Cats n' Coffee Cups

Oh, winter afternoons, how many more of you are there till spring??? It is a drab looking Family Day out there for us, complete with grey skies and sleet! Of course, that isn't going to get in the way of a couple of us sickies like us! Instead of the bowling I mentioned yesterday, we've decided to hit the (mini) golf course to warm ourselves up for the new season! If only the real courses were as meticulously groomed as the felt floors at Putting Edge (haha). Well, it's been a while since I've done any sort of golfing so I'll have to see how my one-handed putts keep me going this afternoon. Yes, I putt one-handed. And chip that way too. I'm lazy, but damn am I good at doing it!

For now we're all holing up (including Bitties, who enjoys the colour scheme in my bedroom, apparently) while we wait for our tee time to come around (being a new holiday and all we couldn't get a spot until 4:40!), which includes gratuitous cups of tea (decaf herbal or green for me, Orange Pekoe for the Schmee) or coffee (for the "adults"). It isn't that we aren't allowed coffee (since I used to be quite the addict myself), but Teaghan doesn't like it and my system eschews any sort of caffeinated goodies - including caffeinated pop, tea, coffee and their variations. But like I said, I was quite the addict way back when, and it was back then that I was given the recipes to these yummy drinks that I'm sharing today. I know the mixes came from assorted Home Ec classes at MLCP, and probably the Parisan Hot Chocolate one too, but for the life of me I can't remember the origin of this first one. At any rate, these'll warm up your stomach and your winter days!

Sinfully Delicious Hot Chocolate
Serves 2
2 cups evaporated 2% milk
4 tsp sugar
1 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 tsp salted butter
1 tbsp honey
½ tsp vanilla or hazelnut extract

1. Heat everything in a saucepan, except the extract, until chocolates and butter melt and honey dissolves.
2. Pour half into a blender, or use an immersion blender, and mix until foamy.
3. Return to the saucepan, and add vanilla. Stir briefly then serve.

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 556.3

Total Fat: 32.4 g

Cholesterol: 77.7 mg

Sodium: 284.8 mg

Total Carbs: 55.5 g

Dietary Fiber: 3.2 g

Protein: 19.6 g

No need for spices or other flavours in this next recipe... not when you have real chocolate and heavy cream! Uh oh, am I sounding a bit, erm, Deenish? Maybe with a little bit of Ina thrown in? Run for the hills!

Parisan Warm Chocolate
Serves 4
1 cup whole milk
1/3 heavy cream
¼ cup sugar
5 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

1. Simmer the milk, cream and sugar together until just below boiling.
2. Stir in the chocolate until melted.
3. Serve warm in demitasse cups.

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 316.3

Total Fat: 19.2 g

Cholesterol: 30.6 mg

Sodium: 35.1 mg

Total Carbs: 38.1 g

Dietary Fiber: 2.1 g

Protein: 3.8 g

These last two mixes are definitely lighter on the waistline, and they are a definite bonus since you can keep them in your office or your pantry for ages, mixing em up whenever you need a boost. They'd probably make great gifts too, if you're willing to part with them!

Cafe Swiss Mocha Mix

¼ cup dry non-dairy creamer

1/3 cup sugar

¼ cup instant espresso powder (or coffee)

2 tbsp cocoa

1. Place all dry ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix until they have the consistency of a very fine powder.
2. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dry mix to one coffee mug of hot water.
3. Store in air-tight container.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 3.3
Total Fat: 0.2 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 1.0 mg
Total Carbs: 0.4 g
Dietary Fiber: 0.1 g
Protein: 0.1 g

Café Rue d'Madelaine
1 cup instant dry coffee
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 ½ cups dry non-dairy creamer
1 ½ cups nonfat dry milk
4 Tablespoons cocoa

1. Place all dry ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix until they have the consistency of a very fine powder.
2. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dry mix to one coffee mug of hot water.
3. Store in air-tight container.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 16.4
Total Fat: 0.4 g
Cholesterol: 0.3 mg
Sodium: 7.8 mg
Total Carbs: 2.8 g
Dietary Fiber: 0.1 g
Protein: 0.5 g