Homemade Hot Cocoa

Anyone who lives in the Maritimes will be cursing me...I'm about a day too late with this recipe! I'm sorry!! But luckily its only the FIRST snow of winter, and there will be lots more where that came from. I found this recipe written on a post-it in my recipe binder, and quickly pulled it out when Tyler and Charlee were outside playing and I realized....we ran out of Hot Chocolate!Crisis Averted.

Nothing says I Love You like a mug of Hot Chocolate after an afternoon in the Snow.

Homemade Hot Chocolate (single serving)

1 tbsp cocoa powder

2 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp water

1 c Milk

bit of vanilla

Heat cocoa, sugar and water in a pot for 2 minutes on low heat. Until the sugar and cocoa are dissolved.

Chocolately Goodness

Add Milk (I had some cream in the fridge so I added about 1/4 c of that to add some richness) heat to desired temperature. Add vanilla and Marshmallows just before serving.

Holiday Cookie Recipes!

When I was young I never understood why Mom would bake for 3 days...only to put everything in the freezer! The past couple years since we've moved back to Halifax and had "our own" Christmas' I'm finally starting to understand. Every year I think I add another recipe, this year I'm on the hunt for a good gumdrop cake...myyyy faaavvv! But for now I will share these 2 recipes that are made every year in our house....For the freezer!

Charlee's First Gingerbread House

Delicious Dry Rub

So a few weeks ago we decided to have some friends over for supper and I was going to try something I had never done before, but ALWAYS wanted to do....turn my BBQ into a smoker!!! So anyway, this is a 2 day process, soaking wood chips, making dry rub, marinating for 24 hours and cooking/smoking for 6 hours. And thats the kind of stuff I love! I was making pulled pork sandwiches for supper so we used a Pork Shoulder,and applewood chips for the "smoke". My absolute favorite Chef on the Food Network is Michael Smith, and it was here that I got the inspiration and tips for smoking a pork shoulder.

 I realize smoking pork shoulder for 6 hours isn't really a great entertaining recipe so I'll just link you up in case your interested. BUT one thing that everyone can use is a really great Spice Blend. This one is simple, cheap and works on pork chops, chicken, in steak marinade, I used it on ribs this past weekend and on roast potatoes! Multi Purpose!

Mini Potato Galettes

This is another recipe from the Our Compliments:Inspired  Magazine, Christmas Edition. I love free magazines especially when they have fantastic recipes to try. Around Christmas seems to be the time that people do the most entertaining, if you are one of those people..take a trip to Sobeys and grab one of these magazines. You probably see them all the time and never bother to pick it up, I suggest you do JUST ONCE...and you'll be hooked.

So the other night for supper I decided I would try this recipe, Cheese and Potatoes...can't go wrong in my house. There was a little more prep than just making mashed potatoes but it was worth it, they were delicious and would definitely impress at a family dinner or potluck.

Cabbage Rolls

Just like the mama used to make! This was my first time trying this recipe, one that mom used to make when we were younger, one of my Grampy's Favorites! When I was a cook in Alberta one of the Chef's I worked under was part Ukrainian and the cabbage rolls he made were unreal! But like any recipe, nothing could measure up to Mom's, and its probably just because shes mom and anything she makes is amazing!