Simple Hot Cocoa Recipe

Everyone needs to know how to make hot cocoa at home. It really isn't hard at all. You just have to have the ingredients on hand.

Now you don't have to resort to prepackaged packets of hot cocoa mix, which probably have little to no nourishment in them, and possibly have other additives in them so they can last on the shelves of the stores without rotting.

You can make this as simple as you like, or you can add extras to make it taste a little more special. You can also make this with raw milk (I recommend) and it will have a lot of nourishment in it. Use cow's milk, goat's milk, sheep's milk, or coconut milk. Some have used almond milk also.

Hot Cocoa on The Stove

4 cups milk
4 Tablespoons cocoa powder (you can find organic on amazon.com)
4 Tablespoons sugar (I have used coconut sugar)
Extras (optional): pinch of powdered cinnamon, nutmeg, curry powder*, pink salt*, a drop of peppermint oil**)

Heat milk to almost boiling. Stir in sugar and cocoa powder. Cocoa powder does not mix well, but will mix in with the milk when it is hot. Remove from stove and add extras, if using.

Put a marshmallow on top of each one, or, top with whipped cream if desired. Sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles for a tasty looking drink.Yum.

* I have a friend who puts curry powder and Himalayan pink salt in her hot cocoa.
** Be careful to only put a drop of peppermint oil in the hot cocoa. Peppermint oil is extremely potent and could ruin the flavor of the hot cocoa or whatever you are cooking, if too much is added.

Straws

I don't know about you, but I use a lot of straws. I keep ones that we use at restaurants and wash them up and reuse them.

I also have stainless steel straws, but they are too short and not wide enough for most of my drinks. I have also seen glass straws as well.

Some of the cute straws they have out are in different shapes, and are usually made of plastic. But the problem with the straws is that they can end up being unsanitary. Because of the way they are made, it is hard to clean them and get the food out of them properly. And, since air cannot get to them as easily as it can in an open object, it is possible for mold to grow inside. Yuk.

Straws can go in the dishwasher, but if you have a heating element, and if the straw is plastic, it could melt the straw. Stainless steel ones can go in the dishwasher, but that might not get them clean on the inside. You can take a thin object and poke it inside the straw to try to scrape any leftovers out of the straw. If you have a small, thin bottle brush, you can clean it out as well.

I was thinking about ways we can clean the straws this morning. If you want them to be a little less germy, then consider soaking the straws in vinegar water. Rinse them out afterward though, unless you like a sour drink!

Another idea is to put a drop of Four Thieves oil in the straw (I have not done this yet, but it is  a possibility since I am always wondering how to clean the straws). Leave the oil in the straws for a while, then rinse out. Yes, if you don't rinse the straws out, the next drink you make might taste kind of strange.




Happy clean drinking!