Busy in the Kitchen

I have been. In spite of being overwhelmed by the things I need to do, I just got up early this AM, and took stock of my situation and I'm farther along than I thought! Panic was setting in, as I have to work today and a half-day Christmas Eve, I have no time, and I'm still not done with Moderne!!!! But I'm close!

All the gift items I was busy making in the kitchen are finished. I feel really good about that. This AM I made up lots of yummy cocoa mix for giving. And I feel good enough to take time to share my recipe with y'all:

Aim's Deluxe Hot Cocoa Mix
(makes about 7-1/2 cups mix)

2 cups nonfat dried milk
2 cups non-dairy creamer (flavored if desired)
2 cups sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
4 oz sweet chocolate bar, grated (I used Baker's)

Mix all well. To make, add 4-5 spoonsful to a mug of hot water.

What I love about this is all the possibilities...if you use powdered sugar instead of granulated, it's a lighter color mix. You can use flavored creamer, I suggest vanilla. Or, if you're fancy, you could use a flavored sugar that you made yourself (like vanilla bean sugar). You can add a dash of cinnamon to each mug for Mexican Hot Cocoa, or add 2-3 tablespoons cinnamon to the overall mix. You can stir it with a candycane, unless, like me, you like to add a shot of Peppermint Schnapps to your hot cocoa! Yeah, adult cocoa!

I read somewhere that you could add a packet of raspberry or cherry koolaid mix, to make black forest hot cocoa! Interesting, but I haven't tried it (might taste too much like cough syrup I'm afraid!)

Anyway, here's a photo (I'll post it later, I still have to reinstall my camera software >:)of my hot cocoa, two batches bottled up and ready for gift-giving. They just need labels and ribbons!

I also have packaged up several batches of Spice Granola, made from variations on this recipe. I LOVE this granola, and so does DH. (That says a lot, he's not a real granola fan.) I've made several different versions, each with a different dried fruit; one with minced figs, one with diced apricots, one with golden raisins. Next I'm gonna use chopped dates....

I bought fun jars from Ikea, washed them, and filled them with my gift recipes. Nice gift, when you can re-use the container!

And now, the wrapping fest begins. Aaaaaaah! I really need to get 2 more hours of sleep before work. Wrapping must wait until after 5 pm. Sigh.

Buenos noches, buen natale.