Healthy Homemade Chocolate Syrup

My boy LOVES chocolate milk!  I had to find a way to make chocolate syrup easy and yet healthy so I wouldn't feel bad about giving it to him. :)

Here's my quick and easy chocolate syrup recipe. This can be used to make chocolate milk, hot chocolate by mixing into warmed milk, drizzled on ice cream, on fruit or whatever you like chocolate syrup on, the possibilities are endless!! :)

1/2 cup organic cocoa powder
1 cup organic whole sugar or 1/2 cup honey
1 cup water
1 t. vanilla extract
dash of salt

Mix all but vanilla extract in saucepan.

Heat until it boils, allow to boil 1 minute.

Remove from heat.  Allow to cool some and then add vanilla extract.

Store in tightly sealed container and place in refrigerator.

Makes about 2 cups and will last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

To Enjoy:

Chocolate milk - Mix 2 TBSP (or more depending on your preference) into 1 cup of cold milk.
Hot Chocolate - Mix 2 TBSP (or more) into 1 cup of hot milk.
Drizzle on ice cream
Serve with fruit

Do you have a chocolate milk lover in your home?  How would you use this chocolate syrup?

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Linked with Delicious Dish Tuesday 

What do you want to see more of?

With 2013 almost upon us I've been doing a lot of thinking and planning for the new year.  One of the many things I've been planning is the direction of the blog in the coming year.  I thought it would be fun to ask my readers what types of posts you want to see more of.  Many of my top posts are the recipe and giveaway ones.

But, what I really want to know is if those are the posts you really want to see more of?  There are so many topics that are dear to me and I have passions for.  So, before I just base off of the most viewed posts I thought it would be fun to ask my readers. :)

I know a lot of you don't post comments but this would be the time to get out and let me know what you would like to see more of. : ) Ideas include but are not limited to more posts on:

1. Modesty - clothing ideas, favorite items/shops, scriptures, etc.
2. Recipes, focusing on healthy-homemade
3. Biblical Marriage
4. Reviews & Giveaways
5. Homemaking 
6. Schedules
7. Cloth Diapering - I'm planing to try and join My Cloth Diaper Stash every Friday starting in January to talk about cloth diapering. I've been wanting to write more on it and I think this hop with help with that. :)
8. Motherhood
9. Photography
10. Natural - remedies/cleaning/babies/life

Leave a comment and let me know! :)  I'd really appreciate it. :)

Lilla Rose Sales!

 

Look for 24 hours of great deals the day after Christmas! December 26th you will find 10% off all of the Lilla Rose product line and free shipping on orders $24.00 or more. Have fun!

Go here to shop!

DaySpring Christmas Sales & Upgraded Shipping

Right now, DaySpring’s entire Christmas Selection is 25% off! All items are marked down, so no coupon is required! :)



Love Came Down - No Greater Love - Teapot
 

Love Came Down-Names of Jesus-Reversible Table Runner
 

Love Came Down - Purest Love - Trio Tea Light Holders  



Love Came Down - 8" x 7" Trivet  



Hurricane Candle Holder Set - Includes Six Sleeves  


Redeemed Christmas - Share the Joy - Fabric Apron
 
 
Love Came Down - Greatest Gift - Nesting Boxes, Set of 3


Redeemed Christmas - Share the Joy - Ceramic Coasters, Set of 4

Shipping Upgrade
Through Wednesday, December 19^th at Noon CST, DaySpring is offering upgraded shipping on Next Day Air or 2^nd Day Air for a flat fee. The coupon code is: upship
Once the coupon code has been applied to the purchase, the preferred shipping method must be chosen to receive the discount.

The cost for shipping is $6 for next Day Air and $12 for Second Day Air. This code can’t be combined with any other codes. There is no minimum purchase for this discount to apply.

Now's the time to get any last minute items! :)

BabyLegs 75% OFF $75!

I wanted to share with you that Baby Legs is having their 75% OFF of $75 sale again. They are selling everything on the Clearance page for 75% off of $75 or more before discount! That's $75 in BabyLegs for just $18.75, with no limit!

This is a great sale and wonderful price for their quality products.  I love Baby Legs socks for my boys!

Use Coupon Code WINTER75OFF to get this sale on your order!

*Post contains referral links.

Guest Post - TakeThemAMeal

My son had just been born.  I had been up 4 times the night before and I had an awful headache.  It was dinner time, my 2 year old daughter was screaming because she was hungry, and my husband was still at work.  I was stressed and overwhelmed.  Then, my doorbell rang.  It was my friend Sarah bringing us dinner.  I knew it was going to be gluten free, I knew it was going to be good (simply because I didn’t have to make it!), and best of all, I knew more meals would be on the way in the coming days.

I knew all of this because of a wonderful service called www.TakeThemAMeal.com, a free website used to coordinate meals for those in need, often after an illness, hospitalization, loss of a loved one, birth of a new baby, etc.  I had used the site for years to both create meal schedules and receive meals before moving to the city where it is headquartered and meeting one of the owners.  I work for them now, and it’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had because I and many of my friends have benefited from the site so much.

TakeThemAMeal.com is really easy to use. Once a meal schedule is created, you can enter in the address of the person receiving the meal, details about when to drop it off, dietary concerns, and even see what other people are bringing so that no one brings the same thing.  I used to have a calendar where I would pencil in who was bringing what on which days, spending lots of precious time trying to get all the details straight.  Now it’s done in minutes on a super easy to use website.  TakeThemAMeal.com even sends you a reminder email!  Here is a sample of what a schedule looks like- http://www.takethemameal.com/sample.php.  

TakeThemAMeal.com is also a useful tool within the body of Christ.  A few months ago, one of the members of our church had an unexpected extended hospital stay after the birth of her second child.  The meal coordinators quickly updated everyone on the families needs through their TakeThemAMeal schedule.  They even used the website to collect money for the family to buy food at the hospital.  I wanted to help out and TakeThemAMeal made it easy to serve; it listed all the foods their daughter at home enjoyed and gave instructions for the best times and the best way of delivering the meal.  As believers, we have the privilege to serve others in the church and TakeThemAMeal.com a great tool to simplify the “Meal Ministry” process.

To date, over 1.5 million meal schedules have been created to serve over 200,000 families.  So consider setting up a meal schedule at TakeThemAMeal.com the next time you hear of a friend, church member, neighbor, co-worker, or family member in need of a break.  It’s free, easy to use and a great way to show you care.  

By Maureen Witmer

“Like” us on Facebook- www.facebook.com/takethemameal
Follow us on Twitter- twitter.com/takethemameal
Also check out our sister site- www.PerfectPotluck.com

Easily Make Yogurt At Home In The Crock-Pot!

Today I want to share with you my crock-pot yogurt recipe.  When I first heard of making yogurt in the crock-pot about 1 1/2 years ago I was so amazed.  I have envisioned making yogurt as a hard time-consuming task, but it actually is extremely easy and fun to make, not to mention that it's actually not time consuming at all.  The biggest time consuming part of making yogurt is just making sure you'll be able to turn the crock-pot on and off at the right times.  I can't believe I didn't start making yogurt sooner, it's just absolutely so easy! : )

 What you need:

1/2 gallon of milk (preferable whole or as high of fat as you can get)
1/2 cup of active/live plain culture yogurt
Crock-Pot

Put the 1/2 gallon of milk in the crock-pot on low.  Cover and allow to warm for 2 1/2 hours. I have found that the timing on this recipe isn't strict at all.  I've allowed my milk to warm for 3 hours and the yogurt has turned out just fine.

After 2 1/2 hours turn your crock-pot off and just allow the milk to cool with the lid on.  You can unplug the crock-pot now as you will not be heating it anymore.  This would help keep your curious 2 year old from turning it back on...not that this has every happened. : )  Well, actually, it hasn't but other recipes of mine have almost been ruined this way... : )

After 3 hours of the milk cooling take out 2 cups of warm milk.  Mix 1/2 cup yogurt into the 2 cups warm milk.  Mix until there are no clumps and the milk is smooth.  Carefully add the mixed milk and yogurt to the crock-pot of warm milk.  Stir in well.

Place the lid back on the crock-pot and wrap well with a large towel.  I find that the big beach towels do well, though any large towel will work.  As long as the entire crock-pot is covered.

Now let it sit on the counter wrapped for 8 hours or overnight.

I like to start my yogurt at 3 in the afternoon, then I turn it off at 5:30, add the yogurt at 8:30 and then allow to stand overnight.

In the morning or after 8 hours the milk will have thickened and become yogurt.  It won't be as thick as store-bought yogurt.  You can either pour the finished yogurt into a cheesecloth lined bowl and allow the whey to drain off or use as it is.

I prefer to use the yogurt without draining off the whey.  I mainly use yogurt for smoothies or with granola so a thinner yogurt is just fine with me.

This recipes makes 2 quarts and 1 pint worth of yogurt (without draining the whey). I store in the refrigerator in glass canning cars.  This fresh yogurt will last 7-10 days (I've had it last longer too, just check it and make sure there isn't anything off with it before using.).  You can save 1/2 cup to use as a starter for your next batch of homemade yogurt.

It is recommended not to use your homemade yogurt as a starter after 3 times.  They say the cultures are to weak by then.  I've always just trusted that and haven't tried making it again after 3 times, I just go buy a new canister of yogurt. : )

Be sure to leave a comment if you have any questions, I'm happy to try to help. : )

Have you ever made yogurt before?  Do you make it on the stove or in the crock-pot?  Which method do you prefer?

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Advertise with A Restful Place!

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