Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix & Peppermint Stix

I found these cute jars in my closet and had to find something to use them for.  Christmas seemed like the perfect opportunity so I set out in search of the mystery item I would put in the jars.

After many nights on pinterest and sorting through my boards, I settled on homemade hot cocoa and peppermint stix for my neighbors / family friends. 

 

I got these adorable peppermint stix at CrackerBarrell last month (of course they were at the counter - where you can't resist but buy the junk just staring at you as you check out).

For those of you who don't know what CrackerBarrell is - you are missing out!!  It is a restaurant with home cooking, generally an older crowd and an amazing fun gift shop at the entrance to browse before and after you get your grub on!

I melted some white chocolate and dipped the end of the sticks.  While they were still wet, I added some sprinkles and let them set in the fridge on wax paper.

During my Christmas grocery shopping I found these adorable Mallow Bits by Kraft.  Since I knew I was making hot cocoa, I HAD to get these, because who doesn't like mini marshmallows?? 

See...it was a necessity!

To Make the Cocoa, I used a recipe I found at penniesonaplatter. 

It turned out so good and was amazingly creamy and rich.  Here is the recipe:

3 cups nonfat dry milk powder

2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix all ingredients into a large bowl. Pour half of the mixture into the bowl of a food processor and process until the chocolate is finely ground. Transfer to an airtight container, then repeat with the remaining mix. Store in the airtight container for up to 3 months.

To make the hot cocoa drink, mix 1/3 cup of the cocoa mix with 1 cup hot milk.

Here is the finished gift!! 

 I tied the peppermint sticks in a cellophane bag to the jar with preparation directions on a tag. 

Razzmopolitan

4 ½ C cold water
½ C vodka
1 tub Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange Flavor Drink Mix
2 cups light cranberry raspberry drink
¼ C fresh lime juice

Add water to drink mix in large plastic or glass pitcher; stir until mix is dissolved.
Stir in remaining ingredients.
Serve over ice in martini glasses with rims that have been dipped in water and sugar or, refrigerate until ready to serve.

**By Prissy Huntley**

Sangria (Red Wine)

½ C brandy
¼ C lemon juice
1/3 C frozen lemonade concentrate
1/3 C orange juice
1 bottle dry red wine
½ C triple sec
1 lemon, sliced into rounds
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 lime, sliced into rounds
¼ C white sugar

2 cups sprite or carbonated water

In a large pitcher or bowl, mix together the brandy, lemon juice, lemonade concentrate, orange juice, red wine, triple sec and sugar. Float slices of lemon, orange and lime. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor.

For fizzy sangria, add club soda or sprite before serving

Cosmopolitan:

Pack a martini shaker with ice (fill your martini glass with ice as well, to chill prior to pouring)

Add:
2 shots Absolute Citron Vodka
1/2 shot Gran Marnier
Dash of Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice (or regular lime juice if it's all you have)
Top off with Cranberry Juice (Cran-Raspberry Juice is good too)

Shake (if you wrap your shaker with a dish towel while shaking, you'll know you've shaken enough when the towel sticks/freezes to the shaker)

Before pouring, use a strip of lemon peel to rim the martini glass.

Pour the shaker contents into the martini glass.

Twist the lemon peel over the top of the drink and drop in.

(For a French Martini, use 2 shots regular Vodka (suggest Grey Goose) and 1/2 - 1 shot Chambord, top with Pineapple Juice.)
**Provided by: Prissy Huntley**

Drunken Gummies

1 ½ C vodka
1 tub of gummy bears with plastic lid (apx. 1 kg)
1 can frozen fruit juice from concentrate

Open lid of gummy bears and pour in the vodka. The amount can be altered to your liking as well as the flavor of the vodka. The alcohol should barely peak over the top of the gummies.

Stir the mixture, replace the lid and place in the refrigerator.

Let the mixture sit for FIVE DAYS, stirring a few times each day.

After 5 DAYS, pull the gummies out of the fridge and you will notice that most of the vodka has been soaked up by the bears and they are now larger in size. Mix thawed juice from concentrate with only ½ the required water. Pour 1 cup of juice into the tub of bears, stirring well. Replace the lid and place back in refrigerator.

Let the bears sit in their juice for 4 MORE DAYS, stirring twice a day, to allow the bears to become soft all the way through.

Remove on the 4th day and ENJOY!! Remember to keep them cold so they don’t become mushy.