Spiced Hot Chocolate Mix

Rachael White March 4, 2018

Making Mexican Hot Chocolate mix is SO easy! Plus, you can control how much sugar you use, unlike store-bought varieties.

Hand Made Baking: Nancy Drew Blondies

Rachael White February 9, 2015

We are three weeks into this whole we-have-two-kids life. It has both flown by and moved in slow motion. (Trust me, that is totally possible.) While we certainly experience difficult moments each and every day, this has proven to be easier on us than the first time around. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we were prepared for all the sleep deprivation, the constant nursing, and the general upheaval of life as we knew it. Whatever the reason, I'm relieved that this little bundle has slid relatively easily into our lives. Riley is being an amazing big brother. He brings little gifts to Braden throughout the day, including his favorite blankie, and doesn't get upset (yet) when his baby brother is crying and inconsolable.

Another bonus has been that my healing post-Cesarian section has been rather speedy. Could it be that these Nancy Drew Blondies, which I baked and handed out to the nurses at the hospital, had a hand in all of this? I'm going to say yes. At the very least, this little treat brought a smile to the team of nurses that took care of us during our hospital stay. I wanted to make them feel comforted and appreciated because I knew they would make me feel the same way. This recipe from my friend Kamran's book, Hand Made Baking, did not let me down!

Kamran was one of the first food bloggers I really connected with when I started this crazy gig several years ago. I've always admired his grace, both in his craft and his character. He is a wildly talented person with so many good things, recipes and otherwise, to share with the world. When I received his book in the mail and read the dedication he wrote to me (yes, I'm going to humble-brag about that) I immediately teared up. Seeing someone you care about and respect have success like his is such a wonderful thing. One look inside the pages of his book and you can see the immense care and passion he has poured into every photo and recipe.

Kamran, you've just begun what I'm sure will be an incredible career. I'm humbled and honored to be even a small part of your journey. Thank you.

If you are looking for a Valentine's Day gift for your partner, a friend, or yourself, I think Hand Made Baking is perfection. I've made several recipes, all of which have been flawless, and have no doubt that if you baked any of the wonderful items from this book for your Valentine, you'd win.

If you'd like to purchase the book, click here. You won't regret it!

Nancy Drew Blondies from Hand Made Baking by Kamran Siddiqi

Makes 16-36 blondies

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar (or muscovado sugar)
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, cold
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour or all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (or dark, which is what I used)
1/3 cup walnuts, lightly toasted and chopped (or pecans, which is what I used)

Place a rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat to 350 degrees. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper (or aluminum foil), leaving an overhang around each side.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove the pan from the heat and use a wooden spoon to mix in the brown sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Quickly stir in the egg. Add the flour, white chocolate chips, milk (or dark) chocolate chips, and walnuts (or pecans). Stir everything until just incorporated. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread in an even layer.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and set in the middle.

Allow to cool completely in the pan before lifting the ends of the parchment paper to transfer the blondies to a cutting board. Cut into 16, 25, or 36 squares, depending on which size you prefer. I went for close to 25.

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Cocoa

Rachael White December 10, 2014

We finally have all of our Christmas lights and other decorations up. And, true to form, Colorado has given us crazy warm weather, leaving me feeling like we've put all of these decorations up in May instead of December. It's very confusing. Still, I'm pushing through by listening to constant Christmas music, watching Christmas movies, and burning pine scented candles. And lets not forget the hot chocolate. There are other warm holiday beverages that are equally as festive, but nothing so classically comforting as a mug of hot chocolate. There has been lots of hot chocolate happening around here lately. I decided to mix things up a little bit by adding a bit of Chinese 5 Spice powder to my hot cocoa mix and boy am I glad I took that leap. The star anise, cinnamon, and cloves are natural flavor enhancers for hot chocolate. Then, there's the Szechuan pepper and fennel that give it that little bit of uniqueness that makes traditional recipes more special. Who knew Chinese 5 Spice Hot Cocoa could spur such excitement?

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Chocolate | Set the Table

I would tell you to make your own hot chocolate mix, but let's be honest: sometimes it's nice to have a recipe that dresses up something you can purchase, ready made, in the store. That may seem like cheating to some people, but I am becoming a believer in good quality store bought items to make life a little easier. With that said, if you do have the energy to make your own hot chocolate mix (unlike my 8 months pregnant self) have at it! In fact, this recipe is my favorite. Otherwise, trust me that this will be just as delicious with a good quality mix.

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Chocolate Mix | Set the Table

No matter where in the world you are celebrating Christmas, this hot chocolate will make you feel cozy and warm from the inside out. And the twist the Chinese 5 Spice Powder brings will no doubt inspire other new holiday traditions to bring the world to you and your family. Minus the expensive plane tickets.

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Cocoa

Makes 2 servings

1/3 cup hot cocoa mix (about 2 envelopes store bought)
1 teaspoon Chinese 5 Spice Powder
2 cups milk
marshmallows or whipped cream for topping

Begin by whisking the hot cocoa mix and Chinese 5 Spice Powder together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat the milk over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until steam begins to slowly rise from the surface a couple small bubbles rise to the surface.

Whisk the hot cocoa mix into the milk. Pour into two mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream.

5 Recipes to Make for a Road Trip

Rachael White April 8, 2014

We just returned from a week in Iowa/Minnesota. We drove. Did you know that there is a lot of Nebraska out there? And it all mostly looks the same? I'm sure it's a lovely state in some respects but when you're driving from Denver to Minneapolis it can be hard to see anything but the backs of your eyelids. Am I wrong?

It was all worth it to get to Minnesota though...

I'm not going to paint a rosy-colored picture for you when it comes to road-tripping with a 2 year old. It isn't easy and it certainly isn't always pretty. This time was worlds easier than the first road trip when Riley was only a year and a half old. This time we were able to play games like "I Spy", he was able to color without immediately dropping all the crayons and his coloring book on the floor, and a simple handful of cheese crackers kept him happy for at least 10 minutes at a time. Huge improvements. Seriously.

And yes. We let him watch some educational shows on our iPad. With a child who refuses to sleep in the car this is sometimes the only way I can keep myself sane.

The first family vacation we took as a threesome was when we visited Kyoto, Japan. Riley was almost 4 months old and I remember looking at his peaceful little face as he snoozed away on the Shinkansen. We strapped him into his carrier and explored some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Riley fell asleep in the peaceful bamboo forest, played on the tatami mats at restaurants while we slurped noodles and dipped tempura, and flirted with anyone and everyone who would pay attention to him.

It was a wonderful, joyful trip as you can probably tell from the above photo. Plus, in Japan, we were never far away from a place that served incredible food. Handmade inarizushi, comforting Japanese curry, and big bowls of ramen were always around to fill our stomachs and keep us going. Unfortunately, the same is not true when driving through the Midwest in the United States. Rather than giving in to the many fast-food chains at each and every exit along the interstate, I wanted to give you some other options that will make you feel better about what you're putting in your body.

1. Quinoa Salad with Peas, Bacon & Golden Raisins

Sweet, salty, and healthy. This is an ideal alternative to heavy pasta salads that travels well. Pack the salad in mason jars for easy, spill proof storage and keep in a cooler.

2. Irish Soda Bread with Dried Fruit & Nuts

There is no denying bread's status as a great comfort food. Slice the bread and put it in an airtight container before you start your drive. Add a little almond butter and you've got a protein-filled snack to get you through those long hours of driving.

3. Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons

These chocolate-dipped macaroons are the perfect 2-bite treats for long car trips. They are reasonably healthy and last for 2-3 days in an airtight container. No need to stick in the cooler UNLESS you are driving during a really warm time of year. In that case, stick 'em in the cooler so they don't melt everywhere. Got it? Good.

4. Smoked Salmon Dip in Endive Cups

Say hello to the perfect light lunch! Flavorful, filling, and easy to eat on the go. Or during a picnic in the back of your mini-van. Whatevs.

5. Smokey Homemade Cheese Crackers

Cheese. Crackers. Homemade. Need I say anymore? I'll take two handfuls pleaseandthankyou.

Paleo Chocolate-Almond Cookies

Rachael White February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day friends! How is your day going so far? Any super romantical things happening out there? Tell me all your stories! I'm still in my PJ's, 2 cups of coffee into the day, and trying to wrap my head around getting outside to enjoy what seems to be a warm, sunshiney day out there. But first, I wanted to share this cookie recipe with you. There are some things about this recipe that are not often seen in my kitchen. First off, they have ZERO added sugar. There is a touch of honey but that is all. Second, these are Paleo AND gluten free! WHAT.

I was a little nervous when I first made these because the combination of ingredients did not equate cookie success. Without butter, sugar, and flour I thought they would for sure be a failure. But, because I was intensely determined, I went ahead and tossed everything in a bowl and gave it my all! I'm happy to report that they make the house smell delicious, just as any other cookie might.

A couple things to note before I send you off to make these for your GF, Paleo diet sweetheart:

The dough will seem VERY dry when you roll it out. Placing it between two pieces of parchment after pressing it together with your hands will help.

Depending on the consistency of your nut butter (I used almond but you could also use peanut) you may want to zap it in the microwave for about 10 seconds to loosen it up a bit so it is easier to stir with the honey.
Do NOT- I repeat, do NOT- roll the dough out too thin. The cookies will absolutely crumble to pieces if they are to thin. Somewhere around 1/4inch and 1/3 inch is just about perfect.

The last tip I have for you is this: these cookies are best made with a tiny human who stole your heart the moment he entered this world...

Or with your bestie. Or while jamming out to your very favorite music. Whatever you do, make sure you have a happy heart and remember love in all it's forms. It's pretty great.

Paleo Chocolate-Almond Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup almond flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2/3 cup almond butter or peanut butter (Natural, unsweetened)
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon almond milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a small bowl, whisk the almond flour with the cocoa powder.
In another medium bowl, stir the almond butter, honey and almond milk together until smooth. If the nut butter seems to stiff, microwave it for 10 seconds to loosen it up and make it easier to stir.
Add the almond flour mixture to the nut butter and stir until combined.
Transfer the dough to a piece of parchment laid out on a work surface. Press the dough together with your hands and flatten it into a disc.
Cover the dough with another piece of parchment paper and roll the dough to about 1/3 of an inch but no thinner than 1/4 inch.
Transfer the dough to a baking sheet and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
Remove the dough from the fridge and cut it into shapes with a cookie cutter.
Carefully transfer the cut cookies to a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake 8-10 minutes or until just beginning to turn golden brown.
Cool completely on the baking sheet then transfer to the refrigerator again for another 30 minutes before eating.

Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons

Rachael White December 16, 2013

Christmas is SO CLOSE I CAN HARDLY STAND IT! My family is coming to Denver very soon, our gifts are wrapped and under the tree, and I the only thing I'm panicking about is the fact that there is no snow on the ground. I guess I can't control that though, can I? All in all, I'm feeling very Christmasy and warm and fuzzy and all that.

On of the most exciting parts of the season this year has been watching Riley's face every time he talks about presents, Santa, baby Jesus, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Experiencing joy like that through a 2 year old's eyes is something I can't begin to explain. It's magical.

I've been trying to develop traditions for our family that we can do every year from what kind of cookies we make to the classic Christmas movies and music we play. These coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate have quickly become a family favorite. Even my husband, who doesn't like coconut, went crazy over these tasty little cookies.

Coconut macaroons are and easy and fast treat to make for last-minute Christmas parties, gifts for friends, or just a simple sweet snack to keep around the house. The good news, aside from the fact that these are SO delicious, is that they are relatively low in fat when compared to other holiday baked goods. At least that's what I tell myself after I've eaten 3 of them...

What are your favorite holiday traditions? Do you make cookies with your family? Do you go look at lights in your neighborhood? I'd love to hear what makes your season magical!

Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons