Hot Chocolate Mix

"Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made." - Otto von Bismarck

TGIF, everyone! I KNOW I'm not the only one that's happy for the weekend, am I right? Although my work week only consisted of four days, it felt like the longest work week ever. I think it has to do with the fact that things were kind of slow at work. Like, when I'm extremely busy at work, time flies by, and in the blink of an eye, the clock changes from 7:30am to 4:30pm. On the contrary, when I'm not as busy, and I'm reaching out for extra assignments and projects, time drags on and on, making a normal eight hour workday seem like a 28-hour workday. To top it off, on these super long workdays, all the forces of the universe seem to unite and make the commute home an extra long one. What usually takes about an hour can take up to two-and-a-half hours... =/

But, enough of the complaining, because right now, all I want to do is curl up on the couch with either (or both) of my pets, find something to watch on my Tivo, and drink some hot chocolate. I'm not a huge chocolate fan, but OMG, I can never turn down a cup of hot chocolate. It's one of my go-to comfort foods, with Swiss Miss hot chocolate mix being the number one brand I always keep in the house.

That was, however, until I learned how to make it on my own! I'm not sure why, but it never struck me as being an easy thing to make. But really, I confess, I had never really given it any thought. I would just mindlessly go to the grocery store, buy some Swiss Miss, get home, heat up a mug of milk, and mix in some hot chocolate mix. Thankfully, that has all changed thanks to this recipe, and now, I am always fully stocked with a canister of my homemade hot chocolate mix :) The good thing about this mix is that I'm able to drink it with either hot milk or cold milk, so I can enjoy it in all kinds of weather days! Apart from this, it's easy to mix, easy to store, sooo delicious and creamy, and probably easily adaptable to different kinds of chocolate, depending on your tastes (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, bittersweet chocolate).

Hot Chocolate Mix
adapted from: New Cook Book 14th Edition by Better Homes and Gardens

*makes: 32 servings*

Ingredients:
1 25.6 oz package instant nonfat dry milk powder
1 16 oz package nondairy rich and creamy coffee creamer powder
1 8 oz package 100% cacao natural unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups confectioners powdered sugar
small and fluffy marshmallows

Directions:
1) In an extra-large bowl, combine dry milk powder, nondairy creamer, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar. Store in a tightly covered container for up to 3 months.
2) For one serving, place 1/2 cup of the mix in a mug and add 1/2 cup boiling water or milk. Top with marshmallows.



Malted Hot Chocolate Mix

1 25.6 oz package instant nonfat dry milk powder
1 16 oz package nondairy rich and creamy coffee creamer powder
1 8 oz package 100% cacao natural unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups confectioners powdered sugar
1 13 oz package malted milk powder
small and fluffy marshmallows