s Bread Recipe. I make it into a multigrain recipe. My changes are Red Palm oil rather than vegetable, 6 grain rolled cereal rather than rolled oats and I also add 2 TBSP Flax Seeds (the dark brown ones) and 2 TBSP Sesame Seeds. But other than that I follow her recipe exactly. I have a printable version of the recipe that will only take one page to print here. And by clicking on “Anitra’s Bread Recipe” above you will be taken to her website, where you can watch her video “Bread start to finish” and if you so chose print a transcript of the video.