Comments on: Exercises in Frugality, Part 2

By: Barbara Frank

Barbara Frank — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:51:44 +0000

Thanks, Katherine, for sharing that recipe. Personally, I prefer cocoa made like that. But as my kids grew up, they enjoyed making their own mug of cocoa from a mix whenever they wanted it. I kind of miss making a big pot of cocoa for the gang….

By: Katherine

Katherine — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:59:33 +0000

Here’s a recipe for some really nice home-made hot cocoa. It doesn’t have any powdered milk.

1/2 C sugar
1/3 C water
1/4 C cocoa powder
4 C milk
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 tsp vanilla extract

Mix cocoa, sugar, water and salt together in saucepan. Over medium heat, stir constantly until mixture boils. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in milk, but DO NOT BOIL. Heat to desired temperature. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Makes 4-5 servings.

By: Barbara Frank

Barbara Frank — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:04:06 +0000

I know, Susan, it was the dry milk that drove up the price so much! They say they’re selling fresh milk for less than cost here in WI, so it’s a bargain, but still…..those Chinese must be socking it to us with the dry milk price (I’m assuming it’s made in China because the phrase on the package, “Distributed in the USA,” seems to be code for that nowadays—ugh.)

By: Susan G

Susan G — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:26:46 +0000

I couldn’t believe it when dry milk became pricier than in-the-jug real milk. It was hard to get the kids to undo their habit of using the homemade cocoa mix. “No, guys, really! Just heat the milk out of the fridge and put Quik in it!”