A Hot Cup On A Cold Night

 The weather around most of the country is frigid. The nights are even worse. We have to stay in anyway. Why not do it with a good hot cup a sweet treat and a good book. It's a perfect way to while away a blizzard or nor' easter. let it snow. You'll be inside, cozy and warm, a steaming mug by your side, with something sweet to nibble on.

As far as drinks, a nice herbal tea is the perfect cup for right now. There are a lot out there right now. What's the best to drink? Celestial Seasonings has the widest array of choices. One of their most popular is the Sleepytime which has a mix of soothing chamomile, spearmint and lemongrass. If you want something fruitier, then brew up a cup of their wild berry zinger or their new watermelon mint (it seems like an odd combo but it actually works.) Another choice is any Earl Grey tea . This pairs great with any sweet, from a simple pound cake to brownies. Twinings is the second tea company that has so many choices. You can try their black and green teas for your evening warm up or their many herbal teas. They have such interesting combinations as grapefruit and basil along with butter mint. Of course there's coffee too, now very popular thanks to the Keurig coffee maker. Remember to always drink decaf otherwise you'll still be wide awake at midnight and beyond. What's the best decaf? Trader Joe's in house brand tops many lists. It's flavorful and rich, the perfect cup on a frosty night. Another good brand is Volcanica which has coffees from around the world. You could easily buy their Jamaica blend or their Cameroonian one.

Sometimes the perfect drink on a frosty night is the most traditional. This is where hot cocoa comes in. You can easily buy the already mixed kind or make it yourself. One of the more popular is Swiss Miss which comes with or without marshmallows. It's a fun, sweet cup that's warming from head to toe. Land O' Lakes, usually know for their butter, also has ventured into hot chocolate. They have a huge amount of choices, from cinnamon and chocolate to raspberry and chocolate. There's even a white chocolate mix for something entirely different. Yet nothing beats the flavor of an old fashioned made hot cocoa. It starts with a really good hot cocoa powder. Droste is one of the best for this. It produces a rich, Parisian like hot cocoa that's full bodied and layered in taste. You could also use Ghiradelli's or Hershey's too. Add a quarter of a teaspoon of milk to moisten the powder into a paste and then cook the milk over a medium heat. DO not let it boil or it will produce a skin you'll have to skim off. Stir and sweeten to taste. You can  sub in almond, soy, cashew, or oat milk if you want a vegan or healthier version. A splash of mint  or hazelnut  flavoring can also be added. Toss a marshmallow or two or a dollop of whipped cream with grated dark chocolate for a lusher drink. 

This is the perfect weather for a cup of something hot. Make a steaming cup of tea, coffee or hot cocoa. Grab a plate of cookies and settle in. It's time to get cozy!

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The Perfect Cup Of Cocoa

Now that we're firmly entrenched in winter, it' time to enjoy a steaming cup of hot winter. This is the perfect cold weather pick me up. It not only is a sweet treat but a tummy warmer, taking away that frosty nip.

Thanks the Mayans for this chill chaser. They began enjoying it about 2,500 to 3,000 years ago. Theirs was a spicy brew being made with mashed cocoa seeds mixed with water, cornmeal, and chili peppers. It was poured back and forth in cups until a froth formed and drunk. The Spanish found it  bitter yet went mad for it. Thanks to it being part of the dowry for Iberian princesses. the drink was soon spread throughout Europe. The Spanish and English added sugar to make it more palatable and it was dr Hans Sloane wo added milk to the beverage when he had it during a visit to Jamaica. In 1828 dutch Coenraad  Johannes van Houten developed a process to turn chocolate into a powder. From there it was easy for anyone from any class to make a soothing cup. The best cocoa mix is still from Holland - Droste. It's this one that I recommend to make a rich European style hot cocoa. Take two tablespoons of the Droste powder and pour in a trickle of milk to make a paste. Here is where I vary it. I add light cream for a richer mouth feel. Heat a cup of milk over a low flame  for two or three minutes (not too long, or a skin will form on the milk's surface. Pour in, stir and add a tablespoon of sugar. Stir again and top with a blob of real whipped cream.

The above is more of a a liquid dessert , perfect after any meal (and maybe after a morning of shoveling the white stuff) however many Americans prefer a lighter - maybe a more watery(?) version. An American classic is Ovaltine. This Swiss (!) import has graced both British and American tables since the early 1900's. It used to have a malty flavor thanks to the addition of malt for added nutrition., however this is not so anymore. Another good mix is Nesquik cocoa powder. Generations have run to this instant mix , creating not just awesome hot cocoa but also glasses of icy cold chocolate milk. Nesquik also comes in syrup form  for a less messier version. What about those packets?.  Do they make a satisfying hot chocolate? To some purists the answer is no. Yet, they're perfect for those in a hurry, The same with those K-Pods, You won;t have the creamy mouth feel of the real thing yet they're just as delicious. Land O'Lakes has one of the best. Their hot cocoa is nicely rich and their chocolate mint is tasty. Their hazelnut hot cocoa, however, can be a bit too sweet. Swiss Miss is another popular brand and the dark cocoa flavor has a richness that's satisfying. The marshmallow lover's one is fun chock full of mini marshmallows , perfect for s movie night.

Hot cocoa is definitely the best chill chaser.Whether it's a rich Droste one or one from a packet, they''re perfect for keeping you warm/ Make it to take away the mid winter cold.

A Hot Cup Of Love

Today is Valentine's Day and usually it's a day rserved for champagne or wine. However there's nothign like a good hot cup of cocoa or even a mocha latte. Love may be better with bubbly but it's more cozy andcomforting with something hot and sweet. What better than with a rich, steamy chocolatey drink.

There are a lot of good powdered chocolate mixes out there. You can use the Dutch based Droste which is the closest in taste to a rich Parisian chocolat chaud. Be warned with this one however. You do have to add sugar to bring its' flavor. Droste is a bitter cocoa that's used more for baking but it could be used for chocolate or even a malted. Another favorite is surprisingly the supermarket fave, Land O ' Lakes' Usually the company is associated with butter and eggs but they've branched out into the hot cocoa and instant cappucino arenas. Their Chocolate supreme is heavenly but also try their mint and amaretto infused hot cocoas.

A good mocha coffee on Valentiness Day is another cup of warm, snuggly love. Mocha coffee is easy to make. You can just add any syrup or mix in a hot cocoa mix to your average cup of joe. You could also try Maxwell House's International Brands. These are great. Just add hot water and a blob of whipped cream and you're good to go. They 're sweet and tasty with almost a home brewed taste.

Champagne is fine for this day but even better is something hot and sweet. Make yourself and your sweetie a hot cup of coffee or mocha and cuddle up. It's the perfect night for it!

What Makes A Good Hot Cocoa?

This is the time of year when a good hot chocolate is greatly appreciated. It revives us after a hard day at work. It's the perfect pick me up after hours holiday shopping. It's soothing heat after a frigid afternoon outside. As much as we love and need hot cocoa, we unfortunately don't make the best. Most people tend to stick with the instant kind where you just add water and get a pale version of the real thing. The best hot cocoa is the old fashioned kind - with real cocoa , milk and some sweet topping.

The first ingredient to consider is what kind of cocoa to use. I like the Dutch brand Droste. This is a bitter sugar free one - not unlike coffee. I simmer mine with warm milk and then add a teaspoon or two of sugar. This kind of hot chocolate reminds of the ones I used to drink in Paris. Not too sweet, with a slight edge . Served with a buttery croissant it's the perfect breakfast. Some people make a variation of this mix by adding sugar and a dash of vanilla flavoring to the cocoa powder. This is good too. You can also meld in other flavors simply by adding a dash of cinnamon or peppermint oil. If you want more of a mocha flavor then whip in a small 1/4 teaspoon of instant espresso.For a truly original hot cocoa, add some chili pepper to give it a bite The taste will be similar to the kind the ancient Aztecs made when they first drank it.

Sometimes hot cocoa needs flourishes. Home made whipped cream is the best. It gives an added richness and creaminess to the drink. Some true addicts go over the top by sprinkling bitter chocolate shavings or crushed peppermint candies on top of huge whipped cream blobs. This is fine if you want a liquid version of cake. Some prefer to scatter a heap of mini marshmallows on the hot chocolate's surface. This is good and gives it more sweetness.but it looks messy. A better way is to stick with one or two homemade marshmallows floating on top.


Nothing beats true hot chocolate on a cold winter's day. Treat yourself to the real kind and enjoy it;s soothing warm and rich goodness. It's the perfect antidote to this stressful holiday madness.

Get Ready For The Baking Season

December 1st is just around the corner and that means the prep season for Christmas baking. The number one complaint of all bakers is that they have to make time to buy ingredients. If you start your arsenal now, then you will have all the minutes needed to create those holiday batches.

The most important ingredient is flour. Stock up on it now. Some grocery stores are offering buy two for the price of one so buy as much as you think you’ll need. Another ingredient worth keeping up on is sugar both granulated and confectioner’s. You’ll need one fro baking and the other for icings. What else should you stock up on ? Chocolate chips in all sizes along with nonpareils, and sprinkles. You may also want to buy some oatmeal raisins, peanut butter and shredded coconut. Also think about adding some Baker’s chocolate (Unsweetened bars) as well as cocoa mix such as Droste. You can stock up on milk, butte rand eggs a few days before you bake.


This is also the time to look over your cookie sheets and cutters to see if you need new ones. If the last is plastic and cracked you can always buy some news ones at your local dollar store, grocery store , Target K-Mart or Wal-Mart. Check your spatulas to make sure they can handle stiff cookie dough. Buy a timer if you don’t; already have one as well as cooling racks. If you’re making brownies or bar cookies, look over your baking pans to see if they’re up to snuff.

Another thing is decide whether you’re going to bake alone or need help. Carve out a day in your calendar and devote the whole day t o baking. This way you’re not multitasking or rushed to finish your baking project quickly. Get help if you need it. Delegate and write down who will do what for a smoother operation.


The holidays will be here sooner than you think (or even wish for that matter). The demand for sweets will be great. Get your self ready ahead of time for the big baking project that lies ahead of you.