Instant Hot Cocoa Mix & Mocha

I have a Christmas season favorite.  Though it is a favorite, I haven't made it in years.  My friend, Shanee, and I used to make it every year.  We'd package it up, inside decorative holiday cups complete with chocolate spoons! 

Hot Cocoa Mix
adapted from our original mix recipe
Shanee & Sherry

Ingredients -

4 c dry milk
1 1/2 c granulated sugar
1 c dry creamer
1 c cocoa
1 (small - 3.4oz) pkg instant chocolate or vanilla pudding mix

Directions -

Mix all ingredients well in a very large bowl. 

• To prepare a cup of hot cocoa - put 1/3 c mix in a mug, add boiling water (about 6-8 oz) to the top and stir. 
• To make it mocha - add 1/4 c + instant coffee to the mix. (I ran the coffee through our small food processor to make it fine like the rest of the ingredients)

Serves about 21
Calories per serving -
 116 if using chocolate pudding mix
 114 if using vanilla pudding mix
 118 if you make it mocha & are using the chocolate pudding mix

mix

mix

making chocolate spoons

a little baggie inside cup with 1/3 c mix

Vanilla Peppermint Cupcakes

Rachel and I took Christmas treats to her CF care team and these cupcakes are one of the treats.  I like to take them different or unique goodies and I thought these fit the bill.  I found this recipe here at Coco & Vanilla.  My cupcakes aren't nearly as pretty as theirs.  We used gold sprinkles; only because the commissary didn't have the regular red and white candy canes and I really didn't want to make another stop.  I hope you'll make these this Christmas season. 

Vanilla Peppermint Cupcakes
from Coco & Vanilla
makes 1 dozen

Ingredients -

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour; sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp coarse salt
1/2 c whole milk; room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter; room temperature
1 c sugar
1 large egg; room temperature
2 large egg whites; room temperature

Directions -

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.
3. In another medium bowl, using an electric mixer on med-high speed - cream butter unitl light and fluffy.
4. Gradually add sugar until well combined and fluffy.
5. Reduce mixer speed to medium and slowly add egg and egg whites until just blended.
6. With mixer on low, slowly add 1/2 the flour mixture; mix until just blended. 
7. Add the milk, vanilla, and peppermint.   Slowly, add remaining flour mixture.  Make sure everything is well blended. 
8. Pour into cupcake liners.
9. Bake 22-25 minutes. 

Yeild - 1 dozen
Serving size - 1 cupcake
Calories per serving - 202

Vanilla Peppermint Frosting
from Coco & Vanilla

Ingredients -

1 c (2 sticks) butter, firm but not cold
1/8 tsp salt
3 1/2 c confectioner's sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 tsp milk

Directions -

1. With electric mixer beat butter and salt on medium speed unitl light and fluffy; about 2 minutes.
2. Reduce speed to low and gradually add sugar.  Beat until well incorporated.
3. Add the extracts and milk, beat until smooth and creamy.  If consistency is too hard; add a T of milk at a time until desired consistency is achieved.
4. Pipe frosting.

Will frost 1 dozen cupcakes.
Calories per serving - 250
Calories per frosted cupcake - 452

Cheese Stuffed Manicotti in Marinara Sauce

This recipe is adapted from a Cheese-Stuffed Shells in Marinara Sauce recipe found in the CF cookbook "Kids Crave the Darndest Things".  I used manicotti noodle tubes because I've used the jumbo shells before and didn't like working with them.  I changed a couple other things that I thought would make it better...or better according to our tastes.  This dish is definitely a comfort food dish. 

Cheese Stuffed Manicotti in Marinara Sauce

Ingredients -

6 manicotti noodle tubes, prepared according to package directions
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c cottage cheese
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1 clove garlic, grated
1/4 t ground black pepper
15 oz prepared Marinara sauce

Directions -

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine 3/4 c mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, and pepper in a medium bowl.
3. Stuff each manicotti with cheese mixture.
4. Place in ungreased 12' x 7 1/2" (rectangular) baking dish. *I spoon a little sauce in the bottom of the dish to prevent sticking.
5. Pour sauce over noodles.
6. Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly.
7. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
8. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serves - 3 (2 cheese manicotti per serving)
Calories per serving - 478

I like to serve dishes like this with something green;  salad, green beans, broccoli, or asparagus.

Easy Chicken Surprise

Another recipe pulled from my CF cookbook "Kids Crave The Darndest Things".  Honestly, I didn't have high hopes for this but I happened to have all the ingredients and thought I'd give it a try.  It was good.  Hubby even liked it and he doesn't usually like stuff with any "cream of" soups in it. 

Easy Chicken Surprise
from  Amanda M. Ogden, Clearfield, PA
"Kids Crave the Darndest Things"

Ingredients -

4 chicken breast halves (skinned and deboned), about 4 oz. per breast
4 slices Swiss cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 soup can of milk
1 c crushed Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix
1/2 stick butter (1/4 c), melted

Directions -

1. Place the breasts in a shallow baking dish and top with cheese.
2. Dump soup in a medium bowl and thin with milk.  Pour over chicken.
3. In a separate small bowl, combine melted butter and stuffing.
4. Spoon stuffing/butter mixture on top.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

This recipe can be a surprise every time you make it! 
Variations: (the surprise part)

1. Place a slice of ham around each chicken breast. (Adds about 50 calories)
2. Spread 1 1/2 c cooked rice evenly in the bottom of baking dish.  Increase milk to a full soup can.  (Adds an additional 100 calories per serving)
3. Place broccoli spears under each breast. 

Serves - 4
Calories per serving - 440 (24g fat)

  I made this with extra Swiss cheese and instant rice on the bottom.  I really liked having this for supper the other night and have been dreaming up ways to make a different "surprise". 

Easy Chicken Surprise with Caesar salad

Just because Rachel really wanted to be in a picture.