First of all, thank you all so much for all of your help on my sleep problems post yesterday. I knew I could count on you guys for some awesome suggestions. I’ll definitely be trying some of them out and I’ll keep you posted. You guys are the best. 🙂 But enough of me whining about my lack of shut-eye, let’s talk about this deliciousness:
It’s snowing. It is a swirly, twirly, snowglobe out there. It’s a perfect winter wonderland. I love it.
I know a lot of folks despise snow, but I personally adore that I live in a place that gives me four distinct seasons. Just like I get excited when I see the first daffodils blooming in the Spring, the first snow of the season makes me giddy as giddy can be. Sure, snow and ice can be really frustrating to drive in, but I grew up in the country with sharp curvy roads, steep hills and barely any snow plows. I’m a better snow driver than my Canadian husband! To me, snow isn’t an inconvenience, it’s just fun! Especially the first snow of the season. Granted, this isn’t actually the first snow of the season. The first snow happened after Thanksgiving, but I was out-of-town and by the time I got home, it was melted. The second snow happened the day after Christmas, while we were in Canada (where we had our own snow) and had, again, melted by the time we got back. So this winter-y blast is my first hometown snow of the season. And I’m psyched.
Those big fluffy flakes floating down from the sky (well, right at this second they are shooting down at a warp speed) make me want to curl up on my couch next to my fluffy Puppyface with a good book and a mug of something warm. Hot chocolate is always high up on my list of snow day treats (right behind snow ice cream) and this version is a fun twist on the classic cocoa.
I used to despise ginger with a passion. I couldn’t handle the spiciness or the earthy-sweet flavor of it. But as I’ve started experimenting with more flavors in the kitchen, I’ve begun to appreciate ginger as a really great pairing with some complementary flavors (like chocolate!). I’m not sure you’ll ever find me gnawing on a knob of crystallized ginger for fun, but I definitely see the appeal of the ginger flavor in dishes. This drink is one of those special cases. I love the spicy ginger pairing with the sweet, rich chocolate. It has such an interesting and addictive flavor. Plus, dark chocolate is always a welcome health food in our house. It’s good for my emotional health and the health of my body.
Gingered Hot Chocolate
I love the spicy ginger pairing with the sweet, rich chocolate. It has such an interesting and addictive flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces semisweet chocolate
- 2 cups unsweetened nut or cow's milk
- 2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 3 tablespoons honey
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients over low heat. Whisk constantly until chocolate is melted and hot chocolate is heated through.
- Pour into four mugs and serve with favorite hot chocolate toppings.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 625Total Fat: 46gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 32gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 257mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 7gSugar: 31gProtein: 17g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
