A Movie and Cocoa

{This post is brought to you by Netflix}

I'm going to come clean right here at the beginning: Last week was National Young Readers Week, and that was supposed to be the basis of this month's Netflix sponsored post... BUT because my life is one awkward moment after the next, I didn't see the original suggestion at the beginning of the month... 

Good news though - I'm still going to write and dang it if I'm not including a recipe for what my kids describe as "Da bess hot chok-lit you hab ever maked, Mommy!" You're welcome, friends! I'm a giver by nature!

In keeping with the theme of children's literature we took a vote tonight on whether to watch James & The Giant Peach (a book that I loved as a child) or The Polar Express (a book the kids love, and loved so much that one child... just take a guess which one... took into the shower and ruined last winter). The Polar Express won the vote because the kids outnumber the adults here at Palis Palace.

As my girls watched the movie, I watched their sweet brown eyes light up. "Mia dat yooks yike a rwollaw-coasta! I would NOT go on it!" followed by Big Sis's reassuring "Marlee, you could ride with me and then you wouldn't be scared." They lost themselves in the movie, the same way they lose themselves in their bedtime stories at night. Little people fueled by imagination + watching a movie with Daddy where they sing about hot chocolate + Mommy making our very own homemade hot chocolate? Here we go, creating memories like the freaking champions of parenting that you know us to (sometimes) be!

"Hot hot! Ooh, we got it! Hot hot! Yeah, we got it!

Hot hot! Say, we got it! Hot hot! Hot chocolate!"

Homemade Hot Hot Hot Chocolate (serves 6):

• One 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 caps of pure vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups of milk
• 2 packets of cocoa or chocolate flavored drink mix
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon

In a large pot, warm the sweetened condensed milk over medium heat until it thins a little. Add in the chocolate chips once the s/c milk begins to bubble, and stir the mixture constantly with a whisk to combine the chocolate and canned milk. 

Next, you'll add in your vanilla, milk, cinnamon, and chocolate drink mix. You need to do this fairly quickly and remember to continue with the whisk while you're adding the remaining ingredients. If you don't stir the entire time you're adding ingredients, you risk burning the canned milk and chocolate chip mixture.

Once all of the ingredients are combined, raise the heat a little until the entire mixture comes to a low boil, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat once the hot chocolate has boiled for a full minute. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream.

{Chef's notation: I don't typically use measurements or time things when I cook, and tend to eyeball things and use my judgement by the sight and smell. All measurements are approximate, as are times. Good luck and remember, there's really no way to screw up hot cocoa. Unless you skimmed over that whole 'stir the entire time' part and you burn it. In that case, congrats on screwing up a completely simple recipe!}

As I said earlier in the post - the girls claim it's the best cocoa I've ever made. Photographic proof of this perfection? Done:

That smile says it all!