Maple Hot Chocolate

Happy Monday! :)

I have decided to start the year off with a new blog dedicated to sharing recipes and craft/sewing projects with you all..and of course, the occasional pictures of my cutie-pie babies. Ok, so more than just an occasional picture, as you can see. :)

Yesterday, it snowed in Texas! I cannot help getting my camera out and taking the kids out to play. It's not every day....or even every year that we see snow. This was MK's first snow day. She loved watching it from the window yesterday as it was falling. So of course, when I asked the girls if they wanted to go play outside, it was instant hyperactivity and a flurry of jackets, gloves, and thermals.

The first thing Addison wanted to do was to make snow angels, just like on Max and Ruby, her favorite Nick Jr. show.

MK on the other hand, was not as thrilled as she thought she would be with the snow.

Ahh, much better now that MK is not in the snow anymore. As long as she was in the chair, letting me hold her, or sitting in the wagon, she was happy.

Cutie little Eskimo babies. :)

The only way that I could convince Addison to come back inside was to promise her a warm bath with lots of play time, and some hot chocolate. So, we came back in and I gave baths, put the girls in their favorite footie pajamas, and filled sippy cups with "warm chocolate."

I decided not to make the traditional hot chocolate, but instead to make some maple hot chocolate....and it was definitely worth sharing. Throw out those powder packs of hot chocolate and get in the kitchen for a few minutes. You can thank me later.
(And yes, lately I have an obsession with Maple... I think I need counseling.)

Maple Hot Chocolate

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 c. sugar

1 Tbsp. baking cocoa

1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 C. hot water

1 Tbsp. butter (not margarine..that's a dirty word around here.)

4 C. milk

1 tsp. maple flavoring

1 tsp. vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, and salt. Stir in the hot water and butter. Bring to a boil. Add the milk, maple flavoring, and vanilla. Heat through, stirring often so that your milk does not scald.

Ladle into mugs and top with whipped cream.

Don't know how to make your own whipped cream?? It's easy! Just take 1 c. of heavy whipping cream and 1/4 c. of sugar (or more if you like), and whip it... whip it good. :) (What?? Couldn't resist.) I just throw it in my Kitchen Aid stand mixer and turn it on while I go on about my business, and after a few minutes, TA-DA! I have whipped cream! And I didn't even break a sweat.

You can also jazz this up and make a maple mocha by adding some espresso...if you are really feeling frisky. Normally, I would have done this, but I am going to take a nap while my kids do! Yay for me. :) No sense in ruining a good nap with some caffeine.

Enjoy!

Need a song for inspiration? Listen to this one.. my friend Amber's fabulous idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbt30UnzRWw