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Oh My, It’s Cold Out There…and a Hot Chocolate to Warm You*

09 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by slvrhawk2014 in Beverages, Missouri, Nature, Photography

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Beverages, Missouri, photography

It is almost the middle of January, and it finally feels like winter here in mid-Missouri! It was 1 degree when we woke up this morning. I would not mind the low temperature if there was snow on the ground to go with it. But there is no snow, and none is forecast for the next several days.

When it is the dead of winter, as it is now, Jim and I wait for a sunny day to go out and “visit” winter. One of our favorite places is Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, MO. The ponds and the bay in the wetlands have ice on them, but the Mississippi River is still flowing freely. We decided to visit the sanctuary and see how the birds are managing to keep warm in this frigid weather.

We saw several different kinds of ducks, a large number of Trumpeter Swans, and some geese, and a few white pelicans. I was so cold, and yet the birds seemed okay with the windy gusts and the temperature…it’s those feathers!

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This White Pelican, on the shoreline of the Mississippi River, is fluffing up his feathers. When he puts his wings down, those fluffed feathers will give him extra insulation against the cold and the wind.

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The ducks on the left are hunkered down, staying warm. The ducks in Ellis Bay also look like little balls on top of the ice. The swans, however, are swimming in what open water they can find. The mallards in the picture on the right seem not at all to mind the cold water of the Mississippi River.

Sometimes, after being out in the cold, after “visiting” winter, or just taking a walk down our street, both Jim and I love to have a cup of good hot chocolate. This afternoon I took a walk and came home freezing. I made some hot chocolate, and it was wonderful. It went a long way is warming my body and my soul!

Hot Chocolate

Many years ago, I bought a cookbook at the Amana Colonies in Iowa. It has a recipe for hot chocolate that is rich and silky, while not being so very sweet. I have tweaked the recipe a bit, but it remains that silky texture I found in the original recipe.

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Hot Chocolate

  • 4 heaping tsp. cocoa (I use Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa)
  • 8 tsp. sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 3/4 cup hot water
  • 3 1/4 c. milk
  • 1 tsp, vanilla
  • 2-3 tsp. espresso powder (optional)

Mix the cocoa, sugar, salt, and water in a heavy-bottomed sauce pan. Bring mixture to a boil and stir. Bring to a boil twice more, stirring after each time. Make sure the mixture does not become scorched. Add the milk, the vanilla, and the espresso powder and heat to desired temperature. This recipe makes 1 quart of hot chocolate. Enjoy!

The bread we enjoyed with our hot chocolate is Zucchini Pineapple Bread. You will find the recipe for the bread on my post, Antelope Island State Park…and Dutch Oven Zucchini Pineapple Bread.

The cookbook I referred to is From Amish and Mennonite Kitchens, by Phyllis Pellman Good and Rachel Thomas Pellman. It was published in 1998, by Good Books, Intercourse, PA.

* Just a note about my blog. During the month of January, I am trying to improve this blog of mine that I started a year ago. When I began, it was just to share our travels, and the many wonderful recipes I have found along the way. But as time has gone by, I found so many other things i wanted to share. So I have changed the name to better reflect where i want to go with the blog in the future. Recipes and our travels will still be my primary subjects, but I will also be expanding to other topics from time to time.

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Chicago Christkindlmarket…and Dr. Pepper Spiced Apple Cider

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by slvrhawk2014 in Beverages, Christmas, Illinois, Photography, Travel

≈ 1 Comment

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Beverages, Christmas, Illinois, photography, Travel

It is that time of year again…time for Christmas shopping. Shopping is not one of my favorite activities…unless it means a train ride to Chicago and a trip to Christkindlmarket. Christkindlmarket is a market held each Christmas season on Daley Plaza in Chicago, featuring artisans from all over Europe.

Here you see the booths of Christkindlmarket in front of the Chicago Picasso at Daley Plaza.

Here you see the booths of Christkindlmarket in front of the Chicago Picasso at Daley Plaza.

You will find all sorts of beautiful handmade items at the market. Some of my favorites include the hand painted ornaments, the wooden toys and creches, nutcrackers and candle carousels, hand knitted sweaters, and handmade pottery. You will also find many booths with great food. The brats are wonderful, but the very best is the mulled wine served in the “warming” hut. The wine is served in a commemorative mug in the shape of a boot that makes a wonderful keepsake of your trip. There is even a hut featuring European candies and nut confections. We never leave Chicago without more than we intended on getting. What fun!

I love the tradition of hiding a pickle in the tree, and at Christkindlmarket, you can find a pickle in any size you want.
I love the tradition of hiding a pickle in the tree, and at Christkindlmarket, you can find a pickle in any size you want.
There are booths just packed with beautiful ornaments.
There are booths just packed with beautiful ornaments.

Christkindlmarket has been a tradition in the city of Chicago since 1996. It is fashioned on the original Christkindlmarkets that have been held in Germany since 1945. This year there are sixty booths at the market. The market runs from November 21 through December 24, and is open seven days a week. For more information about Christkindlmarket, you can check out their website at http://www.christkindlmarket.com.

This is one of our favorite trips to repeat again and again. We take the train from St. Louis and spend a weekend in the Windy City, sometimes meeting friends we don’t get to see often enough.

Here are a few of the things we like to remember from our trips to Christkindlmarket.

The tree is an important part of the setting for our Christmas shopping.
The tree is an important part of the setting for our Christmas shopping.
Sixty booths will be selling wares and great food at Christkindlmarket this year.
Sixty booths will be selling wares and great food at Christkindlmarket this year.
When we are not shopping or relaxing at one of Chicago's great restaurants, we are walking the streets of the Windy City. I love this big mid-western town!
When we are not shopping or relaxing at one of Chicago’s great restaurants, we are walking the streets of the Windy City. I love this big mid-western town!
And who can go to Chicago without a trip to Macy's?
And who can go to Chicago without a trip to Macy’s?
Heading back to the train station to go home, we pass over the Chicago River.
Heading back to the train station to go home, we pass over the Chicago River.
One of my favorite pictures of Chicago is this one that I took as we were leaving for home on Amtrak.
One of my favorite pictures of Chicago is this one that I took as we were leaving for home on Amtrak.

Whether we are coming in from a big day of shopping, finishing up with decorating our home, enjoying a house full of kids and grandchildren, or just sitting and relaxing, our very favorite warm-up drink is Dr. Pepper Spiced Apple Cider. I got this recipe one cold winter day at a street market here in Rolla, at a booth that was a very welcome site! It is so very simple, yet so very good.

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Dr. Pepper Hot Spiced Cider

  • 1 gallon apple cider
  • 1-2 liter bottle of Dr. Pepper
  • 1 bottle of decorating red cinnamon candies, more or less, according to taste

Put all the ingredients into a large pot and bring to a boil. Stir occassionally, making sure the cinnamon candies don’t stick to the bottom.

That is it…couldn’t be simpler! This makes a big batch of cider, but at this house it does not last long, and any leftover spiced cider can be refrigerated. I often hear Jim, or one of the kids when they are home, going out to the refrigerator at any time of day or night…the microwave is their best friend on these trips! Enjoy!

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