Most Wonderful Time of the Year

CREAMY HOT COCOA

Ingredients:
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
1/3 cup boiling water 3 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Directions:
1. Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot (scalding), but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

Top with marshmellows or the following delicious whipped cream:

PEPPERMINT WHIP CREAM

Whip 1 pint whipping cream with 1 cup of sugar.

Mix in 1 box of crushed candy canes,

1/2 bag mini marshmellows and

1 drop of red food coloring.

soooo good!

Delicious Summertime Fruit Slush

1 can (46 oz) pineapple juice
8 cups water
1 can (12 oz) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 can (12 oz) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
4 cups sugar
2 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries
2 envelopes unsweetened cherry soft drink mix or other red flavor of your choice
Grapefruit or other citrus soda

In a 6-qt container, combine the first seven ingredients. Cover and freeze for 12 hours, stirring every 2 hours. May be frozen for up to 3 months. Yield: about 5 quarts.
For each serving: Place 1/2 cup fruit slush in a glass. Add 1/2 cup soda.

L = Limeade

Strawberry Limeade

1 cup lime juice

4 cups cold water

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 cups sliced strawberries (can be frozen)

as many ice cubes as you want - the more the slushier!

Mix lime juice, water, sugar and berries in blender, mix until smooth.  While blending add ice, a cube at a time, until it reaches the thickness you want.