~ Peppermint Hot Chocolate ~

 

On the vigil of St. Nicholas' feast day...

 

 

 

 

The girls didn't need to be reminded to put their slippers out by the fireplace.

Conductor...needed reminding. :o)

The slippers were placed by the fireplace...in anticipation of *three golden coins*.

On Dec. 6th - the actual feast day:
After morning Mass, we hurried home to continue our St. Nicholas tradition...

Ta-da...

~ Peppermint Hot Chocolate ~

Here is our version:
(I don't usually measure...so these are approximation measurements)
(Also, either Hot Chocolate or Hot Cocoa...you can use chocolate bars or cocoa powder - whatever you have on hand).

1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 bar (2 oz) Ghirardelli 100% unsweetened cocoa (or Lindt 70% cocoa - Intense Dark), MELTED
          (you can substitute with 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder - I use Hershey's Special Dark
          100% cocoa)
dash of salt
1/3 cup hot water
5 cups milk
3/4 tsp. vanilla
sprinkle of cinnamon
1 peppermint candy cane, crushed
mini marshmallows (optional)

1.  Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in a large saucepan; stir in Hot water.
2.  Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils; boil and stir 2 minutes.
3.  Stir in milk and peppermint and heat.  DO NOT BOIL.
4.  Remove from heat; add vanilla and sprinkle with cinnamon.
5.  I use this fun tool to whip it up a bit, creating a light foamy layer on top.
6.  Drop in a few marshmallows (kids love them...me, not so much)

Mexican Hot Chocolate Mixer

Little Lamb added a little something extra this time...adding to the chocolaty richness (I opted out on this version).

My kids each received a bar of this Polish chocolate from our pastor, the morning of, to commemorate St. Nicholas!  (St. Nicholas was not Polish, but our pastor is).  :o)  This is good stuff!

We shared our peppermint Hot Chocolate with some freshly baked bread and fresh oranges from my father's orange tree...

Yum.  (mouth-watering yum)

Simple gifts...*bag of coins* and a crozier candy cane (for the hot chocolate).  Simple.
This year, I used dark peppermint chocolates for the coins.  Just three coins in each bag.  Perfect.

We printed out some coloring sheets from the St. Nicholas Center

Little Lamb's work:

Butterfly's work:
(I like how she added the patches on the children's clothes)

And wise-guy's Conductor's work:
(he was teasing me). :o)

And, Speaking of HOT CHOCOLATE...
Through several trails of wonderful and helpful blogs...I stumbled upon this Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies Recipe.  I am going to try baking them TODAY and (hopefully) share them on this Sweet blog.

I have to say...I am so thankful for all the beautiful and helpful blogs out there...so many wonderful ideas and lovely ladies that are willing to share.  St. Nicholas would be pleased.  :o)

 

St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra

He's every body's patron saint.  :o)

 

 

Linked up to Sweet Boutiques:

Super Sweet Saturday

~ Nicholas...is that you? ~

Tomorrow is the feast of St. Nicholas....Little Lamb is excited!




why me?

Little Lamb spotted this doggie sweater while we were shopping at the grocery store (of all places). 
I usually don't give in so easily to the pleads...but in anticipation of St. Nicholas' feast day...I caved.

After the initial embarrassment adjustment, Popcorn quickly became her usual spry and mischievous self.  She's a good sport!



spreading love & happines to little children...
even through  the smallest of acts

HAPPY VIGIL OF ST. NICHOLAS!!

PATRON OF CHILDREN....

 

 



Tomorrow we enjoy Peppermint Hot Chocolates...can't wait!
Go here for a St. Nicholas Center & great ideas to help commemorate the day.