Guilt-Free Hot Cocoa

It's not unusual, at this time of year, to find me on my predictable "new year's resolution diet." Let's just hope I manage to make it stick this time! In an effort to quell my chocolate cravings without breaking the calorie bank, I started fiddling around in my kitchen to create a diet version of my favorite hot cocoa recipe, and I think I've done it! It's not as creamy or as rich as your standard hot cocoa, but the chocolate hits that part of my brain that cries out for it, and I feel satisfied without chomping into a bar of candy.
I also got lucky and found a grocery store that allows you to stack coupons from different manufacturers. I had four $1.00 off coupons for Truvia, all from different vendors, so I was able to get one of those big jugs of the loose stuff for only a couple of bucks. Whoopee!
Try this out if you're on a diet. I think you'll like it! Here's how to make it...

1/8 cup (3 tablespoons) water
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (Fair Trade preferred)
1 tablespoons non-caloric sweetener (I used Truvia)
1 cup light soy or nut milk (I used plain Silk Light)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• In a small sauce pan, whisk together the water, cocoa and sweetener until no lumps remain.
• Add soy milk and vanilla, and whisk again until well-blended.
• Heat on medium-high until just about to boil.
• Pour into your favorite mug and settle in for a guiltless chocolate treat.
• Makes one serving.
• Enjoy!

NUTRITION FACTS:
Calories: 106.8 / Total Fat: 3.5g (Saturated Fat: 0.9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.0g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1.0g) / Cholesterol: 0.0mg / Sodium: 122.6mg / Potassium: 470.8mg / Total Carbohydrate: 17.4g (Dietary Fiber: 4.6g, Sugar: 6.7g) / Protein: 8.1g

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Monstrously Delicious Hot Cocoa

Hot cocoa is one of my favorite things in the world! Snuggling into the sofa with a hot cup of cocoa is one of life's perfect little moments for me. The cheap store-bought packet stuff is all total junk, with ingredients you wouldn't feed a gynecologist you don't like, so why on earth would you feed it to yourself?! Whenever you want hot cocoa, just stick to the basics: cocoa, sugar, milk and vanilla, and you can't go wrong.

Here's how I do it...

2 tablespoons powdered unsweetened cocoa

4 tablespoons sugar, agave nectar or preferred sweetener (I use stevia)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 to 1 full cup non-dairy milk, to taste

1/8 cup water

• Place cocoa, sweetener, vanilla and water into a small saucepan and stir together to make a paste, until all ingredients are well-blended and no lumps remain.
• Add milk and stir while heating, until mixture just starts to boil/bubble around the edges.
• Pour into a mug and top with vegan marshmallows (if, unlike me, you can afford them).
• If you want it to be foamy on top, like you see in the photo, use an immersion hand-blender to do the stirring after you add the milk. It works great!
• Makes one serving.
• Enjoy!

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