Turmeric Hot Chocolate

I'm late to the whole golden milk craze. But we're definitely fans of turmeric in this house. So, while I was sick this last week . . . I set out to create a warm beverage that would help my cold AND taste good. Turmeric is supposedly anti-inflammatory, so I hoped it might help my swollen vocal cords (jury is out). And I don't need to drone on about all the possible benefits of coconut oil. In fact, I'll just be honest with you -- forget healthy. I mixed this up because I thought it would taste good.

It is also a wonderful way for me to curb my Starbucks habit. I'm usually good at skipping the drive-through lines. This time of year? Forgetaboutit. Give me all the red cups. Give them all my money. When you get almond milk or another dairy alternative in your cup. Sticker shock. My drinks are basically $6 a pop, which I find quite ridiculous.

Try this instead!

TURMERIC HOT CHOCOLATE

// 1: Simmer 12 to 20 ounces of unsweetened almond milk (or milk of your choice) on the stove. You don't want it to boil, so keep an eye on it. 12 ounces is good if you want a more decadent, intense cocoa. 20 ounces is if you like a more watered-down steamer.

// 2: In the meantime, mix together the following ingredients with a fork.

It'll be a thick paste.

• 1 heaping tablespoon cacao or cocoa powder
• 2 heaping teaspoons coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup, more if you like
• Squeeze of fresh ginger is optional, but highly recommended

// 3: Then whisk the chocolate paste into the simmering milk until well combined.

Pour into a to-go mug.

Enjoy.


What is your favorite warm beverage to make at home? I mean, I'm not above mixing together some instant hot Swiss Miss either. We're not fancy here.

Other good stuff:

• Cayenne + Orange Hot Chocolate
• Pumpkin Hot Chocolate
• Vegan Microwave Hot Cocoa
• Maple-Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate
• His + Hers Breakfast Beverages

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Homemade Holiday: DIY Drinking Chocolate

Along with all the gift lists I’ve put together, I’d like to share some homemade presents you can give (and make for yourself!). First up is this divine vegan drinking chocolate that comes together in just a few minutes, but will keep your friends + family warm all season long. You can customize it by adding spices or leave it be.

Then just heat, mix, and enjoy!

HOMEMADE DRINKING CHOCOLATE

What you’ll need . . .

• 3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup raw sugar 
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional) 
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Method . . . 

1. Put all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until coarse, but incorporated. 
2. Pour into a glass container and decorate for gifting.
3. Add instructions that 2 tablespoons does well with a standard mug. You’ll just fill your glass with whatever milk you like (almond, soy, coconut, cow, etc.) and then pour that amount into a small pan on the stove with the chocolate mixture. Whisk over medium-low heat until melted and warm. Serve immediately.

Stay tuned for the Baby Gift List that I just finished last night. I’ll probably post it later today. But I have another couple edible gifts to share before the week is up. All are friendly for a variety of dietary restrictions. (By the way, I plan on making this drinking chocolate to give . . . but it’s also really nice to have the “test” version in my own cabinet!)

Happy Wednesday!

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Grown-up Hot Chocolate

It's been a while, but I'd like revive our Weekend Things series, just not this week. I whisked together quite an adult treat this morning. Certainly a mug of hot chocolate your kids wouldn't particularly enjoy. It's bright and, that word again, zesty. (If you didn't catch our Zesty Orange Ricotta Muffins, you're missing out!) And a pinch of cayenne pepper gives it a nice kick.

I'm sure you know by now that I like making cocoa at home!

• Pumpkin Hot Chocolate
• Vegan Microwave Hot Cocoa
• Maple-Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate

ZESTY ORANGE HOT CHOCOLATE

What you'll need . . . 

• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• juice 1/2 large orange
• zest from that half orange
• 1-1/2 cups unsweetened almond or soy milk
• palmful dark chocolate chips (5-10)
• pinch cayenne pepper

Method . . .

1. Whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, and orange juice until it forms a thick paste. You may need to add a couple teaspoons water.
2. Put this paste in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Pour your almond/soy milk over top and whisk to incorporate.
3. Add in zest, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips. If you like some spice, add the cayenne.
4. Enjoy immediately.

+ + + + + + + +

So, like I said. Weekend Things will return next week, but that doesn't keep me from sharing a few of my favorites today.

Here's some fun stuff I read/saw/liked or felt inspired by recently.

• What City Should You Actually Live In? via BuzzFeed (Portlandia for me!)
• Introvert / Extravert Quiz via About.com (I'm in the middle)
• Strength + Agility Equipment would be awesome for our home gym
• Pretty sure THIS is Stephen in 35 years
• I bought LUSH Henna Hair Dye to try out. In red. More details soon.
• I'm a sucker for this Blooming Monogram -- might DIY it in the spring.
• Holy, holy, holy: Saveur's Pizza Margherita -- perfection!
• So, no surprise I absolutely adore this Simple + Gold Monogram Necklace
• Love this Daily Page Notepad plan to keep organized.

On Writing Chapter Three lately:

• Babywearing + 2 Year Old
• Upside Down Thinking, positives out of negatives
• The (New) Play Room
• Toddler Leggings That Won't Break the Bank
• Guiding Words for the New Year
• Working On Independent Play

HAPPY FRIDAY!

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Monday -- errr -- Tuesday!

Weekend in brief:

#: Our city now has a Chipotle! I had never been to one before, but now I'm hooked. #: I ran double digits for the first time since the Runner's World Half Marathon. 10 miles in 1:25. (Been logging my miles on Daily Mile again, by the way!) #: Ada's birthday party was a complete success, but my house is back to being a mess again. #: Mother-Daughter eggs. She hearts scrambled. I heart omelets.

In this omelet . . .

• 1 egg + 2 egg whites + splash almond milk
• 1 sliced up tomato
• Diced onions
• 1 string cheese with mozzarella and cheddar (it's all we had!)
• Lots of black pepper
  
• Tons of hot sauce
  

I'm thrilled so many of you enjoyed the Pumpkin Hot Chocolate recipe from last week. I also made a peppermint one that's just as easy to mix up.



PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE

For one giant mug of it, simply combine . . .

• 1.5 cups almond milk (homemade or store-bought -- unsweetened, if possible) 
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 
• Handful dark chocolate chips 
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

I'll be back soon with some of my Thanksgiving recipe favorites -- from our archives and elsewhere. To be entirely honest, with Ada's birthday bash this weekend, the holiday was far absent from my mind.

Our holiday plans? Well, we're traveling to Pennsylvania this year to visit my mother's side of the family. My grandparents have generously offered to take us out to eat at this great place in their town. So, no cooking for us. However, Stephen and I are having our own Thanksgiving dinner at some point during the weekend.

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Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

I found myself with an extra five minutes this morning. Enough time to whisk together a warm drink. First idea: Make some basic hot chocolate. Then I thought about making Maple-Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa. All we have right now is sunflower butter. Just wouldn't be the same.

What caught my eye on the kitchen counter was some leftover pumpkin puree from Ada's breakfast. Now? You see where this is going. I made Pumpkin Hot Chocolate (it's vegan, too!) with almond milk and a drop of almond extract. I'm in heaven.

(Also, the wreath "prop" in this photo. What was I thinking? Entirely unnecessary and looks ridiculous. Shoot and learn, my friends.)

Excuse the chocolate dribbles on that last photo. I HAD to sip some while it was super hot. I just finished the last drops, and I will tell you confidently that this is my new favorite cold weather drink. The pumpkin is so light and sweet mixed with the chocolate. 

I know. I know. "Pumpkin doesn't belong in everything, Ashley."

I'm not so sure about that. (Many examples . . .)

If you'd like to make your own mugful of this delicious drink, just whisk together the following ingredients in a small saucepan on your stove-top. Medium heat until hot, but not boiling.

• 1-1/2 cups unsweetened or homemade almond milk
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
• 1/8 teaspoon (a drop, basically) almond extract (optional, but PLEASE DO IT!)

*** Feel free to use any milk you have. I opt for unsweetened so I have more control over how it tastes. Even put a few chocolate chips in your mug for good measure.

This post definitely replaced the regularly scheduled programming today. I'll be back with some more Mommy Runner thoughts and tips tomorrow. And next week, I'll probably share my favorite mint hot chocolate recipe. At least the cold is good for something!

Like love cats? Then you'll love the post over on Writing Chapter Three. Four words: I Gatti Di Venezia! It's Ada's favorite book and will probably pounce its way into your hearts as well. Too bad I can't find it in print anywhere.

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Maple-Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa

It's 61 degrees in our house this morning. Not terribly cold. BUT it happened . . . fast! I've never been a coffee person, and now that I'm pregnant, I wouldn't drink it anyway. Still, I require a hot beverage when the temps dip this low indoors.

I shared my favorite vegan hot cocoa recipe with y'all the other week. I tweaked it this morning for some extra flair. It's insanely good, so I just had to hop on here and share before we head to my first baby shower!

MAPLE-PEANUT BUTTER HOT COCOA

What you'll need . . .

• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or 2 tablespoons, if you wish)
• 1 heaping tablespoons smooth peanut butter
• 1 cup almond milk

Method . . .

1. In a large mug, whisk together the cocoa powder with 3 tablespoons of the almond milk and the maple syrup.
2. Add the rest of the almond milk and mix well.
3. Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, until warm. Then stir in the peanut butter until it is well distributed.
4. Microwave for another minute or so. Then stir again to make sure the peanut butter isn't clumped.
5. Enjoy!

In other news, while we were cleaning our living room/downstairs, we found my old Polaroid camera. The film is kind of funky (do they still make film? I know they stopped for a while), but it's Saturday, so I thought these photos were fun.


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His and Hers Breakfast Beverages

My mornings usually go one of two ways. Either I wake up feeling wonderful. Or I drag myself out of bed feeling not-so enthusiastic to greet the day. Today -- already at 7 AM -- my allergies are terrible and I have a nagging headache, so I most definitely started the day feeling the latter of the two.

The cats don't seem much better . . .

But we're not all feeling icky. Stephen sprung right up, ready to finish various projects -- including painting the entire first floor of our house. More on THAT sometime soon. Oh, and he also completely reorganized our kitchen on Monday!

Anyway, when I'm not feeling well, I like to drink hot chocolate. Even if the forecast calls for temperatures in the mid 80s. The following is my favorite recipe from when I was younger -- veganized. The second recipe is Stephen's feeling-great-I-must-eat-greens-for-breakfast smoothie.


MICROWAVE HOT COCOA (VEGAN)

What you'll need . . .

• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon Sugar in the Raw (or sugar)
• 1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)

Method . . .

1. In a large mug, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, and 3 tablespoons of the almond milk.
2. Then add the rest of the almond milk and stir well.
3. Put mug in the microwave and heat on high for 1 minute. Then stir. Heat for an additional minute and stir again.

GREET-THE-DAY GREEN SMOOTHIE

What you'll need . . .

• 3/4 cup almond milk
• Frozen banana
• 1 solid handful of kale
• 1 carrot
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
• 1 scoop Midori Greens (optional)
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup rolled oats, uncooked

Method . . .

1. Put everything into your blender.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Add a bit of maple syrup for sweetness, if you like.

So, good morning. And hope your day is going better than mine is!

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Our Recipes: Drinks and Other Beverages

DRINKS AND OTHER BEVERAGES:

• Easy Vegan Hot Cocoa*
• Maple-Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa*
• Roasted Quinoa "Tea"*
• Red Zinger Lemonade*
• Carrot Cocktail*
• Easy Chai Mix*
• Virgin Moscow Mules*
• How to Brew Beer (Series)*

* means VEGAN

BACK TO ALL RECIPES >>>

OR BROWSE BY CATEGORY:

GRANOLA & OATS	PANCAKES, ETC.	SMOOTHIES
SPREAD, SAUCES, DIPS	SALADS	SOUPS & STEWS
SNACKS & STARTERS	SANDWICHES & BURGERS	PIZZA, ETC.
STIR-FRIES, ETC.	OTHER MEALS	BREADS
CAKES & CUPCAKES	COOKIES & BROWNIES	PIES & TARTS
ICE CREAM & PUDDING	DRINKS	CONVERSIONS

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