Happy December!

As we start this month I decided I would try and have a daily post with one seasonal recipe or food how to, a youtube link to holiday music and a picture of either some Christmas decoration in my house or something really cool I see when I am out and about.

Today was still warm here but dreary and I decided I wanted to have a cup of hot chocolate, but I did not want to go to the store.  (I was busy washing all the clothes from our trip to the Northwest. Did I mention I hate flying through Dallas and cancelled flights and getting home well after midnight instead of the early evening?)
 My dad taught me to make hot chocolate this way when I was a kid. I imagine it was some WW2 way to stretch ingredients. It makes a very tasty hot drink that is neither too sweet nor too rich.  Since I am not a marshmallow person I don't add them but I understand from people who really like them that it makes the flavor much richer.

Easy Peasy Hot Chocolate for 1

1 1/4 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup boiling water
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, optional (I don't use it)
1/2 cup warm milk
2 tablespoons warm cream

Stir the cocoa and sugar in the bottom of a medium size mug.  Pour the boiling water in the mug and stir to dissolve the sugar.  Add the vanilla if using then stir in the milk and cream.  Top with marshmallows or whipped cream if desired, or be like me and just drink it as is.  It is very tasty and no shopping is required.  Plus I know every ingredient and can not only pronounce the names but I can spell them all.

This is what you see when you walk in the front door of my house.  I want everyone who enters to know immediately that we are sincerely hoping they have a glorious holiday season.  I found this old frame with a picture in it many years ago for 1 dollar. Then I gessoed the original art and  painted 3 very abstract Christmas trees on it.  We placed it on the mantle each year at Christmas but over the years it had taken a beating and needed refreshing.  At first I was just going to touch up the background, but instead I covered the entire painting with gesso and just decided to paint an simple Christmas wish on the canvas.  I was in a hurry to get the foyer decorated, and most likely I will add something else to it, but for now this is what is happening. I also found some gold paint to use on the frame.  It now leans against the wall on a small stool and has some greenery with pinecones and holly berries on the stool seat in front of it.


And to begin December
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-k7BWDm_Lg