Hot Chocolate with Splenda

So, gestational diabetes has reared its low-carb head in my life again. Frustrating. Sugar-less. Difficult around the holidays!

I love chocolate and baby, it's cold outside. Naturally, hot chocolate would be on the menu. I decided to try making my own with Splenda, and you'd never know the difference!

This is the recipe on the container of Hershey's Cocoa (you know, the unsweetened powder you know you tried as a kid because you thought it would taste like chocolate) with 2 T  Splenda substituted for 2 T sugar. That amount of Splenda is a "free food" so you don't have to count those carbs, but you do have to count the carbs in your milk.

"Perfectly Chocolate" Hot Cocoa with Splenda
2 T Splenda
2T Hershey's Cocoa
Dash salt
1 cup milk
1/4 t vanilla extract

1. Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in large mug.
2. Heat milk in microwave at HIGH (100%) 1-1/2 min or until hot.
3. Gradually add milk to cocoa mixture; stir well. Stir in vanilla.

NOTE: You really need to add the milk to the dry ingredients in your large mug. If you don't you'll be eating your cocoa.

Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

Ever go to Red Lobster just for the biscuits? You know you have. You could make them at home if you follow this recipe, but you will have to clean up after yourself.

http://www.saltnturmeric.com/2008/11/cheesy-garlic-biscuits.html

Ham and Potato Soup

If you'll be having leftovers from a Christmas ham, this is a great creamy soup to make. I substituted chicken broth for some of the water and didn't use the bullion. It was great, thick and abundant!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/delicious-ham-and-potato-soup/detail.aspx

Peppermint Bark

So easy, so pretty, so yummy. Fast enough for a last minute addition to your holiday party or to give as a gift!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/holiday-peppermint-bark/detail.aspx

Sausage Dip

This is once again a find from allrecipes.com and it's called Kevin's Sausage Dip. I don't know who Kevin is, but the dip is AWESOME. So good that during my test run of it for a Christmas party my husband asked if I was going to make a whole big crock pot full of this goodness. That seemed like a bit much for 6 adults, but it turns out we could have had a whole crock pot full and there would have been no leftovers. WOW. During the party, one of the other husbands said this needs to be at every holiday, Super Bowl and gathering we have... that's gonna be a lot of dip!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/kevins-sausage-dip/detail.aspx

Vegetable Dill Dip

So good and fast and it only takes 6 ingredients that you probably have in your house right now!

NOTE: I used seasoned salt instead of Beau Monde seasoning

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/vegetable-dill-dip/detail.aspx

Were Resolutions Made to Be Broken???

Well, as we all know, I didn't do such a good job with the blogging aspect of this resolution! As for the keeping of it, I tried and, alas, failed. I have good "reasons"... the one that affected my ability to keep this resolution is pregnancy! Didn't feel much like cooking, or eating, for that matter, for the first 18 weeks (I'm currently 22 weeks along). I did manage to try a few new things since August and I will post some without all the critique and humor. Apparently it's basics around here in all aspects of life. :)

Hope you had a great 2011 and that 2012 is even better for you.

Peace,
Alice