White Ancho Chili Hot Chocolate with Orange Blueberry Brandy

The 2012 Fall Kenmore Blogger Summit brought MANY wonderful things!  THIS was one of them!  When I walked into Kenmore Craftsman Live Brand Experience and saw the Kenmore Slow Cooker, I KNEW it was going to be a good weekend!  We all know I can ROCK a slow cooker challenge!  Although we didn't "win" with this cocktail, it was DEFINITELY a WINNER!  And DEFINTELY worthy of posting on my BIRTHDAY!!!!!

The Creamy White Hot Chocolate was perfect with just a touch of the Ancho Chili powder, which gave it a tiny bit of kick.  The vanilla bean infused an incredible aroma and flavor.  The Orange Blueberry Brandy balanced it all out PERFECTLY!  The chef who tasted this said he would pay $20 for a cup of this in a Chicago Restaurant!  I think that says it all!

This is definitely a "sipping" drink, as it's very rich.  Rich is good though, folks!  You won't be sorry you made this!

Want to see how the magic happened?!  Watch this video!  See if you can spot me ;)  I'm the short one in dark purple!  

Ingredients:

White Ancho Chili Hot Chocolate:

2 cups Heavy Cream

6 cups Skim Milk

1/4 tsp. Ancho Chili Powder

1/2 cup Agave Nectar

1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped

12 oz. White Chocolate Chips

Blueberry Brandy:

1 1/2 tsp. Orange Zest

1 slice of orange

1/2 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped

1/4 cup dried blueberries

1 1/2 cups Honey Brandy

Directions: 

You will need a 4 Quart or Larger Slow Cooker for the White Ancho Chili Hot Chocolate

You will need one of the mini slow cookers for the Orange Blueberry Brandy.

For the White Ancho Chili Hot Chocolate:

Pour the heavy cream and milk into your large slow cooker.

Slice your vanilla bean and place it and the scraped seeds into the milk.

Add in the Ancho Chili Powder, Agave Nectar and White Chocolate Chips.

Give it a stir and stir every 1/2 hour to 45 minutes.

Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours, or until chocolate is melted.

In your Mini Slow Cooker Warmer:

Place the orange zest, slice of orange, half vanilla bean, dried blueberries and brandy.

Let it warm for about 2 hours.

When serving, spoon in a 2-3 Tbsp. of the Orange Blueberry Brandy into your mug and add in about 3/4 cup of the White Ancho Chili Hot Chocolate.  Give it a quick stir and ENJOY!

Apple Cider

I've been wanting to make my own Apple Cider for quite some time now.  After a little bit of research, I knew this would be a piece of cake in my slow cooker!

This was easy and super delicious!  Best of all, it's completely sugar-free and healthy for you, or your kids, or your guests!  It can be served hot or cold and you get the bonus of Chunky Applesauce out of the mix too!  BONUS! (see below)

You can let this simmer while you're out trick or treating, then warm-up with a nice hot mug of it when you get home.  OR, you can chill it and drink it with your breakfast the next morning.  Either way, you have a homemade healthy treat for your family!

Give it a try!

Apple Cider

Makes about 1 liter

Ingredients:

9-10 Apples (Use a variety of apples, such as Gala, Red Delicious and Fuji)

4 cups water

1 cinnamon stick

Directions:

Wash the apples, core and slice them.

Place them into your crock (keep the peel on) with the 4 cups of water.

Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours.

Scoop out all of your apples into a colander and let the juice drain into a bowl.  

Pour the juice back into your crock with the remaining juice left from scooping the apples out.

Place the cinnamon stick into the juice and let it simmer on low for an hour or two.

You can either serve it warm, or refrigerate it and serve it cold.

Enjoy!



Chunky Applesauce

Directions:

Follow the method above for making apple cider.

After you drain the juice from the apples, place them in a bowl and mash them.

Add 2-3 Tbsp. of white Sugar.

Enjoy!

Hot Chocolate - Peppermint, Dark and Orange

What a FUN experiment today!  Home-made hot chocolate is WAY more delicious that anything you can buy in the store!  And the best part about it, you can really create it any way you want!

I bought some delicious Dark Chocolate, Orange Chocolate and Peppermint Bark Chocolate!  Each were extremely delicious!

Please feel free to choose any type of chocolate or milk you would like.  I used Lactaid Milk since I'm lactose intolerant, but you can use any kind you would like.  I even thought about using my Vanilla Almond Milk.....I think that would ROCK with chocolate!

Also, I will give some suggestions on ADULT versions! :)  Thought you might smile when you read that! ;)

For more versions of Hot Chocolate, check out Ginger from Crock Pot Recipe Exchange's Nutella Hot Chocolate and White Hot Chocolate.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

6 cups Milk (I used Vitamin D, but use whatever you would like)

3.5 ounces Peppermint Bark (I used Ghiradelli Squares....and they were awesome!)

1 tsp. Vanilla

OPTIONAL ADULT ADDITION: Shot of Peppermint Schnapps

Directions:

Pour the milk and vanilla into your crock.

Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours or on HIGH for 1 1/2 hours.

Chop up your chocolate and whisk it into your milk.

Continue to cook on LOW for another 1 hour, or on HIGH for 1/2 hour.

Top with whipped cream and a square of peppermint bark.

Enjoy!

Dark Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

6 cups Milk (I used Vitamin D, but use whatever you would like)
3.5 ounces Dark Chocolate (I used Godiva)
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
OPTIONAL ADULT ADDITION: Shot of Irish Cream Liquour or Godiva Chocolate Liqour

Directions:

Pour the milk and vanilla into your crock.

Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours or on HIGH for 1 1/2 hours.

Chop up your chocolate and whisk it into your milk with the brown sugar.

Continue to cook on LOW for another 1 hour, or on HIGH for 1/2 hour.

Top with whipped cream and shaved dark chocolate on top.

Enjoy!

Dark Orange Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

6 cups Milk (I used Vitamin D, but use whatever you would like)
3.5 ounces Dark Orange Chocolate (I used Godiva)
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
OPTIONAL ADULT ADDITION: Shot of Frangelico or Triple Sec

Directions:

Pour the milk and vanilla into your crock.

Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours or on HIGH for 1 1/2 hours.

Chop up your chocolate and whisk it into your milk with the brown sugar.

Continue to cook on LOW for another 1 hour, or on HIGH for 1/2 hour.

Top with mini marshmallows.

Enjoy!