Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Guilt Free Hot Chocolate

The weather is turning colder, all the leaves have started to fall off the trees, and it's time to pull out the sweaters.  I am a little cold natured and especially those first few weeks of nippy temperatures, I feel like I can never get warm no matter how many layers I throw on.  Coffee and herbal tea help and I carry a mug around wherever I am in the house.  So when I stumbled upon this recipe for hot chocolate, I was super excited.  Not only is it sugar free, it has about 10 calories!  I can drink a couple of cups without eating up my calories for the day and I get my chocolate fix!



This came from the label on the Kroger brand cocoa powder.

1 cup hot water (I nuke a mug for 1 minute)
1 heaping tsp of cocoa powder (ingredient list should say "cocoa")
2 tsp milk
dash of salt
dash of vanilla
stevia to taste.

Mix together and enjoy.

***make it festive with a few drops of peppermint extract!  OR add a dash of cinnamon, yum!

My kids love this too and it feels great to give them a treat that is healthy. 

Some of the health benefits of cocoa powder:
--contains antioxidants
--lowers blood pressure
--elevates mood

Linked to
Frugal Granola's Festive Beverages