Low Carb Hot Chocolate with Honey Vanilla Whipped Cream

Hot Chocolate
4 oz. high quality dark chocolate, 80% minimum. Recommended: Ghiradelli 86% cacao
8 oz. whole milk

Finely chop chocolate. Place in small saucepan with milk. Heat over medium low heat until chocolate is melted and milk is hot. Do not allow to boil.

Pour in mug and top with honey vanilla whipped cream. Yields one serving.

Honey Vanilla Whipped Cream
1/2 c heavy cream
1 t vanilla
1 t pure honey

Whip ingredients until soft peaks form. Keep covered in refrigerator up to 3 days. Rewhip if cream begins to separate after refrigeration.

Cold Brew Coffee

1 c coarse ground coffee

20 oz filtered water

Place coffee in large container with lid. Pour water over coffee, stir well and cover. Steep at room temperature overnight or 10 hours. 

Strain through coffee filter and store in refrigerator. Yield 16 oz coffee concentrate.

To serve, mix half water with half coffee. Add milk to taste.

Skinny Pumpkin Latte ~ adapted from The Happy Homemaker

1/3 c pumpkin puree, not pie filling
ground spices one dash each; nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon
1/2 c low fat milk
1 packet natural sweetener, recommended: Nectress
1/4 t vanilla extract
strong brewed coffee

Brew coffee.

Place pumpkin and spices in microwave safe cup. Mix well. Slowly add milk while stirring. Microwave one minute or until warm. Add sweetener and vanilla and stir.

Fill three coffee mugs half way with coffee. Pour warm pumpkin mixture over hot coffee and stir well. Top with light whipped cream if desired. Yield 3 servings.

Spiced Hot Cider

4 c unfiltered apple cider
2 c orange juice
2 c pineapple juice
1 T lemon juice
2 cinnamon sticks
6-8 whole cloves

Place all ingredients in large saucepan and warm over medium heat until hot and steamy.

Iced Mocha

8 ounces fresh brewed coffee, cooled
6 ounces skim milk
2 T International Delights Hershey's Chocolate Caramel creamer
1 cup ice

Fill large glass half way with ice. Add coffee, milk and creamer. Stir well to combine, top with whipped cream if desired. Serves 1.

Tropical Party Punch

Dole 100% orange~pineapple juice concentrate, prepared
Lemon~lime soda
Pineapple sherbet

Fill tall glass 1/2 way with orange~pineapple juice. Drop in one scoop pineapple sherbet, top with lemon~lime soda. Serve immediately.

To serve at a party, pour orange~pineapple juice in punch bowl. Place 6 to 8 scoops pineapple sherbet in bowl, pour 2 liters lemon~lime soda over sherbet to make a foamy punch.