Crock Pot Peppermint Hot Chocolate/ Peppermint Mocha Recipe
serves 10-12 people.
Source: A YEAR OF SLOW COOKING
serves 10-12 people.
Source: A YEAR OF SLOW COOKING
For the basic peppermint hot chocolate:
--3 cups nonfat dried milk
--1 cup powdered sugar
--3/4 cup cocoa powder
--1/4 tsp salt
--1/2 cup chocolate syrup
--1 to 2 tsp peppermint extract (my kids thought 2tsp was too strong.)
--7 cups water
--marshmallows and candy canes for garnish
for a "mocha":
--pour the cooked hot chocolate over a shot of espresso or a half-cup of very strong coffee
for an "adult drink":
--omit the peppermint extract and pour the hot chocolate over a shot of Peppermint Schnapps
--3 cups nonfat dried milk
--1 cup powdered sugar
--3/4 cup cocoa powder
--1/4 tsp salt
--1/2 cup chocolate syrup
--1 to 2 tsp peppermint extract (my kids thought 2tsp was too strong.)
--7 cups water
--marshmallows and candy canes for garnish
for a "mocha":
--pour the cooked hot chocolate over a shot of espresso or a half-cup of very strong coffee
for an "adult drink":
--omit the peppermint extract and pour the hot chocolate over a shot of Peppermint Schnapps
Use a 4 quart crockpot.
Combine the dry ingredients into your crockpot and stir with a spoon. Squeeze in a half-cup of chocolate sauce, and add the peppermint extract. Add the water, a cup at a time, and stir well. The chocolatey mixture will be bubbly and look powdery. It's okay---it will cook together.
Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or until completely hot. Serve with marshmallows and candy canes. If serving to guests, keep the pot on low with the lid off, and provide a ladle. If kept on warm, the hot chocolate will not stay warm enough.
Combine the dry ingredients into your crockpot and stir with a spoon. Squeeze in a half-cup of chocolate sauce, and add the peppermint extract. Add the water, a cup at a time, and stir well. The chocolatey mixture will be bubbly and look powdery. It's okay---it will cook together.
Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or until completely hot. Serve with marshmallows and candy canes. If serving to guests, keep the pot on low with the lid off, and provide a ladle. If kept on warm, the hot chocolate will not stay warm enough.
Things to do with kids for Christmas, Help to wrap presents for friends and family.
Kolcheys
4 cups flour
1 cup Crisco
3 egg yolks
1 egg white
pinch salt
1 large yeast dissolved in
1 cup evaporated milk unheated
powdered sugar for dusting - optional
Mix flour and Crisco, add eggs, salt, and liquid mix well. Refrigerate 6 hours or longer.
Roll out on a surface sprinkled with granulated sugar as you would pie crust, roll thin. Cut into squares approximately 2½ inches or bigger if you desire.
Fill diagonally with your choice of filling - cheese, prune, poppyseed, mincemeat or nut filling. Fold the corners over the filling, pinch together (you
can dampen a corner with a bit of egg white or water to make it stick better)
Bake 350º until done.
You can dust with powder sugar if you desire
Do You Hear What I Hear
Said the night wind to the little lamb,
do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light
do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light
Organizing Checklist, Greeting cards or e-cards can be sent out today to close family and friends wishing them wonderful warm thoughts and happy memories during this festive, special time of year.
Easy Christmas card ideas
I just love the lead up to Christmas and have always enjoyed the ritual of making cards and sending them out to friends. Here are some easy ideas for making cards with your kids.
| 1. The 'stick-on abstract shapes' card |  |
This idea is great for young kids who are able to use a glue stick but are not quite ready for anything more adventurous (or messy!). Even the very young (18 months +) can make these cards if you have are prepared to apply the glue and then hand the shapes over for placement. We used this idea for our cards last year and they were a big success.
You will need
• blank cards
• a selection of colourful paper
• scissors
• glue stick
1. Cut out a selection of shapes from a range of colourful paper. I cut triangles from green origami paper, rectangles from red origami paper and circles from yellow and purple textured tissue paper. I used pinking shears to cut out some of the shapes.
2. Provide your little one with the shapes, a glue stick and a pile of blank cards. For extra bling, let them sprinkle on some small metallic stars or add some christmas stickers.
TIP. Don't stress out if you little one keeps sticking the shapes half on and half off the card. Once they've finished simply trim around the edges.
| 2. The 'shower of glitter' card |  |
These cards are messy to make but the effect is spectacular and I guarantee the kids will love it! My ever-practical partner pointed out these cards will probably cover the recipients in glitter when they open the envelope. I accept that he is probably right, but I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing. With any luck it will help them to get into the Christmas spirit!
You will need
• blank cards
• kid's pvc glue
• a couple of different colours of glitter
• christmas cookie cutters
1. Pour glue into a small container or tray until the glue is about 3mm deep. Make sure that your containers is large enough to accommodate the cookie cutters.
2. Dip a cookie cutter in glue and then use it to make a glue print on the blank card. For best results, leave the cutter in place on the card for about three seconds to allow for the glue to drip down onto the card. Repeat until you have made all the glue prints that you want for that particular card.
3. Sprinkle different colours of glitter on top of the glue prints, making sure to cover all of the glue marks. Then shake the glitter off into a tray and allow card to dry.
| 3. The 'always crisp potato print' card | |
There are good reasons why potato printing is an enduring favourite – it's fast, easy, haps of fun and there are so many different ways to use the same print. This method uses cookie cutters to achieve crisp and striking prints.
You will need
• blank cards
• christmas cookie cutters
• potatoes
• knife
• acrylic paint and paintbrushes
1. Cut a potato in half and push in a cookie cutter at least 1cm into the potato. Leave the cutter there while you take a knife and make a 1cm slice into the potato, being careful to cut around the cookie cutter. Remove slice, and then remove cookie cutter and you should be left with a perfect christmas stamp.
2. Apply paint to the stamp using a brush (to ensure you get an even coat) and use it to stamp onto your blank cards.
TIP. Let your little one practise on a large sheet on paper to begin with as it can take a while to get used to applying pressure while holding the stamp perfectly still. Use your test sheets as Christmas wrapping paper.
| 4. The 'back of a baking tray' card |  |
Older kids will love being taught this method of print-making and once they understand what to do they'll want to be left alone to do it all by themselves. Provide some additional materials such as sponges, toothpicks and a comb so that they can play around with different textures. If they like drawing, encourage them to draw custom images for their friends and close family members.
Of course, younger kids can do this too – but they may not be able to wipe the edges of the print as described above. Instead, just let them print onto coloured paper and then cut the paper to stick on the card.
You will need
• blank cards
• old baking tray
• acrylic paint
• paint roller
• damp cloth
• cotton buds, toothpicks etc
1. Work out what size print you would like to make and mark out the rough dimensions on the back of a baking try, using sticky tape.
2. Roll paint onto the tray, then draw a picture using your finger, a cotton bud or wooden skewer.
3. Wipe around the edges of your print with a damp sponge, using the tape as a guide. Then press the front of the card against the the paint and carefully remove. You should be able to make about three cards from each print. When you've finished, re-apply paint with the roller and do it all again.
Things to do at Christmas time, Plan an evening of playing card games
The Christmas Card Christmas cards originated in England over 150 years ago. "You cannot reach perfection though you try however hard to there's always one more friend or so you should have sent a card to," wrote Richard Armour.
Billie C.
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BilliesChristmasCorner/
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