I love frozen hot chocolate.  Serendipity 3 in New York City has been known to be the best frozen hot chocolate ever.  It was one of Opra’s favorites to know that it must be really good to get to the favorites list.  It costs $8.95 and it comes with 2 straws for two people.  I can’t get to New York City, but the next best thing is to get the secret recipe that Todd Wilbur has for the Serendipity 3 Frozen hot chocolate.  So here it is:

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder

3 Tablespoons Ghiradelli cocoa powder

1 Tablespoon Hersheys Cocoa powder

1 cup milk

3 cups ice

On top:

Whipped cream

Shavings from a semi-sweet candy bar

1.  Combine the sugar, dry milk powder, cocoas and  pinch of salt in a small bowl.
2. Pour the milk into a blender.  Add the dry mix and ice
3. Blend until all the ice is crushed and the drink is smooth.  Pour into a large goblet or two 16 oz glasses.

Top the drink with whipped cream and shavings from a semi sweet chocolate bar.  (use a carrot peeler) then add a spoon and straw and serve.

Makes one 30-ounce serving or two 15-ounce drinks.

A dream day in Vermont would be to go ice skating and a sleigh ride.  Then have frozen hot chocolate by a fireplace.

Recipe:

Cozy Fireplace:

Some traditions that I like to do each year as little treats along the way at this time of year.  First is hot chocolate at Burdick’s Chocolate with a couple of their chocolate mice.

Burdick’s Chocolate is like a Cafe that you would find in Paris to me.  The best chocolate ever and it’s just over the border in New Hampshire.  They make a cute little snowman that is dark chocolate ganache,  topped with a roasted hazelnut, dipped in white chocolate and then finished with a dark chocolate top hat.  So cute.

Very expensive and I just usually buy one for a treat.

Then I like to try Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Latte.  Or make my own.

Then I like to have McDonalds Eggnog Shake that they have this time of year.  It’s fun to go Christmas shopping and go through the drive through and enjoy this scrumptious seasonal shake.

As I was out and about today, I saw lots of people with a Christmas tree loaded in the back of a pick up truck.  It reminded me of a cute Christmas tree cutter that King Arthur Flour has.  I own this cookie cutter and keep a photo of the way they have it decorated for inspiration.  I think it’s neat.

The Christmas lights are all over the place after Thanksgiving day.  I just think they are so pretty.

I guess the traditional dinner for Thanksgiving to me is turkey with the dressing, cranberry sauce, butternut squash, boiled onions, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Add a salad and pie.  That and more was what we had.  It was just a beautiful feast with good company and fun.

I really liked the fruit kebobs at Thanksgiving dinner.  They had kebobs all made with strawberries, pineapple and melons.  Then they had separate containers with all the fruits, including strawberries,marshmellows and pound cake cubes so you could create your own.   Then they had a chocolate fondue.  Sooo fun.  And so scrumptious.

On Black Friday I think a comfortable pair of workout shoes, a quilted vest and leggings would work nice.

I was thinking what would be just right to wear for Thanksgiving day.   This outfit would be warm enough to wear and yet not too warm and is in layers and very stylish.  I like it.

For long winter evenings coming up soon, there are some really cute ideas on Pinterest to make if you have a little time.  There are always baby showers and new babies in the family from time to time.

I have all boys for Grandchildren and a new little boy expected this month.  Actually it will be the day after Thanksgiving.  I like this little Teddy Bear hat.

I also like this little Hoodie.

So cute.

 

Sometimes when I feel like something fast and easy to make, I make a veggie stir fry.  The one I made tonight was so flavorful and almost as good as having Chinese take out.  I just took a bag of frozen Birds Eye Broccoli Stir Fry and stir fried it in a large fry pan with some olive oil.  Then I mixed a little low sodium soy sauce with a few drops of Sesame oil and poured that over the stir fry when it was almost done.  Then I just put some Uncle Ben’s Microwave Brown and Wild Rice in the microwave for 90 seconds.  Stirred in a little butter and Paula Deen’s House seasoning into the rice when the rice was done.  I  put the rice in a pasta bowl with the stir fry over it.  Sometimes I stir fry tofu or shrimp with it.

I like the napkins that I found at Ocean Lots.  They just make a nice touch to a late Fall supper.  And they cost less for the 2 packages that go together, then for one package of plain white napkins in the grocery store.  Also the soy sauce and sesame oil mixture tastes just like the dipping sauce that they have Chinese buffets.  It just gives the right flavor to the stir fry.  Just a cozy little supper with the fireplace going and string white lights on my floor to ceiling planter that is the corner by my table for ambiance.