Awaiting the White

Hello, Friends and Visitors!

How are you this wonderful Tuesday before Thanksgiving? Are you busy preparing for the big cook off? Any chopping and fixing ahead of time? I sure am.

Guess what? Those of us here in the Intermountain West are expecting a blizzard here tonight. Yes, a blizzard! The winds are already picking up outside. By late afternoon, the temperature is suppose to plummet. Then, we will have blowing snow, zero visibility and life threatening conditions (I'm quoting the local weather report).

First, I have been praying that people will stay off the roads!

Second, what is a mother to do when her family is forced inside by a blizzard???.....Why, make hot chocolate, of course! While many people down at the local grocery store are scrambling to stock up on TP and basics (we already have those in our storage), we went down and bought everything we need to make ourselves homemade hot chocolate.

Here is a wonderful recipe I found on Allrecipes.com:

Creamy Hot Cocoa

Ingredients

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
1/3 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Directions

Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

Or...if you aren't up to making it for yourself, there are all sorts of gourmet ready mixes out there. My favorite is Stephens Gourmet.
So, if you are in line for our blizzard, or enjoying a milder clime, snuggle up with some wonderful hot chocolate and enjoy the day (or evening!).

Cheers!
Elizabeth