Creamy Crockpot Hot Chocolate

 Don't you just LOVE Pinterest?  I adore it!  And if you're not on there...you must go check it out.  I saw this hot cocoa on there and knew I had to try it as it was touted as the "Best Ever".  I love a good hot chocolate. I used to mix up the instant cocoa and have it for dinner with toast when I was a poor college student (although that can't be considered a good hot chocolate).   And then in between my junior and senior year in college, I stayed in Vienna for a few weeks and loved the little cafes there and drank oodles of cocoa.  Although it did require a sugar cube or two to sweeten it up for this American.

Well, no sugar cubes required for this recipes.   It really does have the perfect balance of sweetness. Check out the line-up for this creamy, silky cocoa:  heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk,  real chocolate, milk, and vanilla.  How could that not be perfect?  And it really was no lie...it REALLY is the "best ever".  I often feel like I need to add or subtract something from hot chocolate because it never seems 100% right.  But I have found THE recipe. The ratio of milk to cream to chocolate is absolutely perfect!   You must try this!

Creamy Hot Cocoa in Crockpot from Mrs. Happy Homemaker

1.5 cups heavy cream

1 can of sweetened condensed milk (14 oz) 

2 cups milk chocolate chips

6 cups milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Stir all the ingredients together in your crockpot.  Cover and cook on low for 2 hours--coming back to whisk it every so often.  Garnish with whipped cream or marshmallows

Healthy, Delicious Smoothie

I am a big fan of smoothies! When we were first married my husband would make me a smoothie at least a couple of times a week. However, this smoothie is significantly healthier than the ones we used to make. This has such great flavor and is full of fruit--what could be bad about that? I now prefer making this over buying a smoothie from Jamba Juice. It also has the perfect amount of sweetness for me. And if you're doing (or have ever done) Weight Watchers, each serving is only two points (it makes two huge glass-full servings). You could totally adapt this smoothie to include various fruits and shake it up however you like. I love having this as a snack or even with breakfast. My kiddos love it too.

Mixed Berry Smoothie

1/2 C skim milk
1/2 C water
8 Splenda packets
1/8 C orange juice concentrate
1 1/2-2 C Kirkland brand blueberry, marionberry, raspberry frozen berry mix
2-3 tsp vanilla
1/2 C ice

Put all ingredients except ice into a blender. Blend. Add ice if you want it to be thicker.

Tips: Kirkland brand is purchased at Costco. You could substitute any mix of frozen berries--I haven't tried strawberries but it would probably be great. I love the blueberries in the mixture! If you want it a little bit sweeter--add more vanilla or Splenda packets. This is a really thick smoothie, so you could add more milk and no ice if you want it less thick.

Serves 2; Weight Watcher Points Plus: 2

A Christmas tradition

Bret is already asking for the traditional Christmas slush. This is one that always reminds me of home! My mom makes this every year and it's really good. And by process of association, everytime I eat this I crave Lays potatos chips and french onion dip--yay, I can't wait for Christmas! Bring on the weight...

Banana Pineapple Slush from Barbs
2 ½ C orange juice
½ C lemon juice
5 bananas mashed thoroughly
4 C pineapple juice
4 C sugar
6 C water

Combine sugar, water, and heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, cool and combine with remaining ingredients. Freeze. Serve slush in 7-UP or Sprite.