Dagoba Saves the Day

Due to spending the last 2-1/2 months non-stop in airports, I've developed a craving for Starbuck's Vanilla Steamers.  Do not fret.  I am still obsessed with Hot Chocolate.  However, I've come to appreciate Starbuck's Vanilla Steamers.  After running my errands, I decided to lazily drive through the drive thru of my local Starbuck's location.  I ordered my favorite combo:  A tall Vanilla Steamer and a blueberry scone.  In my excitement, I decided to order a Grande Steamer versus the Tall.  Yahoo!  This was going to be a wonderful day.

Unfortunately, the scones were already gone.  However, the associate helping me found a blueberry muffin.  SCORE!  After paying for my order,  I hastily took off without sipping my drink.  I just assumed the beverage was correct since the cup was labeled Vanilla Creme.  Oh my joy was stolen when I arrived at the house to heat up my muffin and enjoy my Steamer.  Yuck!  It was a Vanilla Mocha. 

I tried and tried to indulge in this beverage, but anything with coffee traditionally is just horrible for me.  So, it was off to the pantry to select a Hot Chocolate to quench my thirst for something delicious. 

The chosen hot chocolate of the day is Dagoba's Authentic Hot Chocolate.  As an aficionado of their Xocolatl spicy hot chocolate, I knew this selection would be just as fabulous.

The Authentic Hot Chocolate has a subtle blend of flavors leaving a wonderful essence in your mouth. 

It blended together fine, but required a few extra turns of the spoon in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction to ensure the cocoa powder and milk was mixed together.

In the end, Dagoba saved the day.

Recipe Alert: Key Lime Spiced Hot Cocoa

I've been on a roll this week. I believe the trip to World Market Cost Plus over the weekend jump started a hot chocolate creating frenzy. Nonetheless, I picked up a World Market brand of Key Lime Seasoning during my recent shopping trip. This seasoning contains lime juice powder, lime peel, white pepper, black pepper, ginger, thyme, onion, garlic, cinnamon, mustard, mace, nutmeg, cayenne and all spice.

Now, I know many of would think, "why in the world would you make hot cocoa with that?" But of course I think, "why not"? One of my favorite hot chocolates is Xocolatl by Dagoba which contains chilies and cinnamon and another previously popular hot chocolate at our store was Green & Black's Maya Gold Hot Chocolate which contained ground cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper and orange peel. Unfortunately, Green & Black discontinued their product last year which left a void in the spicy hot chocolate market.

Nonetheless, this hot cocoa recipe would definitely be one a Xocolatl or Maya Gold connoisseur would like, or at least I hope. If you want a sugary sweet hot cocoa, this is not for you!

Key Lime Spiced Hot Cocoa (Click here for a pdf copy of the recipe)

Yield: 1 Serving

Ingredients:

3/4 c Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 tsp Key Lime Seasoning

3 tsp Cocoa Powder

1- ½ tbls Sugar

Preparation:

1. Heat Milk and Vanilla Extract in a double-boiler over medium/low heat.

1. Whisk in Key Lime Seasoning, Cocoa Powder and Sugar. Bring to a simmer, but do not boil.
2. Continue to stir mixture until smooth and hot.
3. Use a strainer when pouring the hot cocoa mixture in to a mug. Garnish and serve.

Personally, I found this recipe to be quite very savory. The blend of sweetness and spice lingers in your month. Since it is made with cocoa powder, the consistency is lighter which allows you to focus on the various bursts of flavor. After a few sips, I thought to myself, "not bad".

Indulge & Enjoy!

Not just for hot cocoa anymore

Marshmallows are derived from an extract taken from the Altaea officinalis plant. This extract is now being used in numerous organic hair conditioners and face creams for their moisturizing characteristics.

Hot Chocolate Recall

Green & Black’s voluntary recalled a batch of their Organic Hot Chocolate, 300 g, with lot code L7348, due to glass fragments found in the product. The recall only involves the Organic Hot Chocolate Drink, 300g.

Entry Maltodextrin, Gum Arabic and Cocoa????

During my last visit to Trader Joe’s, I was trying to replenish my supply of their Organic Cocoa Powder that is non-alkalized, gluten-free and Kosher certified. Unfortunately, they stopped carrying the product which made me very unhappy. So, I had to see what other alternatives they had on their shelves. After visiting two different stores, I came home with Trader Joe’s Conacado Organic Fair Trade Cocoa, a Natural Mint Cocoa and a Sipping Chocolate.

Last night I decided to try the Conacado Cocoa. The beans are purchased from the Conacado grower’s cooperative of the Dominican Republic and the product has every single certification on the market plastered all over the can. USDA Organic, Quality Assurance International Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified and one certification/label I’ve never heard of (COR183D).

It is interesting that this is an organic product with an organic maltodextrin [corn] and organic gum Arabic in the ingredients. What those two have to do with cocoa is beyond me but….

Nonetheless, I was used my Archer Farms Organic Milk to keep in theme with the “organic” experience to make the hot cocoa. At first I was a little concerned that it would be too thin. However, I noticed the consistency appeared to thicken over a period of time. Which is excellent for me since I love thick and creamy beverages.

Overall, I must say the Conacado Cocoa was fine, but I truly miss the Organic Cocoa Powder and it’s easy to read ingredients. Bring it back!!!!!

Exotic Hot Chocolate Ingredients

I am back in California so you know what that means!!!! A trip to Surfas…this shopping trip I came away with Cinnamon & Orange Sugar, Black Onyx Cocoa Powder (Dutch-processed), Palm Sugar from Thailand, and Lake Champlain’s Organic Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (Dutched processed).

My mother surprised me with her own hot chocolate/hot cocoa ingredient shopping trip. When I arrived back home, my mother purchased actual Crillo and Forestero cocoa nibs along with beans from the Madagascar and Mexican Tabasco region.

Furthermore, I received organic powders to create our own exotic hot chocolate mixes including Goji Berry Powder, Butterscotch, Amaretto, Cheesecake, Green Papaya and a few more but I cannot remember their names. Also, mommie got Bavarian Cream, Apple and Black Raspberry extracts to truly enhance our homemade hot chocolate day. We are going to have hella-fun creating hot chocolates and cocoas with these wicked ingredients…