Holiday Cravings

What do you crave around the holidays?  For me, one of my favorites is Peppermint Hot Chocolate and today is the perfect, cold, rainy day to have one!  Below is one of the recipes that I enjoy (Martha Stewart):

Ingredients:             Serves 4

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 quart milk

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (3 ounces)

7 peppermint sticks; 3 crushed (1/4 cup), 4 left whole

pinch of salt

Directions:

1.     Place cocoa in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk until cocoa has dissolved. Add chocolate chips and crushed peppermint; simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until chocolate and peppermint have melted, 8 to 10 minutes.

2.      Bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat.  Add salt.  Ladle into mugs; serve each with a peppermint stick.

Another treat that makes me think of the holidays is Peppermint Bark.  We had a meeting yesterday and it was passed around the table.  Let’s just say, there wasn’t much left over.  YUM!