Welcome to the second round of postings for the relatively new “Blogger C.L.U.E. Society.”
This brand new group of rogue cooks, bakers, and bloggers was started to celebrate all the good foods and great cooking ideas that are out there in the foodie blogger world. (Our inaugural post was last month.) Much like the game CLUE, this blogger society involves secrecy, fun, challenge and cooperation with the other game playing members. The good news about this, however, is that in the end, everyone’s a winner (including you, dear reader). No Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick…just lots of fun, good food, and cooking camaraderie.
This month’s theme focused on food our grandmothers would have cooked. To spice it up a bit, the society members were tasked with searching our assigned blogs for something that our grandmother would have cooked AND then sharing an authentic recipe from our own grandmother’s recipe box.
This was a tough assignment—not my secret blog assignment because she rocked (Kim at Liv Life)—but because it made me nostalgic for my grandmothers’ cooking. I remember my paternal grandmother always in the kitchen. My maternal grandmother I remember for a handful of dishes like fried chicken, Sunday pot roast, and New York ice cream.
Again, my CLUE blog assignment was Kim at Liv Life. I have followed Kim for a long time and her site is full of delicious and healthy foods. I knew the problem would be narrowing down what to make. Kim lives in sunny San Diego with a beautiful family, including the blog’s namesake, her daughter Liv (who, by the way, is an accomplished competitive dancer).
The harder part was going to be pairing one of Kim’s recipe with one from my grandmother.
Besides the aforementioned fried chicken, Grandma made a mean meatloaf. I started my search through Kim’s blog and found a delicious meatloaf: Turkey Meatloaf with Feta and Sun Dried Tomatoes. Sounds delicious, right?
Grandma always had homemade cookies in her cookie jar and they were almost always oatmeal-raisin. My other Grandmother always (and I mean always) had fig newtons. (They weren’t my favorite.)
I almost landed on Kim’s Hot Cocoa Snicker Doodles. Again, sounds delicious, right? This recipe caused me to have an epiphany….Grandma’s hot cocoa.
Grandma made the best hot cocoa, the real stuff. I have very fond memories of feeding cattle with dad on cold and snowy days with the anticipation of stopping at Grandma and Grandpa’s house for hot cocoa.
Since it is the gift giving season, here is a great hot cocoa mix from Kim that you will love and that friends will love to get: Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix. My Grandma would have so made this!
Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix
from Kim at Liv Life1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 c. brown sugar
pinch salt
1/4 t. cinnamon
3 T. chopped Mexican Chocolate such as Ibarra (I could not find Ibarra chocolate so I used Ghirardelli 60% Cacao bittersweet chocolate.)
Optional: Mini marshmallows.Layer ingredients into a jar, top with marshmallows if desired. Attach a cute card with a description and directions, and tie with a ribbon.
Directions: Heat 3 cups milk in a saucepan until small bubbles appear on the sides, reduce heat and add contents of jar. Stir until dissolved. Serve with additional marshmallows or whipped cream if desired.
This recipe is attributed to Kim’s lovely daughter, Liv. For another great holiday gift, check out their DIY Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix as well.
I added a few sticks of cinnamon as well as some super jumbo sized marshmallows.
Now for my Grandma’s recipe, straight off the side of the Hershey’s Cocoa container.
Grandma’s Hot Cocoa
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 c. hot water
4 c. (1 qt.) whole milk
3/4 t. vanilla extract
Miniature marshmallows or sweetened whipped cream (optional)Stir together sugar, cocoa and salt in medium saucepan; stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Add milk; stirring constantly, heat to serving temperature. Do Not Boil.
Remove from heat; add vanilla. Beat with rotary beater or whisk until foamy. Serve topped with marshmallows or whipped cream, if desired. (Five 8-oz. servings.)
Grandma always plopped in a giant marshmallow.
As the holiday gets more and more hectic, make yourself a hot cup of cocoa, sit back and find some time to relax. Find enough energy to make some jars of Mexican Hot Chocolate to give away as gifts.
What a great gift to leave on your neighbor’s doorstep.
Now, for some more chocolatey goodness (and a great gift idea), stay tuned for a DIY Chocolate Bourbon Kahlua recipe. Then, you can us your homemade kahlua for Kim’s Kahlua Brownies (which I almost featured for this post).
Postscript: I really feel that there were many worthy recipes at Kim’s site and I feel a little sad that I simply chose a hot chocolate mix recipe to highlight her blog. I do have a strong affinity with my Grandma and hot chocolate so that is my rationale. Please, please, please stop by Kim’s blog. You will definitely find plenty to inspire you.
Post-postscript: Please check out all the other C.L.U.E. posts this month.
- Lemon Mascarpone Layer Cake from Liz at That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Beef Barley Soup from Kate at Kate’s Kitchen
- Scrambled Egg Sandwich from Christiane at Taking on Magazines
- Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix from Debra at Eliot’s Eats
- Ginger Snap Cookies from Lisa at Authentic Suburban Gourmet
- Scalloped Potato Cottage Pie from Ramona at Curry and Comfort
- Lemon Chicken Thighs from Janet at From Cupcakes to Caviar
- Christy from Culinary Diva
- Persimmon Syrup and Persimmon Smash Cocktail from Alice at A Mama, Baby & Shar-pei in the Kitchen
- Smoky Potato Corn and Poblano Chowder from Azmina at Lawyer Loves Lunch
- Apple Butter and Body Lotion from Kelli at Kelli’s Kitchen
- Roasted Honey Rosemary Pecans from Kim at Liv Life
- Susan from Create Amazing Meals
- Best Ever Ginger Snaps from Aly at Cooking in Stilettos
- Brats and Kraut from Lea Ann at Cooking on the Ranch
- Chocolate Pecan Fudge from Kathy at Bakeaway with Me
- Pumpkin Scones from Anna at Anna Dishes
- Roasted and Stuffed Eggplant from Stacy at Food Lust People Love
- Swedish Dark Rye Bread from Wendy at A Day in the Life On a Farm
- Spelt Dinner Rolls from Jean at Lemons and Anchovies
The heart feels what the heart feels and the heart knows what the heart knows, Debra. I think the hot chocolate and your warm memories make it the perfect choice.
Thank you, Stacy. This was a fun round. Loved reading about everyone’s memories of their grandmother.
Wonderful pick! I love this idea…and may have to whip up 12 jars next year for my book club 🙂
I would recommend the half-pint jars. They are the perfect size.
Hot Chocolate… perfectly perfect for this time of year. Great choice for the challenge!! 🙂 ~ Ramona
I could use a warming cup right now.
What a totally lovely post! And, a wonderful choice of recipe. We’ll be trying this for our grandkids 🙂
I so hope they like t, Kate. This was a really fun (and challenging) round.
Yum! It’s been a long time since I’ve made hot chocolate. Nice choice and great post.
The smell is fab!!!!
What’s more warming, physically AND emotionally than hot chocolate? It makes me think of cozy grandma hugs. 🙂 I love Kim, so this is a triple win in my book. 🙂
Hot chocolate just reminds me of hugs!!!
I think the hot chocolate was a great choice. Fond memories and very seasonal.
These would make great little gifts.
Oh, hot cocoa sounds so good on this cold, foggy morning. Great choice for this month’s theme and what a nice treat to have received from your grandma!
Or a damp evening like tonight.
I love this recipe – I can add that to my tins I’m making for the old folks at mom’s apartments to go with your apple butter and DIY lotion. My mom still makes hot chocolate – the real stuff – every Christmas morning. I look forward to it every single year. Hey, maybe I’ll make this come Christmas morning! 🙂 Great job!
So glad you’re using some of my recipes for gifts!!!!
Really fun post! The hot chocolate is inspired. And I love the presentation. 🙂
Thanks. I wasn’t happy with the first pics, so I whipped up some more. Liked the ones on our doorstep better.
What a cute gift idea! That is, assuming I actually can make myself give it away after I make it hehehe
It was hard, especially with the jumbo marshmallows. I love them!
This is such a gorgeous gift, feel like sending over a jar or dozen? 😛
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Sure….by airmail???? LOL
Sounds perfect for a chilly day like today. I was out shopping and would have loved to come home to a cup of this. How fun for gift-giving too!
I am going to make a warming cup now for myself (with a giant marshmallow)!
Yummy…love hot chocolate and so much of it is the memories of family with me as well. Hot chocolate in a thermos for sledding, staying up late and having hot chocolate during the holidays, spending the day in the bush getting firewood and then making a fire to roast wieners and warm up the hot chocolate…so many good times!
Such a classic memory.
Okay – mexican hot chocolate is one of my absolute favorites. This is a must make over the holidays. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Thanks. Back at ya, Lisa.
Oh, Deb!!! I’m so sorry for my late response, but yesterday was a day in the car shuttling Liv from one event to the next and my phone wouldn’t let me make any comments. However, Liv read your post to me as we were driving, and I can’t begin to explain the smile on her face when you talked about her. She says, “Mom… how does she know about me?” I told her I’ve “known” you for a long time, and that’s one of the best things about blogging… the friends.
I think this just might be her all time favorite recipe that we’ve written, and now that she can’t have dairy she is really missing it. We haven’t found a suitable substitute for hot chocolate, so she’s just not had hot chocolate. You’ve inspired me to try again though, and hopefully we can come up with a new dairy-free recipe that she actually likes by the school break.
I love the vanilla in your grandmother’s recipe… I think that’s a must for hot chocolate!! Thanks Deb! XOXO
No worries, Kim. I’m so glad Liv was with you and read it to you. I’m sure you’ve tried almond and/or coconut milk?
My husband loves hot chocolate drink..Can’t wait to make one large cup for him!
I hope he loves it!
Wow! that is fitting for both the wintery December, the theme for the month and for your grandmother!! Triple threat! Looking forward to the next post, this was awesome!
I’m kinda excited about both posts.
I think hot chocolate is a perfect choice for this time of the year…and it comes with wonderful memories! Very nice!
Thanks. I love pairing food with family memories.
We’ve been drowning in rain on the West Coast so it’s perfect cocoa weather! Love the cinnamon in this and so good to continue getting to know you through CLUE!
Hope the rain has moved on.
It’s so great how certain foods/drinks bring us close to loved ones. Every time I eat a homemade buttermilk biscuit I think of my grandma. 🙂 I can see why you picked this recipe. It’s sounds very comforting in so many ways. Thank you for reminding me of Kim’s blog. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been there and I always loved her recipes.
My grandmother also made a fruit cake that used the candied orange slices. She always had to start it in October for it to be ready by Christmas. I haven’t even thought about that in years either.
What a great post!! I love the memories (it always tastes better with a backstory!!) and the recipe inspiration is deliciously tantalizing.
I agree, Jessie. Food with stories is always better.
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