Cooking - for a new lifestyle (Our Test Kitchen)

When my kids were little I often made hot chocolate using a homemade mix. As the kids got older and life got busier it was just one of the lovely things that went by the wayside, replaced by the convenient. The other day I had a craving for chocolate but it was really humid out and I just didn't crave it bad enough to make me want to walk to the store. Then I remembered the tin of cocoa in the cupboard. I had forgotten just how delicious homemade hot chocolate is. Here's the recipe I used . . . Serves 2 2 tbsp and 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 cup and 2 tbsp white sugar 1/2 pinch salt 2 tbsp and 2 tsp boiling water 1-3/4 cups milk 1/4 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 cup half-and-half cream Combine the cocoa, sugar and 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 milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil. Remove from heat ...

I invited a few of my favourite lady friends for lunch today to taste test some more recipes from No-More-Than-4 Ingredient Recipes: A Cookbook for Kitchen Klutzes by Joy Gallagher Douglas. Menu Orange Blossom Specials Chicken and Peppers Chutney Peaches Tomatoes and Brie Lovely Limas Biscuits Strawberries Lola Orange Blossom Specials 3 cups orange juice 1 cup white wine 2 thin orange slices 4 mint sprigs (optional) Put ice cubes in 4 tall glasses. In pitcher, mix orange juice and white wine. Fill glasses. Garnish with half a slice of orange and a mint sprig if desired. Serves 4 This beverage is very enjoyable! Chicken and Peppers 1 green or red sweet pepper 2 tbsp butter 4 whole chicken breasts, halved ground cumin Cut pepper in half. Core and remove seeds and slice into thin strips. Heat butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle each brest half with a pinch of cumin. Saute breasts for about 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned. Turn breasts, add pepper stri...

Menu Virgin Caesar Cocktails Oriental Salad (pre-made mix) Lime-Broiled Chicken Breasts Deviled Potatoes Parmesan Broccoli Cherry-Cheese Parfaits Serves 4 Virgin Caesar Cocktails 4 cups regular or spicy Clamato juice Celery salt 4 celery stalks 4 lime slices Wet rims of four 8-oz glasses with water and spin in celery salt. Put ice cubes in glasses and fill with Clamato juice. Add salt and pepper to taste, and stir. Garnish with celery stalks and thin slices of lime. I don't really like celery salt on the rims so I skipped this step. And of course my Caesar was "experienced" with 1 ounce of Silent Sam vodka . . . lol . . . Lime-Broiled Chicken Breasts 4 whole chicken breasts, halved 1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil 4 tbsp Italian salad dressing mix 1/4 cup fresh lime juice Place chicken breasts, skin side up, in large baking dish. Combine oil, salad dressing mix and lime juice in a small bowl. Pour evenly over chicken. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for at least 1 hour....