The first snow always brings back memories of my childhood...probably more than any other time of the year. Dad would plow the driveway with the tractor and make one huge snowbank and then help us dig tunnels through it that we could crawl in. Mom's specialty was snow caterpillars. We'd roll 6 huge balls and line them all up next to each other. It had antennas and a big face on the first ball. Mom saved all our winter boots as as we outgrew or wore them out and each ball would have a foot or two. She'd help us use food coloring to decorate each section of the caterpillar. Then we'd come in and change out of our wet clothes to warm up and mom would make us all hot cocoa from scratch. I hope someday my kids will have memories like mine.
Hot Cocoa
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch of salt
1/3 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups milk
3/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup half and half or evaporated milk
Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.Top with marshmallows
or whip cream.
