Can You Guess What Day It Is?

If you guessed National Hot Chocolate Day, you would be spot on. Makes sense in the dead of winter to celebrate a day with a warm, liquid dessert served in a mug.

A few years back, Hubby and I came across this Pot and Mugs at one of the countless street fairs and flea markets we attend. It was right about the time we as an extended family had decided to do away with individual holiday gifts for the adults, opting instead for the White Elephant gift exchange. I thought the pot and mugs would be a nice White Elephant gift, so we bought it. When Kiddo saw it, he got all excited that we could make Hot Coco for family game nights. So we kept it for ourselves.

This past holiday with the way Christ-Mas and New Year fell, my guys had two 5-day weekends. I wanted to think of it as a test for when Hubby retires in two years. Yeah, we failed big time. While I still managed to cook, little else got done. No vacuuming. No weekly deep-clean. And very little writing. Not good for me. But we did have fun as a family. We played games and just hung out. Kiddo and I got to spend a some quality time in the kitchen, and that was also nice.

Knowing that National Hot Chocolate Day was on the horizon, we brewed up a pot of Coco and set up an adult version of a Hot Chocolate Bar. Yeah, it’s times like this that beautiful memories are made.

One last thing before we get to brewing – Happy Heavenly Birthday Boo! Momma loves you and misses you every day.

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Hot Chocolate Bar for the Big Kids
4 cups Whole or Chocolate Milk
1 cup Hot Coco Powder Mix, more as desired
1/2 cup Chocolate Syrup or more as desired
Crushed Peppermint Candies or Candy Canes
Mini-Marshmallows as desired
Chocolate M&Ms as desired
Chocolate Spoons
Peppermint Schnapps
Mexican Mudslide
Other Liquors as desired
Whipped Cream in a can

In a sauce pan over medium heat warm milk just until it begins to bubble around the edges. Add Hot Coco Powder and Chocolate Syrup. Whisk until powder dissolves and the syrup is incorporated into the warming milk. Continue to warm to desired temperature.

Crush Peppermint Candies, place in a small bowl for serving. Arrange Marshmallows and Chocolate Candies into bowls along with any other desired toppings. Open the bar, adding various liquors that pair well with hot chocolate, arrange bottles with shot glasses within easy reach.

Once the Cocoa is piping hot, pour into a pot for serving. Fill the mugs with hot chocolate, and invite everyone to be creative.

Sit back, relax, sip and enjoy.

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Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.