Whiplash Weather and Hot Chocolate

 Jan here, with some record-breaking weather news!

Two weeks ago, I shared this post: Winter Vegetable Soup, where I talked about how our weather was turning "fallish."

The next week, the high temperatures were in the high 90's - 100's!

And yes, that says our humidity was 1%. It happens in this semi-arid place!

But then this happened:

We had three inches of snow on Monday night/Tuesday morning. Folks in the higher Hills got around ten inches. Even in town, the official measurement was nearly an inch.

On September 8th. That's jaw-dropping early!

Believe it or not, our Labor Day weekend weather broke some records:

 - Daily low of 31°, breaking the 2014 record of 34°

 - Almost an inch of snow, breaking the 1951 record

 - Earliest freeze, breaking the record from September 11, 1921

 - And the big one - we set the national record for the fastest turnaround from a 100°+ day to measurable snowfall. The old record - three days - was set in September 1929 in Ardmore, SD. The new record? Two days! We went from 102° on Saturday to measurable snowfall on Monday night.

And this coming week, the forecast says we'll be in the upper-80's to low-90's. Does anyone else feel the whiplash?

So, what does this mean for us? Grilled chicken one day, chili the next, then a couple days later we have grilled burgers!

But since our nighttime temperatures are nice and cool, it's time to get back to my hot chocolate habit!

I've shared this before, many years ago, and in that post I called it:

Not Your Children's Hot Chocolate

This concoction is brewed cacao nibs, otherwise known as ground cacao beans.

The Crio Bru brand is available on Amazon, with tons of exotic varieties, but lately I've been buying cacao nibs from my favorite bulk food store in Shipshewana, Indiana.

A couple tablespoons of the cacao nibs and 12 ounces of hot water (and a French press or other brewing machine) is all you need to make a steaming cup full of chocolate goodness!

You want to let it brew for twenty minutes or so. I wrap my French press in a towel to keep it hot.

Then strain out the nibs and pour your cup full of chocolate!

I like mine plain, or if it was coffee we'd say "black." It doesn't NEED sweetener or cream, but you could add it if you want to!

This certainly doesn't taste like Swiss Miss or any other hot chocolate you might be used to, but it's OH! SO GOOD! And when you drink it straight like I do? Twenty calories. No sugar. No fat.

Can it get any better than that? I don't think so!

Jan Drexler has always been a "book girl" who still loves to spend time within the pages of her favorite books. She lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her dear husband of many years and their active, crazy dogs, Jack and Sam. You can learn more about Jan and her books on her website, www.JanDrexler.com.

Moving: my own personal treasure hunt

Jan here, happily ensconced on Heaven's Back Porch...

Jack on Evening Deer Patrol

I was reminded this summer (over and over again!) that moving is never easy, no matter how well prepared you think you are! It's been a rough go since the beginning of April, and we aren't done yet!

But we're getting settled in. Jack is establishing his own place in our abbreviated family (empty nesters!) And I'm making headway on my next book with the deadline of October 1st.

So, even though I should be writing instead of chatting here at the Cafe, I have to tell you (again) about this fabulous drink I discovered about six years ago.

Why now? Because I found my french press and bag of cocao nibs in the back of a cupboard when I was packing in June, and found them again when I was unpacking a week or so ago! I told you that moving is a treasure hunt! I've fallen in love with this drink again. (My first post about brewed chocolate was from 2013 - you can read it here.)

Basically, this drink is hot chocolate, but made like coffee. I have never learned to like coffee - although I make up for it with my addiction to Earl Grey - but this stuff is...well...South American Ambrosia!

When I first discovered brewed cocao, I drank it straight. Now I add a teaspoon of stevia sweetener and a tablespoon of cream. YUM!

You can buy cocao nibs on Amazon here, but I found my most recent bag at my favorite bulk foods store, E&S Sales in Shipshewana, Indiana. I paid $1.14 for a pound. Yes, you read that right!

I brew the chocolate in a french press reserved just for this drink.

Four tablespoons of ground cocao nibs, about twelve ounces of boiling water, and 12-15 minutes brewing time. You can use the cocao nibs two or three times, so go ahead! Brew as many batches as you want!

And did I mention how healthy it is? Antioxidants and everything!

And it is so chocolaty!

I think I'll go brew another cup right now!

Meanwhile, like I said, Jack is settling into our home and our lives. Here are some gratuitous puppy pictures:

He's a fluffy, friendly little guy who loves to play and cuddle. But he's still a baby. He spends much of his day like this:

Next spring he'll be grown enough to hike with us in the Hills, but until then it's eating and sleeping!

Jan Drexler spent her childhood dreaming of living in the Wild West and is now thrilled to call the Black Hills of South Dakota her home. When she isn’t writing she spends much of her time satisfying her cross-stitch addiction or hiking and enjoying the Black Hills with her husband of more than thirty-seven year

Not Your Children's Hot Chocolate!

Oh. Wow.

Or to quote our very own Yankee, Ruthy, "Oh. My. Lanta."

What if I told you I've discovered a way to enjoy natural, low calorie, healthy chocolate. All the antioxidants, none of the fat?

You'd think I was crazy, right?

But hold onto your seats, ladies and gentlemen, have I got a treat for you!

First of all, let me introduce you to the friend who connected me with this heavenly delight. 

I first met Jill Evely back in early 2001, when we had recently moved to Kentucky and I was trying to get connected with a local homeschool group. Jill was the coordinator, and as we became acquainted, we discovered we had a lot in common.

We're now both graduates of homeschool mom-hood, but while my path has led to spinning tales on my computer, Jill continues to keep her hand in the homeschool world as a Sonlight Consultant (check out her blog here), a soap maker (check out her Facebook page here) and a very, very delighted grandmother to three little girls!

A couple weeks ago, Jill mentioned this chocolate drink on Facebook and I was immediately captivated. After all, it IS chocolate!

Here's the scoop. You start out with ground cocoa beans. Yes, that's right. Just like ground coffee.

And then you brew them - yes, just like coffee. I like to use a french press, but you can use any coffee maker.

I use 2 Tablespoons ground cocoa beans to 6 ounces of water, as recommended on the package.

Actually, I use 4 Tablespoons to 12 ounces of water, but it works out the same :)

I let the beans brew for 15 minutes, because I've found I like my chocolate strong.

When it's done brewing, stir, and then press it. Pour the chocolately goodness in your cup, and you're good to go.

Of course, you could sweeten it, or add cream...but I like mine straight.

Don't expect this to taste like Swiss Miss or your other favorite hot chocolate. This drink is for grownups!

The good part? This cup of chocolate heaven is only 20 calories. 

20 calories in 12 ounces.

And enough chocolate to satisfy even a chocoholic like me :) Since I don't drink coffee (I've never liked the taste....), this is a fabulous alternative to tea. Winter mornings are looking good!

You can buy the cocoa beans on Amazon here. I also bought my french press on Amazon here.

There's one more thing Jill and I have in common - we enjoy our dogs. Here's a picture of her Rocky - 

Isn't he a beautiful Border Collie? He looks just like my Connor, right down to the freckles on his nose!

And that wall in the background? A Kentucky icon. These dry stone walls are all over the Bluegrass, lining the fields and edging the roads. This shot should make Missy homesick!

We'll end up today with some gratuitous puppy pictures. 

Chillin' with the chewies on a Sunday afternoon...

Wait a minute...is that the cat?

Forget the cat. Give me my chewie!