Creamy & Rich Gourmet Hot Chocolate

THIS IS OFFICIALLY MY CURRENT FAVORITE HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE.

Sound the alarms, this is the best hot chocolate I've had since Max Brenner's Italian Thick Hot Chocolate. Oh mannnn it is GOOD. But like...super decadent and rich and creamy. If that's not your bag-then this isn't for you. That's ok, Michael's just like you, go ahead and make your hot chocolate with a lower ratio of chocolate or even just cocoa powder. That's cool. We can disagree. BUT if you're like me (*cough*smart*cough*) then you're gonna LUUUURVE this.

Now...this hot chocolate is perfectly perfect on its own BUT it is next level AMAZINGNESS when you add a dollop of homemade whipped cream on top. It makes it creamier and dreamier and even more indulgent. We're not thinking about our waistlines while we drink this. We're just thinking about how warm and happy it makes us feel and how wonderful it is that we live in a world where hot chocolate this fantastic exists.

LOOK AT THAT WHIPPED CREAM MELTING INTO THE THICK AND CREAMY CHOCOLATEY CHOCOLATEY GOODNESS. I feel like this is the sort of hot chocolate you'd sip at a cafe on the streets of Italy or Paris. You know, where I belong. A beautiful Mediterranean European city with flavorful food. *sigh* If only I spoke Italian, I would have moved there already.

I worked my family and friends into a tizzy when I posted the above photo on my instagram and facebook. I ended up making this again for my cousin when she visited last week because she gave me the puppy eyes and asked oh so sweetly. Probably unnecessary...I was going to take any excuse to make this luscious drink again. Hey, do you wanna come over and have hot chocolate???

Thick Italian Hot Chocolate

First of all--I'm aware it's March and spring is technically here (although, it is March-you never know. It snowed yesterday.) and I'm sharing a hot chocolate recipe with you. BUT I just want you to know that if you serve this room temperature or chilled in a small bowl or ramekin, it's essentially like a chocolate pudding or mousse or pot de creme. So it's a very versatile dessert that can be sipped warm or eaten chilled with a spoon! It's the perfect March dessert, really, you're prepared for whatever the weather decides to do!

Also...Easter is coming up. And I think if you served this "hot chocolate" chilled in pretty glasses or ramekins they'd be a pretty impressive holiday dessert. Just sayin'.

Now that we're done discussing the fact that this hot chocolate doesn't have to be hot chocolate....let's talk about it as hot chocolate. I tend to love most Italian style things--I love traditional Italian style pizzas (Neapolitan specifically), gelato, and pretty much all things I've been exposed to. So it shouldn't be a surprise that I'm 1000% on board with their way of doing hot chocolate--which is thick chocolatey indulgence style. Seriously...border-line pudding. Which I adore.

Is it the same as the Max Brenner's Italian Thick Hot Chocolate I so miss? 

No. It is actually thicker. 

Is this my favorite hot chocolate I've ever made? 

YES!

It's rich, and decadent, and thick, and pretty much insanely chocolety and perfect in every way.

In my ever so humble opinion.

Thick Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

One of the few things that I mostly keep standard on the whole "eating things seasonally" (I'm not not talking about vegetables--I'm talking like ice cream is for summer kind of thing) is that I usually only drink hot chocolate in the winter. But I'm also super picky about it--like...when I tell people that I only drink water and they make the weirded out face and then I inform them that I do occasionally drink orange juice or really good hot chocolate. It's true. I need it thick. I need it rich. None of that watery/milky cocoa powder gunk for me. RICH AND THICK! The ultimate epitome of this is Max Brenner's Italian Thick Hot Chocolate, but now that I no longer live in NYC I do not have easy access to that nectar of the gods (although I'm intending to try a copycat recipe soon) so I have to try out other versions myself!

One easy way to make any hot chocolate richer is to add in peanut butter. Instant yum. Which is why this is now def. one of my favorite homemade hot chocolates-rich, creamy, fairly thick, and peanut butteryyyyy! I really need to have heavy cream in my fridge at all times-can you imagine how tasty a peanut butter whipped cream would be on top of this??! I can--and it's DARN TASTY!

Mind you, I also fully loved my idea to put some toasted marshmallows and chopped peanuts on top. Although I will admit the peanuts might have made it a bit too chewy...hmmm...not sure. Regardless, I enjoyed it. Still not quite as thick as I'd like, but def. better than almost any version I've tried at home thus far. And Michael said it tasted like a melted candy bar, which is pretty much my meter for if I'm going to like it or not. And if you're a smart cookie like me, then you'll love it too!

Blackberry Lavender Cocktail-Guest Post with Blahnik Baker

Hi friends!! Since my life is sorta full-on wedding crazed mode I asked a few of my bloggy friends to help me out and rustle up some guest posts for you to read! And you are in for a TREAT! Zainab from Blahnik Baker has posted over here once before and you all LOVED her (I mean..how could you not-she's such a sweetie!) Not only is she busy running her own blog but she's also preggers! And yet she still said she would give me a hand-now that is friendship! Plus...she's sharing a cocktail. Yeah! I'm so happy that there's finally a cocktail on this blog! Take it away my friend <3

Hello Cooking actress readers!! I’m Zainab from Blahnik Baker and I am so excited to be here again today sharing a recipe with you. When Kayle asked us to help with the blog as she prepares for her upcoming nuptials, I knew this would be the perfect opportunity to celebrate her and Michael’s wedding. Nothing says celebration like a good ole cocktail…. a refreshing, summer berry cocktail to be exact. That’s why I am bringing her and you this Blackberry Lavender Cocktail. Let’s toast the soon-to-be newly weds :)

Nut Butter Banana Oat Smoothie

I've been meaning to make smoothies more often. My brother's consistently healthy diet totally makes me want to be better. So, in the efforts to bring myself and you more smoothies--I froze some bananas and put 'em in the freezer. Because in my world every good smoothie begins with frozen bananas.

And, obviously, the point of these smoothies is to try to get some healthy stuff up in my system. So I also put some nice oats and flaxseed meal in there (they also help keep ya full! So you don't overeat later!), milk for...whatever milk does...and nut butter for protein! Yayyy!

Fun story related to my brother and trying to get into shape: Josh came over and we went to my fitness room (finally) and he proceeded to help me do a "Kayle version" of his workout regimen for the next hour. At the end of that hour Josh was like "Eh, not the best workout but it was better than nothing." and Kayle was like "Uh...I cannot walk. My legs hurt super duper bad."

Technically the next 2 days were where the pain set in but...I fel wiped out from that workout. And I know it shouldn't have been that hard. But ugh, man oh man...I am NOT in shape. Plus-I have never done any kind of weight training and Josh had me using all the weights and stuff (admittedly mostly the 8-10 lb. weights but...still.)

Moral of the story is: I need to get my act together. And I started yesterday--I am going to try reeeeally hard to start working out on the regular. Here we go! Keep me honest, guys!

But enough about my weak out-of-shape-ness.

Smoothie time. It's all thick and kind of gritty (but like...in a good way? Makes ya feel healthy.) and it tastes super yummy. All nutty and banana-y. As a smoothie should be.

If you have spinach, I suggest you throw some in. I was out so...I couldn't. But you totally should.

(Side note: I convinced my brother to start putting spinach in his smoothies. He was suspicious but I reassured him he wouldn't taste it. He then returned to me and was like..."Dude...you don't taste it. That's awesome. Spinach in all my smoothies from now on."  But I digress.) 

PB AND BANANAS FOREVAHHHH

Evolution Fresh Juices #MC #Sponsored

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Millennial Central for Evolution Fresh. I received coupons for Evolution Fresh juices to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Have you heard of Evolution Fresh yet?? Ooooooh are you in for a wholesome, delicious, treat! Evolution Fresh offers a huge variety of juice flavors that help quench that summer thirst-while keeping you bikini ready and feeling good! 

Evolution Fresh peels, presses, and squeezes raw fruits and vegetables (even though the fruits and veggies used in the juices are raw--the juices are technically not). After chilling, blending and bottling their juices, they use High Pressure Processing (HPP) to help protect flavors and nutrients.(Click here if you want to watch a video showing how the process works.) 

If you check out the Evolution Fresh site you can find a verrryy long list of different juice varieties-however I was only able to sample what was available at my local store (although note that I REALLY want to try the organic orange juice, tangerine, and apple berry!) Although each variety I sampled was super flavorful and tasted extra healthy-our favorite to drink straight was the organic strawberry lemonade! Michael and I would grab a couple bottles to take with us when we hit the pool. And you know how quickly you can feel overheated, worn out, and dehydrated on a hot summer day at the pool? Our little lemonades helped keep us feeling refreshed and happy!

I found that for the Organic V, Essential Greens, Super Green, and Protein Power they were best used (for our pickier palates) in smoothies or....POPSICLES! (Side note: my brother flipped his lid for these! He's super into fitness and health lately so when he came over and found these in my refrigerator he immediately asked permission to make a smoothie. He then sang the praises of Evolution Fresh and asked where he could find some!)

Here's my little non-recipe for the popsicles, but really...you can just make popsicles out of any variety you want, with or without blending anything else in!

Strawberry Lemonade {from-scratch} for #StrawberryWeek

Welcome to Strawberry Week! It's a week...declared as such by me....because I went strawberry picking...and then made a bunch 'o' strawberry things...and thought it would be fun to post all the recipes back to back...and give it a hashtag...and thusly....#StrawberryWeek. And it's summer. Which means it's strawberry season. Which means a happy happy Kayle and Michael! 

These are some of my favorite pictures I've taken. I attribute this to:

1. my new photo set up. 
2. fruit is photogenic.
3. I don't know. Luck?

Making this strawberry lemonade is slightly complicated, messy, takes a bit of time, a good amount of ingredients, and just...is obviously not as cheap or easy as buying it.

But is it totally worth it? YES!

At the end of it you have a gorgeous, refreshing, summery drink that would be a BIG winner if you served it at a party. Michael really loved it (in spite of requests for more sugar, which is not unusual for my sweet-toothed boy) and agreed that I should definitely make it sometime when we have a get together/party. 

Fruity, pretty, tart and sweet at the same time...what more could you ask for from a summer drink?

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Smoothie

And finally, it is week 4 (the FINAL WEEK) of the Knockout Peanut Butter Smoothie Sweepstakes!

(Read my posts from week 1, week 2, and week 3)

The final rundown: Peanut Butter & Co and Rocky on Broadway have teamed up with four food bloggers (including myself) to bring you 4 different smoothie recipes a week. From April 14th-May 9th (TODAY-THE LAST DAY!), with 4 week-long entry periods, everyone has been invited to vote for their favorite smoothie recipe at Facebook.com/peanutbutterco and www.KnockoutPeanutButterSmoothie.com for a chance to win two tickets to see Rocky on Broadway and a year’s supply of Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter (50 jars). Winners will be randomly selected, totaling four winners by the end of the promotion period. There is no purchase necessary to enter the sweepstakes. Certain restrictions apply.

Rocky on Broadway (which opened March 13, 2014 at the Winter Garden Theatre) brings the story of Rocky Balboa (from the Rocky films) to the Broadway stage. I was able to see a preview and I totally fell for it. You should really go see it if you have the opportunity (or win!) Visit www.ROCKYBROADWAY.com for more information on the show and you can also refer to my post from week 1.

Some quick facts about Peanut Butter & Co: what began in 1998 as a little sandwich shop here in NYC (which I've been to!) is now one of the fastest growing natural/specialty food companies in the US! Their ten varieties of all natural, flavored peanut butters (made exclusively from USA-grown peanuts) are available in over 15,000 supermarkets and specialty retailers. So really you should make them your new favorite.

“Whether you’re training for a boxing match or fueling up for a busy day, peanut butter smoothies can make everyone feel like a champ!” said Lee Zalben, Founder & President of Peanut Butter & Co. “We’re so excited to be partnering with Rocky on Broadway, which is sure to be a knockout hit!”

Today I'm sharing my 4th and final smoothie (featuring one of Peanut Butter & Co.'s peanut butters):

I'm pretty proud of this one. I'll pat myself on the back. This smoothie is so tropical and thick-almost like a coconut milkshake but so much healthier! And it incorporates one of Peanut Butter & Co.'s most popular flavors-White Chocolate Wonderful. You really just need to head over and check out the recipe guys. You'll see!

For the smoothie recipe click here.

Smoothies shared from the last 3 weeks:
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Green Monster Smoothie
Honey and Pretzel Peanut Butter Smoothie
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Apple Banana Smoothie

Disclaimer: I was provided with product, tickets to a preview of Rocky on Broadway, and monetary compensation for my participation in this program. However, I was under no obligation to write a review and all opinions, as always, are my own.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Apple Banana Smoothie

It's week 3 of the Knockout Peanut Butter Smoothie Sweepstakes!

(Read my posts from week 1 and week 2)

Sum up: Peanut Butter & Co and Rocky on Broadway have teamed up with four food bloggers (including me!) to bring you 4 different smoothie recipes a week. From April 14th-May 9th, with 4 week-long entry periods, you're invited to vote for your favorite PB smoothie recipe at Facebook.com/peanutbutterco and www.KnockoutPeanutButterSmoothie.com for a chance to win two tickets to see Rocky on Broadway and a year’s supply (50 jars) of Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter. Winners will be randomly selected, totaling four winners by the end of the promotion period. There is no purchase necessary to enter the sweepstakes. Certain restrictions apply.

Rocky on Broadway (which opened March 13, 2014 at the Winter Garden Theatre) brings the story of Rocky Balboa (from the famous Rocky films) to the Broadway stage. I was lucky enough to see a preview and I LOVED IT. If you want to read more about Rocky on Broadway visit www.ROCKYBROADWAY.com (you can also refer to my post from week 1!).

And, to give you a bit of background on Peanut Butter & Co-they began in 1998 as a little sandwich shop here in NYC (which I've been to!) and now it's one of the fastest growing natural/specialty food companies in the US. Their ten varieties of all natural, flavored peanut butters (made exclusively from USA-grown peanuts) are available in over 15,000 supermarkets and specialty retailers. GOODNESS.

“Whether you’re training for a boxing match or fueling up for a busy day, peanut butter smoothies can make everyone feel like a champ!” said Lee Zalben, Founder & President of Peanut Butter & Co. “We’re so excited to be partnering with Rocky on Broadway, which is sure to be a knockout hit!”

All of this means 4 new smoothie recipes from me (featuring one of Peanut Butter & Co.'s peanut butters)!

So far I've shared these two smoothies:
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Green Monster Smoothie
Honey and Pretzel Peanut Butter Smoothie

And today?? The most fruity fresh tasting of all the smoothies. This one incorporates apples and bananas and then...I mean...because I had to...my favorite: Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter! Sweet and light and lovely! I'm so sad Michael wasn't able to try this one, it would have been his fave, I am sure!

Click here to view the recipe!

Disclaimer: I was provided with product, tickets to a preview of Rocky on Broadway, and monetary compensation for my participation in this program. However, I was under no obligation to write a review and all opinions, as always, are my own.

Honey and Pretzel Peanut Butter Smoothie

Hooray! It is week 2 of the Knockout Peanut Butter Smoothie Sweepstakes. 

(click here to read my post about week 1)

In case you're not up to speed: Peanut Butter & Co and Rocky on Broadway have teamed up with four food bloggers (including yours truly) to bring you 4 different smoothie recipes a week. From April 14th-May 9th, with 4 week-long entry periods, you're invited to vote for your favorite peanut butter smoothie recipe at Facebook.com/peanutbutterco and www.KnockoutPeanutButterSmoothie.com for a chance to win two tickets to see Rocky on Broadway and a year’s supply of Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter (50 jars). Winners will be randomly selected, totaling four winners by the end of the promotion period. There is no purchase necessary to enter the sweepstakes. Certain restrictions apply.

Rocky on Broadway (which opened March 13, 2014 at the Winter Garden Theatre) brings the iconic story of Rocky Balboa (from the famous Rocky films) to the Broadway stage. I am totally loving it and if you want to read more about it you visit www.ROCKYBROADWAY.com and you can also refer to my post from last week.

And, in case you didn't know about Peanut Butter & Co-in addition to being my favorite brand of peanut butter, Peanut Butter & Co. began in 1998 as a little sandwich shop here in NYC (which I've visited!) and is now one of the fastest growing natural/specialty food companies in the US. Their ten varieties of all natural, flavored peanut butters (made exclusively from USA-grown peanuts) are available in over 15,000 supermarkets and specialty retailers. And uhhhh yeah....tastiness.

“Whether you’re training for a boxing match or fueling up for a busy day, peanut butter smoothies can make everyone feel like a champ!” said Lee Zalben, Founder & President of Peanut Butter & Co. “We’re so excited to be partnering with Rocky on Broadway, which is sure to be a knockout hit!”

Anyways, this means 4 new delicious recipes from me (featuring one of Peanut Butter & Co.'s peanut butters)! Last week's smoothie was Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Green Monster Smoothie. And this week?

A super creative idea if I do say so myself!! Peanut Butter & Co.'s Bees Knees peanut butter, honey, and pretzels are the main flavor profiles at play here and it is so wonderfully subtly sweet and salty-and with such a thick, creamy texture-you are gonna LOVE IT!

To view the recipe click here!

Disclaimer: I was provided with product, tickets to a preview of Rocky on Broadway, and monetary compensation for my participation in this program. However, I was under no obligation to write a review and all opinions, as always, are my own.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Green Monster Smoothie

GUYS! Big big news! So, Peanut Butter & Co (which you may remember them as the peanut butter company I've gushed over this time and that time and also this other time), has teamed up with Rocky on Broadway (a new musical that I'll talk about in a bit) and four food bloggers (including MOI!) to bring a little thing called the Knockout Peanut Butter Smoothie Sweepstakes!

Basically, from Monday, April 14, 2014 to Friday, May 9, 2014, all you peoples are invited to vote for their favorite peanut butter smoothie recipe at Facebook.com/peanutbutterco and www.KnockoutPeanutButterSmoothie.com for a chance to win two tickets to see Rocky on Broadway and a year’s supply of Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter (50 jars). There will be four week-long entry periods (with 4 different sets of 4 smoothie recipes for each week), during which winners will be randomly selected, totaling four winners by the end of the promotion period. There is no purchase necessary to enter the sweepstakes. Certain restrictions apply.

Rocky on Broadway (which opened March 13, 2014 at the Winter Garden Theatre) brings the iconic story of Rocky Balboa (from the famous Rocky films) to the Broadway stage. It has already garnered so much praise and I am NOT surprised. You guys...I was shocked by how much I loved this musical. It did the perfect job of translating the movie but being its own thing (and in case you were wondering-Andy Karl as Rocky did a fantastic job of being very true to the character but not a caricature of Sylvester Stallone. Could not have been a better performance.) and the way it finagled some of the things for stage was just....amazing. And the love story....I am a SUCKER for a good love story and Rocky on Broadway made me get all swoon-y. *sigh* Anyway. Obviously I'm hooked. For more info about the show check out www.ROCKYBROADWAY.com.

“Whether you’re training for a boxing match or fueling up for a busy day, peanut butter smoothies can make everyone feel like a champ!” said Lee Zalben, Founder & President of Peanut Butter & Co. “We’re so excited to be partnering with Rocky on Broadway, which is sure to be a knockout hit!”

Sooooo every week for the next 4 weeks you'll get to see a new, fun, smoothie recipe from me (featuring one of Peanut Butter & Co.'s peanut butters). And we are starting with my FAVORITE!

Green monster smoothies=the ultimate way to drink yourself some healthy spinach while thinking you're enjoying a sweet treat! This is my absolute favorite green smoothie recipe-it uses Peanut Butter and Co.'s Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter so it tastes so sweet and rich while still being refreshing. You really have got to try it!

Click here to view the recipe!

Disclaimer: I was provided with product, tickets to a preview of Rocky on Broadway, and monetary compensation for my participation in this program. However, I was under no obligation to write a review and all opinions, as always, are my own.

Hot Chocolate in a Microwave-for One

'Tis the season for Kayle to try out more hot chocolate recipes!!! 

Generally, I eat whatever I want, regardless of the time of year. But hot chocolate...well....it's hard to muster up the energy to drink it when it's hot outside (excluding my beloved Max Brenner's hot chocolate....I'll drink that wherever, whenever!) BUT! It's cold! And nothing sounds nicer when you're shivering in your apartment because your landlord doesn't turn the heat on half the time, than a nice big mug of hot cocoa. 

Mmmmm but I don't know about anyone else but sometimes when it's chilly, I just wanna lay under the covers and be lazy. It can be hard to muster up the energy to, not only leave aforementioned covers, but to leave them long enough to actually make make something. Which is why this hot chocolate is so brilliant! You can make it in a microwave AND it is so much richer and more delicious than that powdered stuff most of us grew up on*! AND it's single serving. One big mug of hot chocolatey goodness, that you don't need to share-yessss. (This is good for me because Michael usually doesn't like his hot chocolate as rich as I do, but if you have more peoples to make this good stuff for, just multiply the recipe by however many people you need to!)

*(in my opinion)

Has it happened? Have I found a homemade hot chocolate recipe that lives up to Max Brenner's??!

...well...no.

BUT it is deliciously full of dark chocolate flavor. And creamy. And rich. And as good as any other homemade recipe I've made thus far (with the exception of maybe this one, and def. excepting the s'mores hot cocoa...but that's just because of s'mores), with the added bonus of being QUICK and eeeeeasy to make! And, woot woot, no extra dishes!

Now, put on your slippies (or as some of you lame people might say, slippers), a warm robe, your fave jammies, and cuddle up with a big warm mug of this hot chocolate. Maybe watch some My Fair Wedding on Netflix. Or 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family. Yeah...that's a good day.

S'mores Hot Cocoa

OMG GUYS!

Do you know what I'm doing right now as I write this??

WATCHING MYSELF ON TV!

(The Investigation Discovery show "My Dirty Little Secret", "Green Widow" episode. I play Nicole Samuels :D)

Like...on my TV. On a TV show. This is craziness. 

You know what else is craziness (in the totally awesome way that seeing myself on TV is craziness)?

S'MORES HOT COCOA.

S'MORES.

HOT.

COCOA!

ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME??!

(I apologize for all the caps, I'm a smidge excitable)

When I first saw this recipe on the Chocolate Moosey I was like, "Um, well, that's the best thing I've ever heard of." Then when I finally bought myself some cookie butter from Trader Joe's I was like "Ahhhh I'm gonna make myself some s'mores hot cocoa! Whatwhaaaat!" (imagine some dancing and hands raising the roof). And I didn't even have to share. Michael doesn't like this. So I waited until I came home one day and it was cold outside, and I was like "It is time. I will have myself some s'mores hot cocoa now. Yes."

Let me 'splain to you how insane this hot cocoa is.

It's like a surprise. You make the hot chocolate itself and you're like "Ugh this is like a super plain, not even that chocolatey hot chocolate, I am not sure about this." 

Then it's fun, because you get to toast marshmallows, and you're like "If nothing else, these are delicious."

Then something magical happens-you whisk some of the toasted marshmallows into the hot cocoa (with some cookie butter) and it transforms into a thick, luscious concoction.

You throw it in a mug (if you're super cool like me, it'll have Disney Princesses on it), plop a marshmallow, some chocolate, and graham cracker crumbs on top and you have yourself the perfect cup of hot cocoa for any s'mores lover.

And in case you haven't heard, I am a huge s'mores loverrr.

(that sounded kinda dirty?)

(I'm cool with it.)

Seriously-obviously you taste the chocolate. But the toasted marshmallow flavor is also totally present, and the cookie butter does a phenomenal job of giving you that graham cracker taste. I'm completely obsessed.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Green Monster Smoothie

Oh yeah.

I like green monster smoothies.

Well...1 kind of green monster smoothie.

Have you ever had a Starbucks Vivano smoothie? 

It tastes like chocolate and banana. 

This tastes exactly the same (+ some peanut butter, which of course just adds to the awesomeness). 

And oh yeah there's like 2 cups of spinach up in there.

And if I tell you that you will not taste the spinach, trust me, you WILL NOT taste the spinach.

Just a choco-pb-banana smoothie with a special little surprise that no one would ever guess was there.

It's a great way to sneak some nutrition in for any picky eaters you may know! And a favorite breakfast treat of mine.

Creamy Hot Chocolate

Brrr.

It's cold out there.

Sometimes you just need a warm mug of chocolatey comfort, don't you agree?

I made Michael and I this hot chocolate after I returned home from babysitting on NYE, it was a wonderful comforting way to end the year-snuggling on the couch with my honey, watching Smallville, and sipping on mugs of wonderfully creamy hot chocolate. I only regret that I did not have whole milk, so I haven't yet tried this as it was intended, but hopefully soon. The way I made it, it tasted pretty similar to the other hot chocolate recipe I've shared with you guys, but I'll update you if it tastes drastically difference with whole milk. Thus far I still have not had the pleasure to make a hot chocolate that is as good as Max Brenner's...but perhaps....someday....a girl can dream right? Mmm wonderful, thick, hot chocolatey dreams.

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

You know. I had things to do today.

Grocery shopping, to be exact.

But it's raining.

And, in New York City, when you don't have a car, you really shouldn't grocery shop in the rain.

So, instead, I've been catching up on blog stuff (in addition to re-watching The Vampire Diaries and cooking). I have a whole bunch of posts, ready to be shared.

But...I'm going to let you see those later. Today, I have a brand new recipe.

Like...I just made it. I'm drinking this right now.

I figured, if you're having a rainy day too, you deserve a nice little treat like this.

Mixed Berry Milkshake

 You may remember that post I wrote about some 2 ingredient vanilla ice cream I made. You might also remember, I mentioned I made it to use in a milkshake. I figured you've waited long enough to see that very shake. As I've mentioned, multiple times, Michael loves fruity/refreshing sweet things. Me, not so much. When I saw this recipe I knew it would be right up his alley. Michael looooves berries (especially strawberries. Can I say how depressed he is that they're not in season right this second?) This shake is super simple, super pretty (lookit! It's purple), a great excuse to use some of that 2 ingredient ice cream, and it can have whatever berries you fancy! So, the sky is the limit! Yes...I do feel cruel posting this in the middle of winter when this is obviously a summer drink, but, well....just file it away for later. Or just buy frozen fruit! They're perfectly good!

Frothy Hot Chocolate

Yes...those are Disney princesses on my mug. Why do you ask?

It snowed. In October. And is freezing. So, I'm officially declaring it winter! And since it is winter, it is cold. And since it is cold, we need something warm and comforting in our bellies. And what's more classic for just that than hot chocolate? One night Michael and I were chilly and in the mood for some hot chocolate, so I used this recipe I had. I absolutely loved it-it was thick, chocolatey, and delicious-a perfect cup of hot chocolate in my opinion. Michael, as you are learning, does not share my taste preferences usually. This was no exception. He thought it just tasted like melted chocolate and he wanted one of those dried hot cocoa packets instead. *sigh* What am I going to do with him? This recipe definitely makes enough for 2 to drink a good amount, so if I make it again I shall have to half it, since it'll be just me. Such is life. Regardless! This is suuuuper yummy if you like the same kind of hot chocolate I do! So make it!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Pink Marshmallows and Pink Lemonade)

  

 October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I've been fortunate enough, thus far, that this hasn't tainted mine or any of my loved ones' lives. However, I have had experience with other kinds of cancers, and I know how important it is to be informed and recognize all those who have suffered. On Foodbuzz I received a request from the lovely woman behind Oh Cake to read her post about her experiences (especially regarding her friend-and breast cancer survivor-Liz), and about some lovely pink marshmallows. She wants to remind everyone to see your doctor regularly, have mammograms, and remember that cancer is beatable-especially if caught early. Plus these facts: