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Hot Chocolate


The holidays are over, home life is settling down with no visitors scheduled to come over, Bruce took down the Christmas tree today, I washed some of the Christmas towels and napkins in preparation to put them away but usually putting the Christmas stuff away will take most the month of January! Too much Christmas stuff all over the house…


The fake snow everywhere makes putting things away a little more challenging.


The mantle and wood stove is perfect for lots of Christmas trinkets.


I like to put lights on everything in the house to give the inside that certain glow of warmth for Christmas, even though it is tedious to put up and take down.


I'm also very nostalgic so Christmas is an excuse to put out all my kids' old Christmas projects to remember years gone by.


I put gifts under the tree that were handmade by friends or passed on to me by my dad that we played with when we were children.


I display all our Christmas cards on ribbon from years gone by starting with our first year of marriage (1981) and then one for each year starting in 1987 when Nick was born.  The second string is from after we moved to Idaho.  I think I'm going to need to start a third string next year.


Father Christmas overlooking it all.


…and the snow village with more fake snow...


…and  lots of table ware from all those holiday meals!  We had four lovely, sit-down dinners with guests over this year for the holidays so our table got good use.


Now the fun part to put it all away!  I'm never as eager to put it away as I am to take it all out!  

To help me get motivated to start putting it all away, I need something hot to drink.  Since I still don't have all the sugar out of my system from the holidays yet, I think it's time to make a big pot of hot chocolate to sip on!  Love it!  Here is my favorite recipe and easy to make.  (I've never found an instant hot chocolate mix that I like)


Makes four 1 cup servings


1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
dash of salt
1/3 cup of hot water
4 cups of milk
3/4 tsp. vanilla

 1.  Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in saucepan.  Stir in water.  


2.  Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture  boils; boil and stir 2 minutes.


3.  Stir in milk and heat.  DO NOT BOIL.


4.  Remove from heat; add vanilla.


5.  Add a little dollop of cream.
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