20(ish)--- Homemade Peppermint Cocoa

Hot chocolate is a winter classic, especially for kids. And, it is not a bad choice nutritionally when compared to other treats (brownies, cookies, Fruit Loops). However, it should still be a SOMEDAY food, not an EVERYDAY food and we do not want it to take the place of other healthy beverages (water).

Have you ever looked at the ingredients on a package of cocoa mix? It looks something like this (not naming names):

INGREDIENTS:Sugar, corn syrup, vegetable oil (partially hydrogenated coconut or palm kernel and canola hydrogenated plam, soybean, cottonseed and/or safflower), dairy product solids, cocoa processed with alkali, salt, cellulose gum, sodium caseinate (from milk), dipotassium phosphate, sodium aluminosilicate, mono- and diglycerides, guar gum, artificial flavors, sucralose.

YIKES!

Making your own is SO inexpensive, and you know EXACTLY what's in it! This also makes a great gift!

Homemade Peppermint Cocoa

Makes ~22 - 8oz servings

2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa (Dutch is best)
2 1/2 cups powdered milk (non-fat dry milk)
1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cornstarch

* 1/8 tsp pure peppermint extract- per serving (optional)

Combine all ingredients (except for peppermint extract) and place into airtight containers.

To prepare cocoa, place 1 Tbsp per 2 oz boiling water into a mug and stir.

*Add 1/8 peppermint extract to each 8 oz mug for a minty addition!

Nutrition Info per 8 oz mug made with water: 95 calories, 0.6 g fat, 6 g protein, 17 g carbohydrates

20(ish)--- Fruitcake Muffins with Honey Apricot Glaze

I've never had a piece of fruitcake. I guess there are still people out there who LOVE it. It is a holiday "treat" of sorts.

I health-ified fruitcake as much as possible. No weird jelly cherries here! I also replaced some of the butter with applesauce and used whole wheat flour. The cottage cheese really makes these muffins light-- very un-fruitcake-like, but so good!

These are a great gift or a lovely addition to Christmas morning breakfast!

Fruitcake Muffins with Honey Apricot Glaze

Makes 12

1 cup whole wheat all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup apricot preserves

2 eggs

1 cup lowfat cottage cheese

2/3 cup dried apricots, diced coarsely

2/3 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup chopped apples

GLAZE

1/2 cup honey

2 Tbsp apricot preserves

3 Tbsp lemon juice or orange juice

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In a larger bowl, beat butter, applesauce and sugar, then add preserves and honey. Beat in eggs. Add 1/2 flour mixture and beat to mix. Next add cottage cheese and remainder of flour mixture and continue to beat. Stir in chopped fruit and apples.

Line a muffin tin with paper cups (prettier the better). Evenly divide mixture into muffin cups. Bake for ~25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and let stand while making glaze.

For glaze, bring honey and preserves to a boil in a small saucepan. Allow to cook for ~2 minutes. Stir in lemon or orange juice and remove from heat.

Lightly brush each muffin with glaze. Garnish muffins with fruit (optional) and re-glaze. Allow to cool completely before storing in airtight container.

Nutrition Info per 1 muffin: 210 calories, 5 g fat, 6 g protein, 34 g carbohydrates, 2.5 g fiber

20(ish)--- Christmas Cider and Applesauce: 2 for 1

The sales around Christmas are some of the best all year! This recipe is like one of those sales: 2 for the price of 1! Make the cider, and get the bonus applesauce (or vice versa).

Apple cider is a classic winter beverage, but the powdered mixes and jarred varieties contain lots of extra "stuff". Making it yourself is quite easy-- and it's a great gift idea.

Christmas Cider and Applesauce

Makes ~6 cups cider & 6 cups applesauce

7 large apples of your choice, peeled, cored, and quartered

1/2 cup sugar

3 cinnamon sticks

5 whole cloves

1 tsp maple syrup

Place apples in a large pot and cover with 9 cups of water. Add sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and syrup. Boil on high heat for one hour uncovered. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for additional two hours covered, stir occasionally.

Remove from heat and allow to cool. Remove cinnamon sticks (set aside to dry) and cloves. Use a potato masher to mash apples. Using a ladle, scoop mixture into a strainer over a large bowl. Gently press apples with a spoon to squeeze out any additional juice. Place mashed apples into a separate bowl. Continue process until all juice and apples are separated.

Place cider into glass bottles with a cinnamon stick! Do the same with the applesauce.

I like to gift the cider packaged with a small bottle of adult beverage to complement!