Pumpkin Spice-Kahlua Coffee

 My friend, who left me alone in cold, dark Alaska, used to come to my house on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and visit with me while I made pies.  We visited, laughed and drank this delicious hot beverage of coffee, Kahlua and pumpkin spice creamer.  It was a holiday tradition I loved, and made making 6 or 7 pies so much happier.

She lives in the real world now and we text or FaceTime, but it just isn't the same and I miss her.  Well, she just send me this text and picture.  Looks like she had her pre-Thanksgiving game on and is already drinking our Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving-pie-making-drink.

So, I thought I would join her.  I'm making the keto(ish) version of our pie-making drink and if she can start early, so can I.  I have a keto version of Kahlua and I have a pumpkin spice latte mix I'll use.  Maybe I'll give her a call and we can FaceTime and have our pre-Thanksgiving coffee.  

Pumpkin Spice and Kahlua Coffee

• 1 cup brewed coffee
• 1 Tbsp. pumpkin spice latte mix
• 1 shot Kahlua

Stir pumpkin spice latte mix into coffee, add Kahlua.  Enjoy.

1 year ago:    Raspberry Clafoutis and Big Breakfast Sundays

3 years ago:  Keto Biscuits and Gravy

5 years ago:  Chocolate Filled Cupcakes with Ganache Frosting and the Messy Kitchen

7 years ago:  Leah

November 18, 2020  Sunrise 9:42am  Sunset 3:29pm  Temp H -8/ L -13°F

Strawberry Hot Chocolate Bombs and Halloween Preparations

Strawberry Hot Chocolate Bombs

 

I don't know where this week has gone, I woke up Monday morning and now it is Wednesday!  Work has been unusually busy this week and I've had all kinds of things to do in order to get ready for Halloween.  I've made hot chocolate bombs, paint your own cookies and now I'm working on some truffle stuffed chocolate frogs all for our little trick or treaters.  

Chocolate hot chocolate bombs ready for bagging.

I love seeing all the kids in their costumes, of course in Alaska it is hard to see the costumes under their coats, hats, gloves and boots.  But you get the idea (with most of them) and those little boys always think they are so tough and/or scary and the little girls are alway so beautiful in their princess costumes. (YES, I am generalizing and not all boys or girls dress up in those gender typical costumes, give me a bit of grace.)

Mummies  for Mummy Milk

We pull our fire pit to the front of the house and have a fire going all evening, people stop and warm up.  We also have hot apple cider out front and Dave and I stay outside and visit with everyone as their kids stop by for candy.  It  is such a fun evening.  This year we will have to do it a little different.  We will have the fire going but Dave and I will sit back by the house and let parents warm up, to maintain social distance.  Candy bowls will be on a table and kids will help themselves, and hot apple cider will be available, but it will be strictly serve-yourself.  

Dried Strawberries decorate the 
strawberry hot chocolate bombs.

The strawberry hot chocolate mix makes a ton, so I made some for trick or treat bags (we have about 12 special kids I make bags for) and the rest of the mix will go into Christmas treat bags.  If I have more time I'll post my process to make bombs then, or you can search it on Pinterest (that's what I did).

Hot Chocolate Bombs packaged and ready for
trick-or-treaters

I love Avery printable labels.  

I just run them through my printer.

Chocolate truffle frogs, ready to hop in your mouth!

Happy Halloween! I hope you enjoy more treats than tricks.

Pink Hot Chocolate

1 cup Nestlé Strawberry milk mix

1 1/2 cups powdered milk

1 (3.3 oz.) pkg. instant white chocolate pudding mix

2 cups white chocolate chips, or white chocolate bomb shells

marshmallows

Mix strawberry milk mix, powdered milk and white chocolate pudding mix.  If not using white chocolate milk bomb shells, freezer white chocolate chips.  Once frozen blend until finely ground.  Mix white chocolate into strawberry mix.  

To make strawberry hot chocolate.  Mix two tablespoons with 6-8 oz. hot milk or water.  Top with marshmallows.   

Pour hot water or milk over the bomb

Out pops marshmallows and a delicious cup
of hot chocolate.

1 year ago:    Moose in the Morning and Keto Black Widow Cocktail

7years ago:  Cranberry Liqueur

October 28, 2020  Sunrise 9:27am  Sunset 5:40 pm  Temp H 23/ L 10°F

Spiced Apple Tea With or Without

 

Fall calls for warm drinks. Mulled wine, hot apple cider, hot buttered rum, mmmm.  Well, I wanted something warm after we worked in the yard over the weekend.  I was chilled, it was getting dark and Dave built a fire in the wood stove so we could warm up.  I made up a cup of this spiced apple cider type drink, with a little somethin'-somthin'.  We drank our tea, played cribbage and enjoyed the fire.  

I do love early winter evenings.

Spiced Apple Tea

2 bags apple spice tea

1-2 Tbsp. Pumpkin Spice Latte Mix

1 shot spiced rum, optional

Steep two tea bags in one cup of water (boiled or I just use hot water from my Keurig).  Steep for 4 minutes.  Add pumpkin spice mix and blend in a blender or with your coffee frother.  Add spiced rum, if desired.

1 year ago:   Trying to Steal a Dog and Spaghetti Squash Pizza

5 years ago:  Computer Crash and Three Layer Bars

7 years ago:  Warm Brussels Sprout Slaw and the Baby Boy Moving Home

October 19, 2020  Sunrise 8:58 am  Sunset 6:11 pm  Temp. H 26/ L 11°F

Chocolate-Coconut Shake and the end of the Fall Leaves

 

In the afternoons I need a bit of a pick-me-up.  I used to drink massive amounts of Diet Coke, but I've been trying to stay away from that stuff.  I like coffee and often have a 3:00 pm cup to keep me going through the afternoon but I was looking for something a little different.

I came across a recipe for this blended drink that uses whey protein powder and glucomannan (aka Konjak Root powder).  It mixes with the ice and makes this smooth, frothy drink.  I've made this with water, coffee, coconut milk, almond milk and coconut water.  All are really good.

It is weird that I have been craving something cold and creamy in the afternoons, our afternoons are now pretty crisp.  The leaves are off the trees now and, contrary to what you see next to Charles, Dave has all the leaves (from the next door neighbor's trees) picked up.  

I have read that Alaska eats the most ice cream per capita so there must be something to us Alaskans wanting something cold and creamy!  If it is cold or warm where you are, try this cool and creamy drink.

Charles still has his leaves, and they are beautiful!

However, the neighbor's tree has completely lost it's leaves.  Such a big change from this picture just a few weeks ago!

Afternoon Pick Me Up

1 cup liquid of choice; cold coffee, coconut milk, almond milk, coconut water etc.

1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 Tbsp. powdered erythritol, or sweetener of choice

3-5 drops liquid stevia, I like coconut, caramel or chocolate in this, Optional

1/2 tsp. glucomannan

pinch of salt

1/3 cup whey protein powder

ice, about 2 cups

In a blender add liquid, cocoa powder, erythritol, glucomannan, liquid stevia (if using)

and salt.  Blend to combine.  Add whey powder and ice, blend for 2 minutes.  Pour into glasses and serve.  Makes 2 large servings or something to drink for the next 2 hours!

1 year ago:    Beef Wellington

5 years ago:  Fruit Cake Martini and Early Christmas Shopping

7 years ago:  Autumn Fruit Tart and the Bad Attitude

October 12, 2020  Sunrise 8:36 am  Sunset 6:36 pm (exactly 10 hours!) Temp H 35/ L 19°F

Midnight Wake-Ups and Pumpkin Spice Coffee

 

Dave was gone for a week.  He was out at moose camp with my brother, his brother, our oldest boy and two other friends.  He left on Friday after work and was spending the week.  I was home, holding down the fort and watching the dogs...or the dogs were watching out for me.

When Dave is gone, the dogs are on high alert.  They bark at all the falling leaves, the neighbors leaving for work, the same neighbors getting home from work, the mailman and the garbage crew.  It is a good thing they protect me from all that, and it works because not one mailman or neighbor leaving for work has murdered me and none of the falling leaves have broken in. I'm so glad those dogs take such good care of me.

Well, while Dave is gone, the dogs sleep in my room, I don't sleep very easy when I'm in the house alone.  Hershey has his little bed next to the baseboard heater and the big dogs each have a bed on either side of our bed. Tek is on Dave's side and Mooree is on my side.  I have to climb into bed from the bottom and crawl up to my pillow, but it all works.  

So, we were all settled down in bed after we got the text from Dave that he had made it into camp (I wait up to make sure he makes it so I can call for help if he doesn't) and we were sound asleep.  Suddenly both big dogs jump up, run to the top of the stairs and start barking.  This, of course, wakes me up.  I jump out of bed and then have this dilemma: do I put on sweat pants first or grab my gun first?  If I grab my gun and have to shoot an intruder, then I'm stuck there without pants.  I'll have to call 911, the paramedics will come, the police will come and when is a good time to put on pants after you shoot someone?  But, if I put on pants first and someone comes up the stairs, I'll be putting on my pants mid-leg and won't have my gun or be able to run into the closet to get it. What was I going to do?

So I grabbed the gun first.  Nobody wants to see me without pants on, not even an intruder, but I figured shoot first, get dressed later.  

And the dogs were still barking.

I finally peeked around the corner and down the stairs and didn't see anything.  The dogs did not run down the stairs, just sat at the top barking down.  I figured the dogs had been barking long enough that an intruder would have heard them and left.  I turned on the hall light, the dogs ran down the stairs, and I followed them, gun in hand.  Nothing.  I checked that the doors were all locked, the windows all closed, nothing.  I let the dogs outside and they took care of business and came back inside calm.  We went back to bed. In no time at all the dogs were all asleep, Hershey was snoring, but I was wide awake.  The adrenaline coursing through my veins made sleep pretty hard that night, even with my gun on my nightstand.

The next morning Later that morning, at 5:30 when Hershey gets me up (no, he didn't sleep any later after his midnight rampage) I was moving pretty slow.  There was no way I was going to make it through the morning without some help.  I made up a batch of this pumpkin spice cream mix and had a couple pumpkin spice lattes.  This make a big batch so I can enjoy it all fall.  Hopefully tomorrow I can enjoy a cup without falling asleep in the middle of it.

And lesson learned: When the husband is gone, sleep with sweatpants on.

This makes a nice little gift for your pumpkin spice
latte loving friends.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Mix

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 - 1 cup brown sugar substitute, depending on how sweet you want your coffee. I like Sukrin Gold

1/4 cup sugar free maple syrup, I like Choc Zero

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 cup heavy cream, room temperature

In a medium bowl cream together butter, brown sugar substitute, maple syrup substitute, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice.  With blender running on low, slowly pour in heavy cream and mix until completely incorporated. Makes about 2 1/2 cups of creamer.

To make Pumpkin Spice Coffee

Add 1-2 tbsp. PSL mix to each hot cup of coffee. Blend with a handheld milk frother or blend in your mixer.

• 1 year ago:    Cake Thieves and Black Forest Cake    
• 7 years ago:   Polling Tables at the Coffee House and Chocolate Zucchini Cake

September 28, 2020  Sunrise 7:53 am  Sunset 7:57 pm  Temp H 46/ L 38°F

Loss of Truck Brakes and Blackberry Cobbler Drink of the Week

We were all watching the football game, our oldest son, my brother, my brother in law and we had ordered pizza for dinner.  I volunteered to run to pick it up at half time since I was the only one not drinking beer.  Little did I know I would be taking my life in my hands.  I am really thankful to be home in one piece.  Just a minute, I need to refill my

glass....

So, halftime came and I jumped in the truck to go pick up the pizzas.  It was a normal trip, I ground a few gears as I shifted, but I am getting much better at shifting this old truck.  I ran into the restaurant got the pizzas and was back in the truck in no time.  I pulled out of the parking lot and noticed I kind of rolled through the stop sign.  I really didn't think much about it, there was no traffic and I stopped, eventually.  I drove around the block to get back to the main road and hit a red light.  I hate hitting red lights in the truck because you have to come to a complete stop before you can shift down and lots of times the light has already changed and everyone behind you is waiting. 

Well, I hit the brakes and didn't stop.

At least not until I was dead center in the intersection.  Thank goodness I was the first at the intersection and no one was speeding through.  I shifted and pulled through, wondering what I had done wrong.  I had 4 more stop lights before I made it home and I needed to get this figured out.  The next stop light was coming up and it was red. I was driving really slow and I hit the brakes, nothing.  I pumped the brakes, nothing.  The light turned green and the line in front of me moved before I ever made it to the intersection, and I drove slowly through.  The same thing happened at the remaining 3 intersections (someone was sure watching out for me that day) and I made it to my neighborhood shaking but in one piece.

I was going really slowly, but when I got to our driveway I felt like I was going too fast and we had several extra cars in the driveway, I didn't want to wreck my truck.  So, I drove down the street, turned around at the end of the road and headed back.  I still felt uncomfortable pulling into the driveway so I pulled in front of my bother in law's truck...and didn't stop until I was sitting in front of the neighbor's driveway, blocking their cars. No problem, I backup up a little.  But it was a problem because the truck kept backing up and was getting closer and closer to my brother in law's truck, I just knew I was going to back into it.  Again, someone was watching out for me because I stopped just inches from making impact.  I grabbed the pizzas and wobbled into the house.

"Why didn't you park in the driveway?" Dave asked when I came through the door.

I burst into tears and told him the whole story. He went outside to check.  One of my brake lines has split and leaked all the brake fluid.  By the time I got to the restaurant, all the fluid had leaked out and I had no brakes left.

So, the truck is parked for the winter.  We will worry about brakes in the spring. And after I stopped crying I had a drink.  I needed it after that.

Blackberry Cobbler

6 blackberries

1 tsp. confectioner's Swerve, or several drops of stevia

dash of vanilla

2 oz. spiced rum

sparkling water, I used blackberry but lime would be good too

Place blackberries in a glass, add sweetener and vanilla.  Muddle the blackberries until completely crushed.  Add rum and top off with sparkling water, stir carefully.  Top with ice and enjoy.

Makes 1 drink

1 year ago:    The Great British Bake-Off and Madera Cake

3 years ago:   Grain Free Pizza Crust

7 years ago:    The Change in Luck and Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Nutella Frosting

September 25, 2020  Sunrise 7:44 am  Sunset 7:38 pm  Temp. H 48/ L 37°F

Raspberry Gin Daisy and Being Graceful

I want everyone to know, if I end up in the hospital and I am covered in bruises, my husband does not beat me, I am just that clumsy.  Dave likes to say that grace hits once every 15 seconds wether I need it or not...I always need it, but I don't think it shows up that often.

Yesterday morning, I was working away and needed to refill my coffee cup.  I went into the employee kitchen, plopped my mug under the Keurig and started a fresh cup.  I remembered I wanted to show Dave something on my phone so I turned around and headed down the hall to my office to find my phone.  I was thinking about where my phone was and talking to Dave when I tripped over the gate at the end of the hallway, bounced off the trim to the laundry room and fell flat on my face.  Not my most graceful moment.  Dave heard me bounce and came running.  I took a minute to make sure everything was still working (everything did), checked the wall for cracks or blood smears (there weren't any) and began to feel foolish.  I never did show Dave what ever it was that I thought I needed to show him, I went back for my coffee and got right back to work to hide my embarrassment and lick my wounds.

Well, after a fall like that I decided I needed an adult beverage that evening.  I made a Raspberry Gin Daisy.  Make this with this raspberry simple syrup for a fruity pink spin on the drink, or you can use plain simple syrup and add a little orange flavoring for a citrusy drink.  You'll have to have one of each to see which you like better.  But if you do, be careful, you'll be walking (and falling) like I did yesterday morning.

Gin Daisy
2 oz. gin
1 oz. lemon juice
1 oz. raspberry simple syrup or 1 oz. plain simple syrup and 1/4 tsp. orange extract
sparkling water
fresh or frozen raspberries for garnish, optional

In a shaker full of ice add gin, lemon juice, simple syrup (and orange extract if using).  Shake until very cold, strain into an old fashioned glass and top with a little sparkling water.


April 24, 20202   Sunrise 5:40 am  Sunset 9:59 pm  Temp. H 38/ L 26°F

Keeping a Positive Attitude, Week 5

I'm finishing up week 5 of working from home.  I want to complain but I also understand how very fortunate I am that I can work from home, I have a warm home to shelter in place in, I have a wonderful husband, my children are all safe and healthy and sheltering in place in their own homes around the country, I have enough to eat, and I have toilet paper, with a few rolls to spare (no, I didn't hoard tp, I just bought a case at Costco, like I always do, in early February and we haven't used it all yet). So, I am getting a little tired of only my company during work hours, Dave winning 3 out of 4 games of cribbage after dinner, the terms "the new normal" and "unprecedented times" and snow, because we still have a butt-load of it.

I need to work on my attitude, even by gratitude journal is getting a little monotonous.  I'm trying to keep things in a routine (I do better with that), eating healthily, walking outside when possible, and touching base with family and friends, but I am over this.  I want everything to go back to how it was, I want to drive down to the fabric store and just wander around and shop, I want to meet a friend for coffee, I want to throw a tantrum....

I guess we all have those moments, and I'm having mine.  So I need to pull my big girl panties up and soldier on with a more positive attitude.  And when I need a more positive attitude, I make myself treats.  So this week for breakfast, I made myself some pumpkin spice toaster waffles (my little dash waffle maker makes the perfect size for the toaster) from All Day I Dream About Food.  I am eating them with some sugar free maple syrup and toasted pecans.  Add a couple of sausage links and the day is off to a better start.

Find the Pumpkin Waffles here.

For lunch, I've been craving salad.  So I made a lovely salad and eat them with these crackers from Sugar Free Mom.  I like to toast them in my air fryer so they are warm and crunchy. I used the recipe for her Quick Keto Toast and just cut them into smaller cracker size pieces.

And I've reinstated the daily drink, but with no alcohol.  I've been enjoying the Lava Flow from Maria Mind Body Health.  I made a whole batch but only mix the ice in with a single serving each evening.  Sometimes I add the  strawberry on top, sometimes I don't and sometimes I just mix the strawberry into the whole thing.  Any way it is a delicious way to end the day.

So I am working on my attitude, one meal at a time.  I'm walking outside more, riding my stationary bike, and still writing in my gratitude journal and meditating. What do you do to help you get through the hard days?

April 16, 2020  Sunrise 6:09 am  Sunset 9:33 pm  Temp H 42/ L 30°F 

Truck Update, Making Groceries Last and French 75

Dave has found some extra time to work on the truck.  It has been sitting for a while because he has decided he doesn't like working on it with me.  I am not strong enough, I don't know what I am doing, and I try his patience, so he works on the truck and I ooohhhh and aaaahhh over the results.  This is really a win-win because working on the truck isn't my favorite thing to do.

He has made a lot of progress.

So, he has made some progress.  The new fuel pump is on, the new carburetor is on, some rust stopping paint has been applied, new water pumps installed and the new fenders made it to town!  I am very excited.

While he is busy in the garage with the truck, I'm busy at work or in the house.  Dave did the grocery shopping about two weeks ago, and while we have plenty to last the next month, some of the fresh produce is at the end of its fresh life.  I roasted the last of the fresh tomatoes and will be making tomato soup. I froze the last two heads of cauliflower for later use, and I froze some bell peppers before they all had to be thrown away.

I have reinstated the one adult drink a week rule. I should make a rule about wearing real pants at least one day a week so be sure I can still fit in them, but I don't really need that kind of negativity right now.  This drink of the week, the French 75, is a classic.  You can make it with gin or vodka and you can make a simple syrup or just mix a little confectioner's Swerve into the drink to make it a bit easier.

French 75

1/2 oz. lemon juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup or 1 tsp. granulated Swerve, or sweetener of choice
1 oz. gin, I love Bombay Gin
3 oz. champagne
lemon twist

Cut a ribbon of lemon zest from a lemon, set aside.  Cut lemon and juice it, set aside.

In a shaker, filled with ice, add lemon juice, simple syrup or sweetener and gin.  Shake well, strain into glass.  Top with champagne.  Twist the lemon peel over the top of the drink and then add it.  Enjoy.

We woke up to this snow this weekend.  I don't know
why he is clearing the cars, it's not like we can
go anywhere!

1 year ago:    Rhubarb Coffee Cake and the Mean Trick
7 years ago:   Oven Baked Onion Rings

April 9, 2020  Sunrise 6:35 am  Sunset 9:11 pm  Temp H26/ L 8°F

The New Life as We Know It and Raspberry Vodka Fizz

I've been working from home for about two weeks now.  I've gotten into a nice routine, with the exception of needing to move more.  When I went in to the office, I would walk.  At 10:00 and 2:00 I would walk for about 10 minutes, outside when it is warm and inside when it is cold.  I don't do that at home, so my goal for next week it to get on my bike for 10 minutes at 10:00 and at 2:00.  What I have been doing is cleaning.  I've taken my 10 and 2 break and spent 10 minutes cleaning something.  My house has never been more organized and clean....ever!  I have even started a big garage sale pile, if we ever get to do something like that again.

A couple things I've been doing on the daily, to help keep my sanity;
1)getting up and going to bed at my regular times
2) Making meditation a priority in the morning
3) turning off the news after a specified time
4)getting dressed and "going" to work like normal (even though "going' to work is in my home office now
5)eating breakfast and lunch away from my desk while visiting with Dave, that way we don't interrupt each other constantly during the day
6) I have a checklist I copied off a friend's facebook post and that has really seemed to help

Can you tell I like checklist?

Here it is, in case it will be helpful for you:
1) Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?
2) What expectations for normal am I letting go of today?
3) How am I getting outside today?
4) How am I moving my body today?
5) How am I expressing my creativity today?
6) What type of self care am I practicing today?
7) What am I grateful for today?

There are a couple things I still need to work on, but it does help to run down that list.

Another thing I'm doing is "leaving" work, but turning the office light off, and having a drink at 5:00.  I have relaxed the only-one-adult-beverage-a-week rule, but most nights it really is all about the pretty glass and a fun drink in a pretty glass helps my mood.

This week I made a Raspberry Vodka fizz.  The raspberry simple syrup is delicious and a great addition to an adult beverage or some sparkling water to give it a little somethin', somethin'.  I'm glad I relaxed the one drink rule because this is so good!

Raspberry Vodka Fizz
for raspberry simple syrup:

2 cups water
2 cups raspberries
1 cup Swerve, or sweetener of choice

In a medium saucepan stir water, raspberries and sweetener together.  Bring to a boil, mash the berries and remove from heat.  Place in a container and refrigerate for 24-48 hours.  Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove seeds.  Place simple syrup in refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze. (I divided mine into three containers and froze two and have one in the fridge).


for each drink:

1 shot vodka
2 shots raspberry simple syrup
juice from 1/2 lemon
sparkling water

In a shaker filled with ice, add vodka, simple syrup and lemon juice.  Shake until very cold.  Strain into glass and top with sparkling water.  Enjoy

1 year ago:    Rum Chata Black Russians
7 years ago:  Tequila Sorbet

March 27, 2020  Sunrise 7:23 am  Sunset 8:30 pm  Temp. H 12/L -5°F

Eggnog Affogato

On one hand, January seemed like the longest month ever...I was sick, it was really cold all month and 30 day no drinking (what was I thinking?)  On the other hand, January seemed to fly by and I didn't get most of what I wanted to do done...ummm, procrastinate much?

Well, I FINALLY took down my Christmas cards and the Christmas pictures of Gman and EZ that I had displayed.  And I found the last of the eggnog ice cream I made (which was this eggnog with rum run through my ice cream machine). 
I decided to celebrate the end of the L O N G E S T month of the year with this eggnog affogato, but instead of a shot of hot coffee, I used warmed keto coffee liqueur.

It was a nice little treat to reward myself for finishing something that should have been done 3 or 4 weeks ago.  But, I'm all about rewards.  I think we all need a reward just for staying alive and not losing our minds during that long January.

Eggnog Affogato

1 scoop eggnog ice cream, or vanilla or chocolate
1 shot keto coffee liqueur

In a small bowl or mug, warm coffee liqueur in microwave.  Meanwhile scoop ice cream into cup or pretty glass (if using glass make sure the coffee liqueur is just warm and not hot).  Pour coffee liqueur over ice cream and feel good that January is over and you might survive until spring.

1 year ago:    Almond Crackers
3 years ago:  Sweet Comments from My Husband and A Taste of the Islands Drink of the Week
5 years ago:  Sick Dogs

February 3, 2020  Sunrise 9:30 am Sunset 4:39 pm  Temp. H 8/L 0°F

Hot Chocolate Spoons

I like to take a little treat to co-workers.  It has been getting colder so this holiday I decided to help warm them all up by making some hot chocolate on a spoon.  I used the peppermint spoons I made for the handles and everyone can have some warm pepperminty hot chocolate to warm them from the inside out!

I'm wishing you a happy and warm holiday, however you celebrate. 

Hot Chocolate Spoons
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 (12 oz.) bags chocolate chips, I used milk chocolate
1 (4 oz.) dark chocolate candy bar, broken into small pieces
1 tsp. vanilla

36  paper sticks, paper or bamboo spoons, or cinnamon sticks

optional toppings:
marshmallows
candy canes
cinnamon and chili pepper (for Mexican hot chocolate)
caramel bits

In a medium bowl add chocolate chips and broken candy bar pieces, set aside.
In a medium saucepan, heat milk and cream until just bubbling.  Pour over chips and candy bar, let sit for 5 minutes, add vanilla.  Stir until completely combined (I added mini marshmallows at this point, just make sure it is cool so they don't melt).  Pour into a 9X8 pan or scoop into individual candy wrappers or very small cupcake holders. Add any toppings, if desired. Let sit about 10 minutes to firm up then add paper spoons, candy canes or paper sticks.  Makes about 36 servings.

To make hot chocolate:
heat 6-8 oz. of milk, add chocolate (minus any paper wrapper) and stir until chocolate is melted.
Enjoy.

5 years ago:  Donna's Pumpkin White Russian
7 years ago:  White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn and Snow Day Cooking

December 23, 2019  Sunrise 10:58am  Sunset 2:41 pm  Temp H -11/ L -15°F

Keto Irish Cream and Santa's Little Helper Drink of the Week

In the summer when we went camping with our niece and nephew, they would always bring Irish Cream for morning coffee.  We are camping so morning drinking is allowed, and this is a no judge zone.

Well, they moved and I will be responsible for my own Irish Cream for my coffee. So I began to look for a Keto version I could make. This is easy to make and a little too easy to drink!  I'll be ready for camping season...in 5 months.  In the meantime I'll just have to be happy with Irish Cream in my coffee on Sunday, before brunch and my mimosa.

This will also be part of my Christmas drink of the week.  I love peppermint and the combination of peppermint with the Irish Cream is so delicious. Santa's Little Helper will be one of my go to drinks this season, I get more than one drink of the week this time of year.

Keto Irish Cream

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 Tbsp. Cocoa powder
1 tsp. instant espresso powder
1/2 cup confectioner's Swerve
1/2 tsp. caramel stevia liquid
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup Irish Whiskey

In medium sauce pan, heat cream until warm.  Add cocoa powder, instant espresso powder, confectioner's Swerve and caramel stevia.  Mix well.  Remove from heat and let cool.  Add vanilla and whiskey, mix well.  Store in refrigerator.


Santa's Little Helper

2 oz. Keto Irish Cream
1 oz. Peppermint vodka
sugar free chocolate syrup

Swirl glass with chocolate syrup.  In a shaker, mix Irish Cream and vodka.  Pour into prepared glass.
Enjoy
Makes 1 drink

5 years ago: A Farewell to June
7 years ago: My New Nativity

December 20, 2019  Sunrise 10:56 am  Sunset 2:39 pm  Temp H -26/ L -30°F