cocoa loco

If you happen to be a guest in my home during the fall/winter months, one thing is guaranteed. You will be offered hot cocoa.

Beginning in mid-September through the cold-rainy days of Spring we keep a fresh pot of home-made cocoa on the stove every afternoon.

Before you decide that this is not for you, maybe you have visions of fat little kids with dirty faces??? Let me assure you. This is NOT that. Please refer back to chocoholics for the reassurance that the cocoa bean is not a bad bean. In fact there are really fabulous properties in cocoa ranging from vitamins to antioxidants and more. Sugar? Well, my wise friend, no worries. This is so delicious and beneficial that you may not even want the sugar. Indeed I would encourage you to fore-go it the first time you make this and acquire the taste without it. I don't think you will regret it.

A note to consider. I've made this recipe so often and we kind-of made it up so my measurements are rough. Please don't let that freak you out. It is pretty tough to mess this up. Also, I've found that if you stop by shops like Marshalls you will find those more expensive ingredients like vanilla beans for tons less.

Cocoa Loco

• 4 C. Milk
• 1/4 vanilla bean (split it using all beans) you can add a tea. of vanilla if you don't have this.
• dash of salt
• 1 dried chili pepper
• 2 1/2 to 3 ounces (80%) Cocoa baking chocolate, you can use unsweetened cocoa if you are out.

Simmer milk, vanilla bean, chili pepper and salt in saucepan on low heat. Stir occasionally, making sure that milk does not scald. (I like to simmer about 45 min.)

Remove chili pepper and vanilla bean. Scrap the remaining seed from vanilla into the milk. Add cocoa. Stir with whisk to incorporate all cocoa. Serve.

If you must, you can add a tablespoon of brown or white sugar to milk. A little goes a long way. I serve this is small cups with mini-marshmallows. Whip up some heavy cream to dot on top. This is a super satisfying way to feed your chocolate cravings. YUMMMMMY!

closets

One of the everyday struggles for women is balancing EVERYTHING. It doesn't matter whether we work inside or outside of the home, there is a lot to get done.

Our 'a good home' section is going to address 'home' issues of the balancing act. We all struggle with it at times. Starting on the inside, this week will address organizing those messy closets.
Timing couldn't be better with the cooler fall weather here.

Today's job: clear out the summer attire.

1. Begin with storage containers. A Rubbermaid-type box should do. Some have invested in the suctioned bags the deflate into nothing. Doesn't matter, we just need a container.
2. Make 3 piles. 1. A garbage bag for ripped, stained or otherwise worn-out clothing and shoes. 2. A bag (yes bag, many donation sites prefer them as they are re-used, less work than boxes, and cause less trash) for the give-away/donation clothing. Good stuff that just doesn't work in your closet any more. AND finally 3. the storage bin for next Spring/Summer.
3. Have at it!

If you are like me, you may find this types of jobs somewhat daunting at times. Here are a few tips to help the task move smoothly.

• Make sure you have a donation site in mind. Call a head to find out the hours that donations are accepted. Immediately after the closet is cleared, put bag in car.
• Have a location set aside in your home for storage of next years clothes. Basements, attics, etc... and clear out the path for easy access.
• Don't be afraid to get rid of what you won't use. A good rule of thumb is: if you didn't wear it this past Spring/Fall get rid of it.
• With the exception of tossed in the 'get rid of' pile, please make sure clothing is clean.

Here are a few local places for donating clothes:

• Cooperating Congregations Of Waukesha County http://www.ccwccares.org/
• Goodwill Industries
• Salvation Army
• St. Vincent de Paul Society

Happy closet cleaning!

Apple season

One of my family's favorite Autumn desserts is my homemade French Apple Pie. Last weekend we went to Retzner's Apple Festival and did our traditional stocking up of various apples, which are not available at the supermarket. Saturday evening... yummy! French Apple Pie, hot out of the oven served with frozen vanilla custard. mmmm m. So good, in fact, I though I should be a good neighbor and share the recipe with you.

French Apple Pie

• 6 C. apple (peeled, pared, sliced) I like to use at least 2 different types of apples
• 1/2 to 2/3 C. Sugar
• 2 t. cinnamon
• 2 T. flour

Mix the above together in a large bowl and place in your pastry lined pie pan.
top with the following in the form of crumbs:

• 1/2 C. butter
• 1/2 C. brown sugar
• 1 C. flour
• 1 or 2 t. cinnamon

Bake 15 min. in a 450 degree oven. Drop temp to 350 and bake 20-30 min. longer. If top or crust browns too quickly, cover with foil.

Serve warm with frozen vanilla custard for most favorable results. Enjoy!

simply rich

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Coffee, chocolate, men ...

some things are just better rich.

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Drink your milk

As women, it is especially important that we make sure we are getting enough calcium in our diets. For most of us that is hard to do. My doctor advised taking a supplement. That left me with a few questions worth addressing.

This is what I learned:

• We need calcium especially to help prevent osteoporosis. Calcium helps us to achieve maximum bone mass as well as helping to prevent the breakdown of that mass.
• According to womenshealth.org, Calcium: An Important Mineral For Women breaks down the amount of calcium we need at different hormonal times of our life.
• According to http://www.calciuminfo.com/, "Your body needs it every day not just to keep your bones and teeth strong over your lifetime, but to ensure proper functioning of muscles and nerves. It even helps your blood clot."
• It is important to utilize a supplement because we don't usually get the amount of calcium we need in our daily diets. Most of our usual 'food' resources are very fatty, which leads to other health problems. Some good, non-fatty sources of calcium include:

Broccoli, turnip greens, sardines, spinach, soy beverages, pink salmon, oatmeal, ocean perch, black strap molasses

To read more about bone health from the Surgeon General check out their report on the subject: Report

Appendix B. Food Sources Of Selected Nutrients , http://www.womenshealth.org/a/calcium_woman.htm, http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/bonehealth/

The F word

Check out more about the 'F' word being heard all over the media today at: The New Face of Feminism

chocoholics

I won't even try to hide the fact that I am a chocoholic. Here is how Merriam-Webster defines it:

"chocoholic
Main Entry: choc·o·hol·ic
Variant(s): also choc·a·hol·ic \ˌchä-kə-ˈhȯ-lik, ˌchȯ-, -ˈhä-\
Function: noun
Etymology:chocolate + -aholic
Date: 1968

: a person who craves or compulsively consumes chocolate"

http://www.merriam-webster.com/

I qualify! Certain times more than others... :)

Today I feel better about my compulsive cravings. Did you know that there is strong evidence that chocolate is actually good for us? Ahhhh my sweet chocolate, how can you be this good?

Lower blood pressure, reduces stress, high in antioxidents, a reduction in pain... yada yada yada.. I've heard enough to make my justification complete.

Check out these sites for more information:

• http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/3464/


• http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20030827/dark-chocolate-is-healthy-chocolate


• http://www.healthcastle.com/chocolate-cocoa-benefits.shtml


• http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/diet.fitness/02/02/chocolate.wmd/

Let's face it. Most of us look forward to the little indulgences which include chocolate. As long as we don't overdo it (which I have also been guilty of) a moment of rich, dark, smooth chocolate is enough to cheer up a cloudy moment. Enjoy!