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Finally! Hot Coca Days

Finally! Hot Coca Days
Ideal for cocoa, coffee or tea, these enamelware coffee mugs are available at Lehmans.com or Lehman's in Kidron, Ohio. (You may want more cocoa mix in the giant mug!)
Ideal for cocoa, coffee or tea, these enamelware coffee mugs are available at Lehmans.com or Lehman’s in Kidron, Ohio. (You may want more cocoa mix in the giant mug!)

A few weeks back, it was warmish and rainy, and completely not winter. So, in an effort to bring about at least the idea of winter, I decided to make up a batch of Hot Cocoa Mix. Now that it’s cold over much of the country, I’d say my decision worked–although others may feel differently!

I could, of course, just go to a supermarket and buy a box of the little packets of mix. Toss one in a cup and add boiling water and voila!

Here’s the problem. The cocoa comes in a packet which comes in a box which is wrapped in plastic. The ingredients include some questionable ingredients. I’m pretty certain I don’t want my children starting the day with a cup of dipotassium phosphate, cellulose gum, sodium aluminosilicate or partially hydrogenated anything. I’m also cheap.

So I make my own mix. It only takes a couple of minutes and the ingredients are nothing special. At least I can pronounce them. This recipe calls for a bit of cayenne which not everyone likes. Leave it out if you aren’t spicy people.

Pyrex Big Cup1093895
This 2 quart (8 cup) measurer/mixer is ideal for making Kathy Harrison’s cocoa mix. At Lehman’s in Kidron, Ohio or www.lehmans.com.

I start with 4 cups of instant, dry powdered milk. If you want to make the mix to add to warm milk then leave this out too. Mix in 1 ½ cups sugar, 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 cup of finely chopped, semi-sweet chocolate, ¼ cup of cornstarch (it will make a thicker cocoa), ½ teaspoon cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne. Use the best chocolate you can get. It will make a difference. Store this in a Mason jar. If you drink a lot of cocoa this is an easy recipe to double or even triple. You will need about a half cup of mix to cup of boiling water. I like my cocoa topped with real whipped cream.

Mix Recipe – Single Batch
4 cups instant dry powdered milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup finely chopped semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch cayenne powder (optional)

Add 1/2 cup mix to one cup boiling water and stir well. Top as desired.

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Kathy Harrison

Kathy Harrison

Kathy and her husband own a small hobby farm. They raise bees, have an orchard and grow organic vegetables. They also raise a few pigs and chickens. Most of what they do is a cooperative venture with close neighbors. She has written two books on family preparedness for Storey Publishing, Just In Case: How To Be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens and Prepping 101: 40 Steps You Can Take To Be Prepared.

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