My New Love

   I've fallen in love...it happened on Friday during work. Jason and I went to Idaho Falls with Grove City Gardens to serve Mexican Crazy Corn. ("Get that corn outta' ma face!") We were surrounded by other delicious food vendors for approximately 14 hours. There was one booth that someone said was super good, so I sent Jason with my wallet to go get what they were selling. He brought me back a large, I took one sip, and the rest is history...

   

They're called Frozen Hot Chocolate. Guys. I could LIVE off of these.

   I thought about them literally all day. And then all weekend. And so I got on my handy-dandy Pinterest this morning and found a recipe. Yum. Yum, yum, yummmmmmmm.

   I made a double experiment batch tonight. They were almost as good as the one I had from Cocoa Lodge, but still need a little bit of tweaking. I still had two giant servings, though. In fact, I'm sipping one this very minute.

   Did I tell you they were delicious? Well now I have, so I guess I better share the recipe. I got it from this blog: http://www.carissagraham.com/2012/09/miscellany-monday_17.html. 

Frozen Hot Chocolate, adapted from: Tasty Kitchen, here

3 tbsp granulated sugar
3 tbsp hot cocoa mix
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cups white chocolate chips
12 ounces evaporated milk, divided
4 1/2 cups ice
whipped cream, to taste
mini marshmallows, to taste

combine sugar, cocoa mix, and butter in the top of a double boiler that is set over gently boiling water. stir often until melted and a smooth paste forms. add semi-sweet and white chocolate chips; stir. as chips melt, slowly stir in 1/2 cup of evaporated milk. stir until smooth. cool to room temp. combine chocolate base mixture, the remaining evaporated milk and ice in a blender. blend until smooth. pour into frosty glasses. top with whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate chips, if desired. enjoy!

   After making this, I have a few suggestions:

1. Whip the evaporated milk while you're melting all the chocolate. That way the end product will be thicker.

2. Put the chocolate mixture in the freezer for a little while, to ensure thickness. 

3. Use whole ice cubes rather than crushed. (I tried both, and whole cubes worked better.)

4. Put whipped cream on top, and lots of it!!!

5. Maybe melt the marshmallows into the chocolate mixture. We didn't have any mini marshmallows, so it's just an idea, no idea if it would actually be good.

   On another note, I've absolutely adored being able to cook. We've had lots of yummy food. And a few I didn't like, but that's what's fun about experimenting with new recipes. I've decided I know what I'll do for my mid-life crisis: go to a technical school in Utah (if I'm still in the West) and get an associate's in Culinary Arts. (Not that I need it to be a good cook.) I just think it would be loads of fun. Pretty sure it's my life's calling to make good food. I like that kind of calling!

   In closing, I'd like to share a quote about Monday, 'cause we all know it's our favorite day! 

"Dear Monday, Thanks for having the word 'mon' in you. That's French for 'mine,' in case you weren't aware, Monday, but it makes me think of you more as 'my day,' and frankly that sounds like a much more promising start to the week. Best, [Quinn]."