What’s Cooking Blog

Jump to Comments

With the winter holidays approaching, parents usually begin to think about the plethora of holiday gifts they need to buy for their friends and family. This year, instead of spending hours of your time at a crowded mall and fighting for a parking space, why not spend some quality time with your kids in the kitchen at home.Ever since I had children of my own, I have found gift giving to be easier than ever. Simply give the kids some clay or paint and paper, and voila! A gift is born. While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, most of these “wonderful” child creations are appreciated and received with joy. It IS the thought that counts, after all. Bring that same concept into the kitchen with your children this holiday season - but expect fantastic results that will truly be a culinary delight!

Since nearly everyone loves chocolate, why not create a layered hot cocoa mix, complete with a personal tag from your child. Give this recipe a try and dazzle your friends and family.

Peppermint Stick Hot Cocoa

Layer the ingredients for homemade cocoa in a jar, add a ribbon and a tag, and you have a simple but stylish gift. This mix will fill a 1-quart jar (12 servings), but if your containers are different sizes, just keep the ratio of ingredients constant. On the back of the tag, write: “Mix contents in a large bowl. For each serving, place 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Store remaining mix in airtight container.”

1 cup powdered milk
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

Layer powdered milk, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, chocolate chips, and peppermint candy.

CALORIES 172 (17% from fat); FAT 3.2g (sat 1.9g); PROTEIN 3.7g; CHOLESTEROL 1mg; SODIUM 136mg; FIBER 2.6g; CARBOHYDRATE 37g

Michelle Stern is the owner of What’s Cooking, a Certified Green business that offers healthy and seasonal cooking classes and birthday parties to children of all ages in the San Francisco Bay Area. In her online shop you’ll find unique sustainable gifts and party favors as well as What’s Cooking Weekly, an online menu service offering recipes, grocery lists and tips on making cooking with your kids fun and simple.