Good morning, luvs! 🙂 My whole being is hooraying that it’s Friday at last. It’s been a doozy of a week with much work and recovery from illness, and I’m ready for some sleeping in and a few lazy hours reading whilst sipping my first hot chocolate of the season.
If the rain lets up I simply must get out into the woods again. I spied a new trail I have yet to explore and can’t wait to find out where it leads.
I spent last night cooking up all sorts of delicious things so I can truly relax this weekend: roasted asparagus, buckwheat pancakes with coconut almond sauce, toasted prosciutto, mmm. I’m really looking forward to digging in.
I also want to get started on making Christmas presents and have been having such fun coming up with ideas. What are some of your favorite gifts you’ve made or received in years past? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
And now, dear ones, I’ll leave you with the heart-shaped sunset that so delighted me earlier this week. I hope you have a beautiful weekend. 🙂
Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
1 packet hot chocolate mix
1 tsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup hot water
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp agave syrup
Directions:
- Combine hot chocolate mix, cocoa powder, hot water, cinnamon and coconut milk.
- Whip heavy cream with agave syrup until soft peaks form.
- Spoon cream on top of hot chocolate and sprinkle with cinnamon.
I have made a hot chocolate mix in the past for gifts. This year I made some pumpkin butter and Oregon Grape jam.
Oh, I like the idea of preserves, Val! Mmm, don’t think I’ve ever had pumpkin butter before! Sounds delicious! 🙂
I’m thinking about getting into preserving when I return home but in the meantime I’m off to get some hot chocolate!
Mmmm, hot chocolate sounds good on a chilly morning like today! What a pretty heart-shaped sunset, that would have made my night too!
Not quite ready for hot chocolate season yet but I love the photos you posted for us today. Have a good weekend.
Oh good for you, Ayngelina! Enjoy your hot chocolate! 🙂
Thank you, Faith. I’m glad it delights you too. 🙂
Thank you, Lindy Lou!! Have a wonderful weekend too! 🙂
Mmm, oh yes, your hot chocolate makes me want to go whip up a cup. It’s raining here too, the perfect day for hot chocolate. =)
I love the idea of gift baskets- a game, snacks, packaged drinks; a mini spa kit with homemade soaps and lotions; a collection of unique preserves; scone mix with some loose tea and a teacup….
Those are excellent ideas, Breanne! Thank you so much. 🙂
Krista, I’ve never thought of adding coconut milk to my hot chocolate before – genius! Your hot chocolate sounds wonderful :-P. That heart-shaped sunset is priceless. Such a great shot! Can’t wait to find out what’s at the end of your undiscovered trail.
Christmas gifts already? My my, somebody’s on top of things ;-). Best Christmas gift ever was my daughter. She was a Christmas eve baby 😀
All great things on this post Krista: Friday, hot chocolate, Christmas gifts…
On that last note, I’ve made cookies many times before to give out to friends or co-workers at Christmas, they’ve always been well received!
Coconut milk in hot chocolate is truly splendid, Lequan. I feel so decadent! 🙂 I’m really NOT on top of things at all, but thought I might at least start thinking about Christmas. 🙂 Ohhh, your daughter would be the best pressie ever!!
Homemade cookies are a marvelous idea, Zorymar! I know I’d love a plate of those! 🙂
I’m sorry I’ve been so MIA this week! School has been driving me crazy but I’ve missed coming here!
Mmm the first hot chocolate of the week. That’s perfect to seep right into your bones and really stick there. Good stuff.
Thanks for the beautiful heart-shaped sunset. It’s glorious.
Sounds like you had a great hike. The Pacific Northwest produces some amazing mushrooms. I would have taken as many as I could carry.
Fantastic photos.
Be well…
I haven’t had a cup of hot chocolate for quite sometime now. Everytime I make one – its too sweet. same with the one i buy at the food court. I like it not so sweet but hard to find!!
have a lovely weekend!
jen @ http://www.passion4food.ca
Glad to hear you’re feeling better Krista, does sound like it was one heck of a week! Hope the weather is nice so you can get out & do some trekking 🙂 Good thing I’ve got some food adventures coming up this weekend myself, because your posts always make me so hungry! I’d do just about anything for a buckwheat pancake – yum!
I love homemade gifts -baking things has to be my favorite as well, so special & from the heart 🙂 xo (friend made chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks, white & dark, that were a big hit last year 🙂
What a beautiful post. Do you live near the forest… Vancouver? The Island? The photo reminds me of the temperate rainforest on vancouver island.
🙂
Valerie
Glad your on the mend Krista & Cheers Lovely…, I’ll have a cup of that too 🙂
Beautiful sunset and lovely to have a mug of hot chocolate at the end of the trek.
what beautiful images!!! thanks so much for sharing them! and what a perfect time for hot chocolate, cinnamon does lend itself so well to chocolate, they just go so well together. I think my favorite Christmas gifts are baked goods..lol…I do love to eat, and when someone takes the time to make something it seems much more special to me!
Thanks for the beautiful images and the cheerfully golden blogs Krista. Coming here always makes me smile and face the day with my eyes wide open to look for my own snapshots of beauty even in the rainy weather 🙂
nothing like hot chocolate, to warm u up!
Coconut milk and cinnamon in hot chocolate?! I would never have thought of that. Awesome idea! xx
That hot drink is dreamy and wonderful, just like your photos which are just splendid!
that looks sooooooo yumms right now!