Decadent Hot Chocolate

Decadent Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 1/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 C sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 4 C milk
• 3/4 t vanilla extract

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in blender until frothy and combined. Warm in microwave in individual cups until desired temperature (this is easier for us because the boys like it much cooler than I prefer mine). Alternatively, you can do this on the stovetop. Makes four 1-cup servings. 

Notes:
This is rich, especially if you use whole milk and top with whip cream! I love the simple packets of hot chocolate myself, but this is great for special occasions - like Christmas tree decorating tonight!

Picture from and recipe adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/creamy-hot-cocoa/detail.aspx

Halloween Root Beer

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 gallon water
• 1 oz root beer flavor extract (2 Tb)
• 2 pounds dry ice

Directions:

Mix the ingredients and bubble (by adding the dry ice last) for at least 20 minutes.

Notes:

Growing up my mom made homemade root bear every Halloween.  I always LOVED playing with the smoke from the dry ice and would stare at it the entire 20 minutes it took for the root bear to carbonate! My grandma used to make root bear too, but would actually brew the mixture (which would contain alcohol :P) It is best to dissolve the sugar first by warming the water- but be careful; if you are using a glass bowl then you don't want to use warm or hot water because the minute you put the dry ice in, the bowl might crack! You can add the dry ice without dissolving the sugar, just keep stirring the mixture throughout the 20 minutes.

Also, if you didn't know... the dry ice is what carbonates the root bear.  So the more dry ice the better carbonation taste it will have (along with more steam!)  Also if you have never used dry ice before, you can buy it at your local grocery store.  You just have to be over 19.  Also make sure to store it in a dark dry place at room temperature.  Ask the grocer to put it in two brown paper bags. Then put that in a cooler.  If you put it in your fridge or freezer it will melt.  Also DO NOT touch it, it will burn you!

- From family recipe