Another Hot Cocoa Mix

Last year at this time I posted a recipe for a hot chocolate mix using raw sugar. We thought it was great! But this year, I've improved on that by finding a recipe (here) to mix into milk instead of water. I'm not a real fan of dried milk and have been so blessed the past few months to have fresh, raw milk, so I wanted to make hot chocolate with it instead of the fake stuff. The only modifications I made were substituting raw sugar for refined and using Real Salt instead of refined salt. 

I don't believe I've ever had a better cup of hot cocoa in my life! And that with only three ingredients, plus the milk...

Hot Cocoa Mix
Yield: 5 3/4 cups of dry mix or 92 eight-ounce servings

3 1/2 c. raw sugar
2 1/4 c. powdered baking cocoa (no sugar)
1 Tb. salt (preferably Redmond Real Salt)
Whole milk for serving

In a large bowl, combine raw sugar, cocoa, and salt, and whisk to combine well. Store the mixture in an airtight container.

For individual servings, pour 1 c. milk into a microwave-safe mug and microwave on high, just until hot. Add 2 Tb. cocoa mix, and stir to dissolve. 

The website notes that the mix "will keep all winter if stored in an airtight container."

Honey Limeade

The other day I made fresh limeade with honey and realized that, while I've posted my raw sugar lemonade recipe, I haven't posted anything about making it with honey. Now, if you don't like the taste of honey in a beverage, this may not be for you, because you can taste the honey. But since we all love honey in my family, we loved this version of limeade. And, of course, it could just as easily be made with lemons instead (keeping in mind that lemons are generally about twice as big as limes).

Honey Limeade

Juice from 8 limes (about 3/4 c.)
3/4 c. honey
2 c. very warm water
more water

Pour honey into pitcher and add very warm water. Mix thoroughly so honey melts and combines with water.

Juice limes. Add juice to pitcher. Mix. Add cold water, to taste, until limeade is as tart or sweet as you like it. (Adding a drop of (CPTG) lemon essential oil might be nice, too.) Place in fridge to chill.

Hot Cocoa Mix (no refined sugar)

Here's another holiday beverage my mom figured out how to make last year with raw sugar. It's yummy and doesn't leave us with a headache from sugar overload. Of course, we're past the holidays, but for most of us the cold weather will continue for quite a while longer, so hot cocoa is still on our minds...

HOT COCOA MIX

1/3 c. raw sugar or sucanat
1/3 c. cocoa powder
¼ t. salt

Enough powdered milk for 1 quart (varies, depending on brand--check your box or can for instructions)

Homemade Eggnog (refined sugar-free!)

Like everyone else in my family, I love eggnog and look forward to savoring it each holiday season. We've always just bought it at the store (even though it's loaded with sugar), but last year my mom figured out this recipe, which uses raw sugar instead of refined, and ensures the eggs are pasteurized. She made it for us last year when we were visiting and I decided it's better than store-bought! (I shouldn't have been surprised, since most things are better homemade.) I haven't tried making it yet, but I will shortly...

Homemade Eggnog

7 large eggs
½ c. plus 2 Tb. raw sugar crystals
¼ tsp. salt
6 c. whole milk
1 Tb. vanilla extract
½ tsp. nutmeg

Whisk eggs, then add sugar and salt while whisking. Continue to whisk while pouring milk in slowly. Turn burner under pan on medium low and stir continuously until reaches 160 degrees F. Pour straight into a strainer over a large bowl to remove any egg bits. Add vanilla extract and nutmeg. Stir. Pour into a container with lid and refrigerate until well chilled.

Fresh Lemonade with Raw Sugar

In our latest Bountiful Basket we received 8 lemons, which isn't a fruit I cook with often. When my oldest daughter saw the lemons, she exclaimed, "Oh, we can make lemonade!" She had learned how to make it in preschool previously and had been wanting to make it at home ever since. She was so excited I decided we'd better do it, but we made it with raw sugar instead of refined. It was lovely and made my daughter's day.

Fresh Lemonade with Raw Sugar

• 6 lemons (about 2 c. lemon juice)
• 1 c. raw sugar
• 6 c. cold water

Stir raw sugar and 1 c. of the water together in small saucepan. Heat, stirring often, until sugar is completely dissolved and resembles syrup.

Squeeze juice from 6 lemons.

In pitcher thoroughly mix 5 more cups water, lemon juice, and sugar syrup. Place in fridge until desired coldness. Serve.

Healthy Smoothies

Some of you may be thinking this title is redundant, but it's really not. I have noticed that not all smoothies are created equal--either in taste or in healthfulness. For one thing, I have never understood why so many people think it necessary to add sugar to something that is naturally sweetened with yummy fruit anyway.

I have played around with making smoothies for several years and I love making them in the summer, especially (particularly with fresh, ripe, juicy summer fruit). Now nearly every time they hear the blender going, my kids rush into the kitchen and say, "Smoothies?" And if it is, they jump up and down and say, "Yay! Smoothies!" So yeah, we like them around here.

Here is how I make them (keeping in mind that smoothies are, of course, very versatile and if your family doesn't like a particular fruit or you don't have it on hand, you can easily toss in something else):

1 banana per person you are making the smoothie for (bananas thicken it up nicely)
2 c. or more frozen or fresh berries, mangos, kiwi, peaches or nectarines, etc.
1/2 c. or more milk
a couple large dollops of plain yogurt (which is easily omitted for my lactose intolerant child)
a couple large dollops of frozen juice concentrate (which adds extra sweetness and flavor, if needed)

Blend all together and pour into cups.
Enjoy!