Christmas isn't over yet! Not all countries celebrate Christmas on December 25th, according to timeanddate.com 147 countries celebrated Christmas on Friday, December 25th. That means that 49 countries do not celebrate Christmas on the 25th! The fact that approximately one quarter of the countries did not celebrate on the same day as that other three quarters is not at all astounding, after all, no one knows on what day Jesus was truly born (though some may have educated guesses). I take this knowledge that not everyone on earth is finished celebrating the incarnate birth of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ yet as a reassurance. It reminds me that no matter what some where someone is still or waiting to celebrate this blessed day, and that even after the one day passes I should still praise Him the remaining 364 days. In countries where Orthodox Christianity is the prevalent religion they celebrate come January 7th (for another reason this is a very special day to me). Two such countries are Serbia and the Ukraine. So, for two reasons I'm still posting back logs of Christmas recipes: 1) Christmas is never truly over (after all Jesus is still being born, in the hearts of individuals all across the globe). 2) Internet is so not time sensitive. I am aware that the recipes I find online are rarely just posted but still suit me just the same. So here's my family's non-alcoholic eggnog recipe! Non-Alcoholic EggnogMakes approx. 12 cups INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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Just recently I was checking the comments on this blog and there was this inspiring comment:  So, Sarah Grace, I have tried searching out homemade hot chocolate recipes many time too, usually with disappointment. But, I do have several hot chocolate "tricks" up my selves which I am more than willing to share with you and anyone else willing to read them. So keep reading as I am launched into the second part of the quest for the perfect hot chocolate "The Journey to the Best Homemade Hot Chocolate" and as I share my unique hot chocolate tips & tricks. RELATED POSTS: Hot chocolate trick #1 Hot chocolate recipe #1 Hot chocolate trick #2 Think this is a neat idea?
A mild December evening it is as I walk north to the end of Water Street reach the end of the road; this is where I meet the end of my hot chocolate travels. So I find myself in a parking lot in front of the Scugog Memorial Public Library. I enter and despite the wafting smells coming from my right of the newly opened Gingerbread Baker’s Village, I make a hard left, straight for the Community Living Café outlet on the opposite side of the main room. The attendant reaches for a carnation hot chocolate package right after I ask for my hot chocolate. “Do you want milk or cream?” she asks as she’s adding the hot water. I say yes to milk and she asks me “How many?” I think for a moment and reply two. So she gives me two milks and I pay my meager dollar twenty-five, stir my milks in and snap a lid on my to-go cup now I wonder over to a table to take the first sip. The Flavour The flavour… the overall flavour was weakened by the steamy heat, so I recommend letting it cool a minute before taking the first sip. If you like a frothy cup of carnation hot chocolate then you will love this. Note: While waiting for my hot chocolate I noticed that there are complimentary spices directly next to the lids and stir sticks, so you can spice up your beverage with a little pumpkin spice, cinnamon, or nutmeg.
Are you ready to come along for the ride as I share with you my findings, cup by cup!?! Just keep coming back to find out what happens next or subscribe via the comments page or the RSS feed. In any case I hope to continue to share my adventures with you! Jollily signed, Tamara Green
Previously on The Hot Chocolate Adventure Tamara Green explained why she has taken to the streets of Port Perry to find the number one hot chocolate! And made her stops at: Durham Homestyle Gourmet, The Pantry Shelf, Cafe Mocha, Millar's Market, Queen Bean's, the Piano Cafe, Hank's Pastries. Now direct from the hot chocolate scene Tamara narrates: after a long day of delivering newspapers in the cold rain, my sister and I hike up highway 7A on our way to meet our mother at the newspaper. It's dark but not too dark to see my last hot chocolate hope peek over the top of the hill "Country Corner Coffee" said the sign! Wait I hadn't included that shop in my original nine hot chocolate stops. Seeing as the cafe in the Port Perry public library, which had been my next planned stop, was wall closed by this time I thanked God that he had shown me this independent coffee shop just when I had resided to the fact that I was gone to continue my hot chocolate adventure today. Buying the hot chocolate... we entered the coffee shop which is one and the same with small fish and chips shop. Soon we make our selves to the counter in the centre of the dinning room. I ask for a hot chocolate and my serving promptly goes to prepare it. I just as prompt a manner she returns placing the medium size cup down on the counter and asks if whip cream is okay. I agree this time to the complimentary whip cream. Humorously enough when she tries to put standard lid on the whip cream proceeds to ooze out of the tiny pin hole on the top of the lid. She dabs the top of the cup with a napkin trying to sop up the over flow. I pay my two ten for the drink and she hands me the cup which is still overflowing so she also gives me a small stack of napkins to clean up any whip cream if it continued to overflow. Which it soon did, when I lifted the flap so I could take the first sip the beverage continued to try and escape the cup through the new opening. But this too, soon subsided and then stopped completely after I took the first brave sip. The first sip... my first thoughts? It was hot. I waited a few seconds and took a better sip, a cooler one. The best feature of this cup was that the balance of chocolate to sugar was prime. The cup was not bitter to any degree but yet the least sweet cup I've had thus far! For the other aspects of the drink I have to say that I was fairly disappointed as it was watery, had a light gleam of oil the surface (possible a result of the dissolved whip cream), and the cocoa powder settled a little at the bottom so I don't recommend drink the last sip as it will feel silty in your throat. Don't take my word for it though, if what I just described as my preferred hot chocolate is not yours, then judge for yourself with the handy-dandy score card below!
Are you ready to come along for the ride as I share with you my findings, cup by cup!?! Just keep coming back to find out what happens next or subscribe via the comments page or the RSS feed. In any case I hope to continue to share my adventures with you! Jollily signed, Tamara Green
Previously on The Hot Chocolate Adventure Tamara Green explained why she has taken to the streets of Port Perry to find the number one hot chocolate! And made her stops at: Durham Homestyle Gourmet, The Pantry Shelf, Cafe Mocha, Millar's Market, Queen Bean's, the Piano Cafe. Now direct from the hot chocolate scene Tamara narrates: The indecisive sky both looming and smiling above poetically reflects my thoughts on Hank's Pastries hot chocolate. Challenge with how to put my tastes to words this post has taken me somewhat longer to write, hence yesterday's "So what's with the Hot Chocolate Craze?" article. But rest assured I have had a long talk with my taste buds and we've managed to put their thoughts down on electronic paper (okay I am just kidding I did not really "talk with" my taste buds but it sounded funny to say so I said it). Hank's Pastries... that's a walk down memory lane. There are only two restaurants (which happen to both be bakeries as well) do I feel sentimental about, and Hanks Pastries and Butter Tarts N' More hold that special place. When I was young occasionally we'd have breakfast at Hank's (as we lovingly refer to it), this was not just any breakfast but it was their very special Teddy Bear Pancakes ebullient with chocolate chips! Back on topic... up the classic stair way I go climbing my tall staircase of hopes for the next hot chocolate, at Hank's Pastries on Queen Street. I glide in to the quaint bakery and restaurant. Rows of tempting day ol' buns, rolls, and tarts greet me "Hello." And to my left a packed display of fresh brownies, cake size fritters, and cookies wink as if to say "Come on in!" It's only a few step to the cash register sandwiched between the displays of fresh quality baked goods (alas not GF). "Can I get a hot chocolate, please?" I ask. "Yes. Would you like a medium or large?" I request a medium and she leaves only for a moment to fill up my artsy Styrofoam to-go cup. By the quality of the cup I would have guest it was heavy duty paper but no it was indeed Styrofoam. My hot chocolate is promptly rung into the sum of two dollars, and refreshing change from the recent three fifty plus hot chocolates (from Cafe Mocha, Millar's Market, and the Piano Cafe). Now I have my hot chocolate in hand tempting as it is to dive right in it's not until I get outside on the front stoop that I'll take my first hopeful sip. Side note: the ol' fashioned feel Hank's has begs that a tiny little bell should be dangled above the door. Now for the first taste... Unlike the first sip of Queen Bean's hot chocolate I wasn't left with an immediate impression. Perplexed of what to make of the hot chocolate I lift the uniquely design plastic lid to reveal a hot chocolate beautifully laced with a pale rosy foam (probably the result of steamed milk). Through the bubbles I spy a deep brown liquid. So what did it taste like? Why was I having such a hard time figuring out what it tasted like? I'll get to that in a minute. First, it was hot. My tongue didn't burn, the hit strangely skipped over my tongue, and hit the back of my throat. I wasn't burnt, scalded, or singed but to more sensitive individual may be burnt at such a heat. If you prefer not to risk burning your self take the lid off and set the hot chocolate down on a solid surface for one minute and then you should be good to go! I think it was this extreme heat that was preventing me from clearly tasting the full flavour of this beverage. A matter of taste... The taste... this cup is a rich cocoa without being bitter or overpoweringly sweet. Feeling... The texture is thin, not watery parse (although for the sake of the score card below I'd labeled it as such) because it's not weak in flavour but the around the edges of the cup you can see the drink is slightly clearish and it flows freely. The allusive after taste... The allusive after taste... there is a taste I've previously in hot chocolates (Durham Homestyle Gourmet and the Pantry Shelf) only when cream, whip cream or poor quality marshmallows have been stirred into it. It's not the texture of but the flavour of the fats/oils. Yet this hot chocolate it was clear to tell did not have any of the above added to it nor was the skin of the beverage oily. So what is causing this flavour? I still don't know perhaps the Styrofoam cup. I'll have go back and try it again in a mug. However my sister gives it a highly impressive 10 out of 10!!! My over all assessment... Too hot. Good level of cocoa to sugar. Too thin. Strange allusive after taste. Don't take my word for it though, if what I just described as my preferred hot chocolate is not yours, then judge for yourself with the handy-dandy score card below!
Are you ready to come along for the ride as I share with you my findings, cup by cup!?! Just keep coming back to find out what happens next or subscribe via the comments page or the RSS feed. In any case I hope to continue to share my adventures with you! Jollily signed, Tamara Green
Why hot chocolate? What's so great about hot chocolate, that's a kids drink right? Why not search out a more universally like beverage such as coffee? I have three reasons.
I'm not a hot chocolate fanatic but it's definitely a nice treat, what are your opinions on hot chocolate? Is there another beverage you prefer more? Tell me about it, just write your favs in the comments below or send me an email at [email protected]. Jollily signed, Tamara Green
Previously on The Hot Chocolate Adventure Tamara Green explained why she has taken to the streets of Port Perry to find the number one hot chocolate! And made her stops at: Durham Homestyle Gourmet, The Pantry Shelf, Cafe Mocha, Millar's Market, Queen Bean's. Now direct from the hot chocolate scene Tamara narrates: gentle rain drops are watering my cheeks as I walk down Queen Street. Soon I step in to my haven from the rain, (A.KA. my next hot chocolate stop on the trail, the elegant Piano Cafe). With lunch hour fastly approaching a other few hungry people are beginning to trickle in from the soft showers as well and settle down for a lunch, the Piano Cafe's main attraction. I unfortunately do not have time to take a seat, so I quickly make my way to the counter in the back of the dinning room, where an employee gleefully pokes her head up and greets me. "I'd like a hot chocolate, please." She asks, "White hot chocolate or regular?" "Regular." I reply, although white hot chocolate can be pretty good you can't compare it with traditional kind. So she starts preparing my hot chocolate as I glance around the room. "Do you want whip cream on it?" She asks. I politely decline, this time not so much because of cream withdrawal because it's a seventy-five cents additional charge. Note: you can get a vanilla or caramel flavour shot also for an additional charge of seventy-five cents. We talk a little while she steams the milk in my hot chocolate and out comes this very inspirational quote from my server, "Today's certainly warmer than yesterday... but it's still a good day for a hot chocolate." Now, I'm presented with my lovely frothy hot chocolate. I nervously sip through the "raise to-go cup lid", which so far has only led nearly scalding my taste buds, and am pleasantly relieved to discover that yes the hot chocolate's hot but no it's not burning me, nor do I feel at risk of being burned. This is the first perfect temperature hot chocolate I've had so far. The happy medium between piping hot and cool enough to enjoy the chocolaty flavour as it swims over your tongue. As for that flavour that was swimming over my tongue I have to say I was let down a little, after paying four dollars and what with the temperature being so well rounded, the chocolaty flavour was but an undertone to the silky milk and sweet sugar. Regardless, this isn't a bad cup still, but just not my fave. It's best described as a hot frothy chocolate milk, which is great, although, I'm on the hunt for a warming thick and frothy but not sugary or oily dark hot chocolate. Don't take my word for it though, if what I just described as my preferred hot chocolate is not yours, then judge for yourself with the handy-dandy score card below!
Are you ready to come along for the ride as I share with you my findings, cup by cup!?! Just keep coming back to find out what happens next or subscribe via the comments page or the RSS feed. In any case I hope to continue to share my adventures with you! Jollily signed, Tamara Green
Previously on The Hot Chocolate Adventure Tamara Green explained why she has taken to the streets of Port Perry to find the number one hot chocolate! And made her stops at: Durham Homestyle Gourmet, The Pantry Shelf, Cafe Mocha, Millar's Market. Now direct from the hot chocolate scene Tamara is quoted as having said: a brisk walk in the frigid air it was to my next stop, Queen Bean's, on Queen Street. So when I enter the curious shop, do I dart to the counter and order my hot chocolate in a blustery hurry to warm up? No. My mother and I explore the unique collection of finely crafted products they sell; everything from Eco friendly scrub brushes to mind boggling IQ tests to finely woven clothing. However, soon enough we work our way the cafe counter, situated in the centre of the store. Before I was I spied the hot chocolate, up on the chalk board menu, my eyes take a detour to the lovely selection of gluten free baked goods that are conscientiously served (I say this because several times while there the employee was doing her job of making sure that the items were 100% GF). Finally, I see the hot chocolate on the board listed with the option of small, medium, and large. I choose a medium for the medium mean price of two fifty before tax. Also available for a fifty cent charge are flavour shots. "Do you want whip cream on that?" Asked the bright server. Though it was complementary, I declined, still a little whip creamed out from my previous stops. Then I waited just a minute for the drink to be freshly prepared, in a big metal cup and then poured into a good sized mug. She handed me my frothy beverage and my mother and I found ourselves a seat by the window. Now for the first sip from my warm beverage! First impressions were the most definite this time, probably from the practice I've been a gaining at analyzing hot chocolate lately. So what were my impressions? It tastes real, I thought, like cocoa made with real sugar not sweeteners. It reminds me slightly of Millar's Market's hot chocolate in that it to a much more muted degree drags on the tongue. Similarly it tastes like chocolate ice-cream but also mixed with chocolate pudding. Like pudding this was the first thick hot chocolate I've had so far, not that it was as thick as pudding but you could see it somewhat beveled at the edge of the cup where the hot chocolate meet it. So what are my opinions on the Queen Bean's hot chocolate? This luxurious cup is definitely for those who love chocolate and sweets. But for those who like 90% chocolate or a piping hot cup keep journeying with me because this cup is likely too sweet or cold for you. Note this cup is not cold but not piping hot. Don't just take my word for it take a look at the score card below and draw your own conclusions about Queens Bean's hot chocolate. And hey, let me know what your verdict on Queen Bean's is, I'd really like to hear!
Are you ready to come along for the ride as I share with you my findings, cup by cup!?! Just keep coming back to find out what happens next or subscribe via the comments page or the RSS feed. In any case I hope to continue to share my adventures with you! This post was merrily brought you by, Tamara Green
Previously on The Hot Chocolate Adventure Tamara Green explained why she has taken to the streets of Port Perry to find the number one hot chocolate! And made her first stop at the Durham Homestyle Gourmet. Then she made her second hopeful stop at The Pantry Shelf. And her third stop at the Cafe Mocha. Now we find our heroine.. after a deep Sunday service message I finding myself in the service of my mother who is dropping me off at my next hot chocolate stop, Millar's Market, so I can deliver my message to you. Millar's Market is a land of imagination filled with the kinds of Christmas nicknacks that are turn into generational family treasures. That said the atmosphere/decore is the first thing one is impressed and the last thing as you leave. But today having had there tall cup of hot chocolate I am impressed enough to say that this is the best I've had yet on this hot chocolate trail. I go up to the cash and ask for my hot chocolate. "Do you want whip cream sprinkled with cocoa on top?" "No" a little warn of the cream products I've been drinking so much of lately and trying to limit my spending a little. I mean when the establishment is so big on presentation and the starting price of a hot chocolate is three dollars and fifty cents, surely whipped cream is an extra cost? So I pay for my hot chocolate which immediately jumps from three fifty to three ninety five with tax. I receive my change and ask "Just for my future knowledge, would whip cream be an extra charge?" And to my response a cheerful "No." was the response. So now I wait patiently for my promising hot cup. I here some "whirring" as they mix the cup up fresh and soon enough I'm handed my tall cup of hot chocolate. I call it a "tall cup" because as you can compare in the score card below this cup is blank ounces more than from any of my previous stops so far (Durham Homestyle Gourmet, The Pantry Shelf, and Cafe Mocha). Firstly, I take lift the lid to get a whiff and spy on what the drink I'm about to take part in looks like. A pretty tan cream foam laces the hot chocolate and hot cocoa smell drifts up to my nose. I take a seat and the first sip. Hmm... interesting texture, I thought. On the end of the sip the was a slight dry drag on my tongue (like starch but not powdery). I take another sip. Hmm... interesting flavour, I've tasted it before... what is it? I can't remember the flavour. Urg! It took me a good ten minutes before it dawned on me what that familiar flavour was. "I've got!" I turned my sister who was taking another bit of her chocolate truffle ice-cream "Tastes like the hot chocolate version of chocolate ice cream!" It wasn't just the flavour I was reminded off it was the same slight drag on your tongue too. I've bargain that Millar's Market use milk chocolate in there hot chocolate, yet more than the others, so far, it tasted like old fashioned hot cocoa well balanced between bitter cocoa and sweet hot chocolate. There's so much more I could mention about this hot chocolate but I'm sure you don't want to here me ramble... OK I'm actually not to sure, so if you do want to hear more about Millar's Market hot chocolate tell me so in the comments below! Now judge for your self if you'd like this hot chocolate using the score card below.
Are you ready to come along for the ride as I share with you my findings, cup by cup!?! Just keep coming back to find out what happens next or subscribe via the comments page or the RSS feed. In any case I hope to continue to share my adventures with you! This post was merrily brought you by, Tamara Green
Previously on The Hot Chocolate Adventure Tamara Green explained why she has taken to the streets of Port Perry to find the number one hot chocolate! And made her first stop at the Durham Homestyle Gourmet. Then she made her second hopeful stop at The Pantry Shelf. Now we find our hero talking in present tense... it is only a quarter after six and only the street lights kept my sister and I from waling in utter darkness. It was not just dark out but I am also in the dark about whether or not I'll make it to my next hot chocolate stop at the Cafe Mocha. All my other stops are open no later than five thirty, so I am doubtful that this locale would be any different. With this concern in mind I do a quick web search for their hours, with no avail. The Cafe Mocha is owned and operated by the same owners of Pickles & Olives Bistro, that adjoins the Cafe. I reasoned, more so hoped, that the Cafe would keep the same hours as the Bistro which remained open until nine o'clock. Back to the present tense: My sister and I stroll north down Water Street stopping under the Cafe Mocha's shingle. I sigh "still open." Into the classic cafe we go and straight to the cash. It's quiet a wait before we see any employees walk past. I ask the employee "Can I get a hot chocolate?" "I'm not in charge of that actually," she responds "I just a dishwasher but I'll get you someone who can help you." She walks in the adjoining Pickles and Olives and sends a waitress our way. I soon learn that all the action of these two businesses (Cafe Mocha and Pickles & Olives) takes place on the Pickles & Olives side of the restaurant as to make my hot chocolate she haste to go back to the Pickles & Olives side, despite it being an order from the Cafe Mocha. But after a minute I have my steaming hot chocolate in hand and all I have to do is pay the $1.75 ($1.98 with tax, $2.00 with penny rounding). I would have been $2.50 (before tax and rounding)) if I had opted into adding real whipped cream, but I didn't feel like paying the extra charge. Now we leave the store and I try my genuine Cafe Mocha hot chocolate, and in my opinion it was the best yet. However, the other two I've heard so far had added cream/whipped-cream and that may have been the variable making my Cafe Mocha hot chocolate taste more chocolaty than those from Durham Homestyle Gourmet and The Pantry Shelf. But take a look at the score card below and compare it with those in my previous hot chocolate trail articles to find the one you'd prefer most (tell me about it in the comments below I really would love to her what you find appealing in a hot chocolate)!
Are you ready to come along for the ride as I share with you my findings, cup by cup!?! Just keep coming back to find out what happens next or subscribe via the comments page or the RSS feed. In any case I hope to continue to share my adventures with you! This post was merrily brought you by, Tamara Green
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If you are that person with a million and one allergies and intolerance I am there to say you are not alone! Life After Gluten can be better than life with wheat. Living lactose-free since 2007 and gluten-free since 2013. Also intolerant and/or allergic to mushrooms, soy, and yeast.
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