Homemade Peppermint Mini Marshmallows | Krampus #FoodnFlix

It's December, and that means it's time for a Christmas edition of Food 'n Flix, where, along with a talented group of bloggers, I create a recipe inspired by a chosen film. Since I'm hosting this month, I created the challenge, asking everybody to create a recipe inspired by the 2015 horror-comedy, Krampus!

While the original legend is definitely pee-your-pants scary, I didn't personally think this PG-13 movie was scary at all. A bit dark and creepy in parts, but not scary. I actually own a copy and have seen it several times, the most recent time my 12 and 14 year olds watched it with me. While I did see my youngest jump once, they both agreed that while they'd never want to be face to face with the Krampus of lore, the movie  itself was just creepy. But hey, my kids grew up with Orcs and Dementors, so...

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Growing up in the Midwest, I've drunk my fair share of hot cocoa. I mean, there's nothing like coming in from a hard day of trudging up a snowy hill (after the fun sliding down part) over and over again, or building a snow fort, or having a snowball fight, to a mug of steaming chocolate. It's a winter time staple!

But the thing is, ours always came from a round, lined cardboard canister of Swiss Miss. Well no, sometimes we had the boxes with individual packets. And I won't lie, I always liked the kind with the crunchy, dehydrated marshmallows. Or, if somebody didn't get to the bag, we'd pile on soft mini marshmallows—and that was good, too.

"Great Pumpkin" White Hot Chocolate + DIY Linus's Blanket Mug Cozy inspired by The Peanuts Movie

Guess what movie hits theaters today? The Peanuts Movie! Call me old school, but Charlie Brown and the gang just make me happy. In honor of its release, I've teamed up with 10 other "Blockbuster Bloggers" to bring you some movie-inspired food and crafts. This month, each of us picked a different Peanuts character to focus on, and I chose my personal favorite, Linus.

Linus is Charlie Brown's best friend and Lucy's younger brother. He's wise beyond his years and can't function properly without his beloved security blanket. Aside from the blanket, when I think of Linus, I think of The Great Pumpkin. While everybody else dons costumes and heads out trick-or-treating, Linus sets up camp in the pumpkin patch, waiting to welcome the Great Pumpkin. He believes that the most "sincere" pumpkin patch is where the Great Pumpkin will stop and bring gifts.

Although Linus has his trusty blanket, I can't help but think how cold he must be waiting in a pumpkin patch on a dark, autumn evening. So, I decided that he needed a mug of a tasty hot beverage to help keep him warm. This white hot chocolate is infused with pumpkin, orange, and a hint of spice.

Linus photo courtesty of The Peanuts Movie website

Oh, and the mug gets a little blanket of its own in the form of a homemade cozy (koozie) modeled after Linus's blanket.

What you'll need to make your own Linus's Blanket Mug Cozy:

• Soft, light blue "blanket-type" fabric (1 yard will make a TON of cozies, so you decide how much you need)
• measuring tape
• fabric scissors
• safety pins
• needle
• thread
• button (1 per cozy)

1. Use the measuring tape to measure around your mug, between the handle. Add an extra inch to the length and the height, and cut a piece of fabric that size.
2. Fold a 1/2 inch of fabric in on each edge ("show" side down), using safety pins to secure the folds.
3. Sew each edge, holding the pinned fabric securely between your thumb and fingers to keep it straight. You can remove the pins from each edge as you finish them (this helps to keep the thread from getting caught on them as you work).
4. Wrap your sewn fabric around the mug, eyeballing where you'd like to place the button and button hole. You could make a mark with a fabric pen if you need to, but I just place a finger on the spot.
5. Sew a button on the spot you eyeballed, then wrap it around again to eyeball the spot for the buttonhole. Fold the fabric over on that spot and snip a very small hole (smaller than the button) in the fabric.
6. Secure the soft, fuzzy cozy around your mug.

Now that you have a soft cozy on your mug, fill it with this "Great Pumpkin" White Hot Chocolate. It will warm your bones while you sit outside awaiting the great pumpkin!

"Great Pumpkin" White Hot Chocolate

Rich white hot chocolate infused with pumpkin to celebrate the season.

by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Keywords: beverage pumpkin white chocolate orange vegetarian soy-free Halloween Thanksgiving American winter fall

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 3 cups whole or 2% milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• peel of one orange, cut into a long strip (or 2 or 3- w/ no pith attached)
• 8 ounces good white chocolate, chopped (or good white chocolate chips)
• 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 3/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
• freshly grated nutmeg
• tiny pinch of fine sea salt

Instructions

Combine milk, cream, and strips of orange peel in a medium-sized sauce pot over medium-low heat. Bring to a boil, stirring from time to time. Gradually whisk in the white chocolate until it is entirely melted, then whisk in the pumpkin puree until smooth and steamy.

Turn off the heat and whisk in almond extract, a few fresh grates of nutmeg, and the tiny pinch of sea salt. Lift out the orange peel and discard.

Ladle into mugs and garnish with another fresh grate of nutmeg and some finely grated orange zest, if you wish.

I hope you'll check out these other fun recipes and crafts inspired by The Peanuts Movie and its characters:

• Charlie Brown Marshmallow Pops from Bread Booze Bacon
• Little Red-Haired Girl Chocolate Popcorn from Celebrating Family
• Printable Snoopy Dog House from Liz on Call
• Woodstock Banana Pudding Filled Chocolate Cupcakes from Big Bear's Wife
• Lucy Bento Lunch Box from East Valley Mom Guide
• "Great Pumpkin" White Hot Chocolate + DIY Linus's Blanket Mug Cozy from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
• Peppermint Patty Stuffed Chocolate Cookies from Around My Family Table
• Pipe Cleaner Glasses Craft from Popsiculture
• Dust Storm Salted Toffee Muddy Buddies from Lady Behind The Curtain
• Mud Pie Brownies from Sugar and Soul
• Schroeder's Piano Key Cookies from Love Bakes Good Cakes

Hot Chocolate & Brötchen | The Hunger Games

It's hard for me to describe the precise pull that The Hunger Games has on me.  The fact that is is so far-fetched that I can't (or hope not to) ever see our world resembling it, or the fact that it's actually not so hard to imagine our world falling into a state of dystopia.  Something grabbed a hold of me when I started reading this book.

But let's back track a few years.  My son was probably around 11 or 12 when he read The Hunger Games.  I remember his face buried in the book on the way to a doctor's appointment, on a road trip, or cozied up in bed.  He described to me this post-apocalyptic world where children between the ages of 12 and 18 were forced to fight to the death for the survival of their families and their district.  The crazy costume-like dress of the people from the Capitol.  The poverty and near-starving state of the outlying districts.  This child who was left standing earns a "life of ease" once they get back home.  Grain, oil, and delicacies like sugar will be bestowed upon their district.  This is all punishment for an uprising of the districts against the Capitol in the past.

White Hot Chocolate w/ Orange

What a game!!  Yes, as usual, I'm writing this post on a Saturday night...and I have the game fresh in my mind.  This one even more so than usual - because I WAS THERE.  Yes, my boys and I went to the Notre Dame game for my birthday today.  And what an insane game it was.  For a while, ND struggled.  It looked like we might be in for a disappointment for our first game this year (well, first game actually IN the stadium).  Our return game basically sucked.  We missed three field goals (!?).  And with about 4 minutes left, it looked like we going to lose.  We still needed a touchdown plus a two point conversion just to tie it.  And wouldn't you know it, "we" threw an interception in the end zone.

I'm not gonna lie.  At just under 4 minutes remaining, I entertained the idea of truckin' it to the car.  LUCKILY, the boys were with me and they were not ready to call it quits.  That would be luckily because - we held PITT and then we scored our touchdown.  AND our two point conversion.  To overtime it was!  And then to double overtime.  And then to TRIPLE OVERTIME. Whaaaa!?  Our boys decided that it was time to play the way they've been playing the whole year and bring a big, at-home win.  Absolutely insane ending to the game.  29-26.  Notre Dame wins!  Obviously they didn't want to disappoint me on my birthday.

By the way - thanks so much for ALL of the fabulous birthday wishes you guys sent out to me yesterday!  I was absolutely overwhelmed by the love on Facebook.  I'm hoping to have a chance to get over there tonight to thank everybody "personally" before I crash...but if I don't...please know how awesome it felt to hear from so many people.

So the other day, I mentioned how it's holding steady in the mid-40's during the daytime lately.  And once the sun goes down, we're hitting 30's...and I think even 20's tonight.  So you can imagine that while this is fantastic football weather...the bundling...the body heat from sitting shoulder to shoulder in the stadium...the warmth generated from jumping up and down and screaming at the top of your lungs...that yes, it's also pretty darn chilly.  And it calls for hot drinks.  Cozy cups of hot chocolate were definitely in order.

But the same goes for at home.  When I was growing up, after I'd come in from being outside sledding or shoveling...heck, even raking...I always wanted a hot chocolate to warm my bones.  Granted, I think my hot chocolate always came from a little packet.  Often with freeze-dried marshmallows.  And I enjoyed every last drop of it.

I guess my kids inherited that love, because every time they walk in the house on a cold day, the first request?  It's HOT CHOCOLATE.  Now, I may as well say it.  I buy the powdered sometimes.  Usually when it's on sale.  It's quick, it's easy, the kids can make it themselves.  But I also make it from scratch.  And that is the really good stuff because I can make different varieties.  From good old-fashioned hot chocolate to hot chocolate made with Mexican chocolate to Atole to this White Hot Chocolate with Orange, which just so happens to be my oldest son's most-requested, they all warm your body and your soul from the inside out.

I like mine with booze.  Go figure.

White Hot Chocolate w/ Orange (regular or boozy)

by Heather Schmitt-González

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes

Cook Time: 5-10 minutes

Keywords: beverage dairy milk orange alcohol Christmas Day of the Dead Dia de los Muertos Halloween Thanksgiving American fall winter

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 3 c. whole milk
• 1 c. heavy cream
• peel of one orange, cut into a long strip (or 2 or 3- w/ no pith attached)
• 8 oz. good white chocolate, chopped (or good white chocolate chips)
• 1 tsp. pure almond emulsion (or extract)
• tiny pinch of sea salt

Instructions

Combine milk, cream, and strips of orange peel in a medium-sized sauce pot over medium-low heat. Bring to a boil, stirring from time to time. Gradually whisk in the white chocolate until it is entirely melted. Turn off the heat and whisk in almond emulsion (or extract) and the tiny pinch of sea salt. Lift out the orange peel and discard (or just "hold it back" with your whisk when pouring into mugs).

Ladle hot chocolate into mugs and garnish with an orange twist (or some finely grated zest), if you wish.

note:

If you want to make this a nice cup of "grown-up" hot chocolate, add a shot of one of my favorites to your mug: UV Cake Vodka, Cupcake Frosting Vodka, or another similar flavored vodka like Vanilla or Whipped. Or you could go another direction and accentuate the orange with some orange vodka or liqueur. Or yet another direction, add a shot of amaretto to bring out the almond notes.

adapted from Brunch

Dark Hot Chocolate with Bourbon Whipped Cream and Homemade Chocolate Marshmallows

Fair warning- this post will contain far too many photos.  I seriously could not decide which ones I wanted to include.  And believe or not, I actually cut some from the pile.  Remember that I said this once you've made your way to the bottom.  Hmmm.  Perhaps I could just put one sentence between each picture.  Make it seem like there's not too many.  We'll see how it goes.

Let's start off by talking about marshmallows.  Not just marshmallows.  Homemade marshmallows.  Not just homemade marshmallows.  Homemade chocolate marshmallows.  Not just homemade chocolate marshmallows.  Homemade chocolate marshmallows shaped like hearts.  Not just......kidding.  They are just homemade heart-shaped chocolate marshmallows!

Heart-Shaped Mini Chocolate Marshmallows
adapted from Saveur #131
makes ~40 heart-shaped (or ~80 square mini-marshmallows)

pan spray, for greasing

1½ c. sugar
¾ c. light corn syrup
¼ c. honey
½ c. water

3 Tbs. unflavored powdered gelatin, softened in  ½ cup cold water

½ c. Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted

¼ c. Dutch-process cocoa, sifted
2 tbsp. cornstarch

Spray a 9" x 9" baking pan, line bottom and sides with parchment paper, and spray paper.

Combine sugar, syrup, honey, and ½ cup water in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer; cook, without stirring, until syrup reaches 250° on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat; let cool to 220°.

Meanwhile, bring some water to a boil in a small saucepan. Place bowl of gelatin dissolved in water over boiling water without touching the bowl to the water; whisk until gelatin becomes liquid. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk; add ½ cup cocoa powder. Add the slightly cooled sugar syrup to gelatin; whisk on high speed until mixture holds stiff peaks, ~5–6 minutes. Pour mixture into prepared pan; smooth top with a rubber spatula that has been sprayed, as well. Let cool until set, ~6 hours.

Combine remaining cocoa powder and cornstarch in a bowl and transfer to a strainer; dust work surface with mixture. Slide a knife around edge of pan to release marshmallows; remove from pan. Dust cocoa mixture over top. Dip a small heart-shaped cutter into the cocoa mixture and cut out individual hearts.  (alternately, use a slicing knife dusted with cocoa mixture, and cut marshmallows into small squares or rectangles for "regular" mini-marshmallows). Toss marshmallows with remaining cocoa mixture.

*for full-size marshmallows, use an 8" x 8" square pan and cut into 1" thick squares

Once you have your marshmallows all laid out in front of you...beware of the call for hot chocolate that will echo through the room.  MmmHmm.  They practically BEG for it!  And since I hate to disappoint, I went ahead and made some Dark Hot Chocolate spiked with a little booze...inside and on top.

Dark Hot Chocolate (boozy or not)

makes 2 large mugs

4 oz. good quality Dark Chocolate

2 c. whole milk

½ tsp. vanilla extract

bourbon, optional (not optional for me, but...)

Place chocolate, milk, and vanilla in a heavy-bottomed pan over low heat, whisking pretty constantly until it's all melted and combined.  Pour a shot of bourbon into a waiting mug and top with hot chocolate.

But wait!  We can't stop there.  The rich, dark, hot chocolate then pleads for a big plop of boozy whipped cream.  You know, to melt down into it.  Okay, okay...

Bourbon Whipped Cream

makes ~2 c.

1 c. heavy cream

~2 Tbs. Bourbon

sugar

~½ tsp. vanilla

Place the cream and bourbon in a large bowl.  Pour in a little vanilla and some sugar and whip to stiff peaks.

So, now you plop a big old spoonful of the Bourbon Whipped Cream onto the steaming mug of Dark Hot Chocolate...and spoon in a few Heart-Shaped Mini Chocolate Marshmallows.  The marshmallows melt into the hot chocolate with the whipped cream, creating a thickened, chocolaty, boozy mug of dessert (or anytime) bliss!

This is my entry into this month's edition of Dessert Wars ...where the theme is Dark Chocolate and Hearts.  These are the prizes we are playing for:

Whisk  and cupcake necklace from Moon & Star Designs

The Smartshopper Electronic Grocery List Organizer

Beanilla  Sampler Pack of Vanilla Beans

Lenox Personalized Musical Cupcake

1,000 ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes

Endless Vanilla and Cinnamon Extract

Unlimited Layers: A Recipe for Turning Your Passion into Profits

Organic Valley $50 Gift Certificate

Organic Prairie $50 Gift Certificate

Theme Kitchen $50 Gift Certificate

BEKA Cookware Crepe Pan

Also sharing with Warm Desserts event held at Mharo Rajasthan's Recipes and Melt in Your Mouth Monday at Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms.