Mexican Hot Chocolate

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This drink is divine, the perfect thing for a cold evening. If you can find cinnamon-flavored Ibarra chocolate, use it instead of the semisweet chocolate and omit the cinnamon and brown sugar.

• 4 CUPS MILK
• 3 THREE-INCH LONG CINNAMON STICKS, BROKEN IN HALF
• 30 WHOLE CLOVES
• 1 TEASPOON ANISEED
• 5 OUNCES SEMI SWEET CHOCOLATE, CHOPPED
• 2 TABLESPOON SUNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER
• 2 TABLESPOONS BROWN SUGAR

In a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk, cinnamon, cloves, and aniseed to a simmer. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk until the chocolate melts. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 45 minutes. Gently warm before serving; using a double boiler is the most foolproof method. Serves 4.

This post is an excerpt from The Joy of Self-Care by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Garlic Spread

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Years ago, independent filmmaker Les Blank made a movie called Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers. If
you agree, you should try this confit. Slather it on sourdough baguettes or use it any time a recipe calls for cooked garlic. And don’t forget to use the leftover garlic-infused oil. If you have a large garlic crop or make a trip to the farmers’ market and come upon an abundance of it at a bargain price, you can package this up in gift jars for friends as well as for yourself.

• 8 OUNCES FRESH GARLIC CLOVES, PEELED
• 2 CUPS OLIVE OIL
• STERILIZED JARS WITH LIDS THAT SEAL

In a medium saucepan, bring the garlic and oil to a simmer and cook over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes or until garlic is very tender. Cool and pack into containers. Store in refrigerator and use within two weeks.
Makes 2 pounds.

This post is an excerpt from The Joy of Self-Care by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Craving Crackers

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Crackers are incredibly easy to make, and homemade ones are so much better than store-bought ones. I love sesame seeds, so I sprinkle some on just before baking— you can too!

• 2 CUPS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
• 1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER
• SALT
• 3⁄4 CUPWATER, APPROXIMATELY
• 4 TABLESPOONS BUTTER, MARGARINE, OR OTHER SHORTENING
• OPTIONAL: SESAME SEEDS

Preheat oven to 325°F. Sift together flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. With two knives, cut the shortening into the flour until mixture is fine. Add just enough water to make a firm dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll out thinly with a floured rolling pin. Using a round cookie cutter, stamp out crackers, prick them all over with a fork, and sprinkle with salt and sesame seeds if desired. Bake on a lightly greased cookie sheet for 20 minutes or until crisp. Cool on a rack and store in airtight container. Makes 2 dozen.

This post is an excerpt from The Joy of Self-Care by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Handmade Pretzels

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Pretzels are great snacks that can easily be made at home. The longer you knead the dough, the softer the pretzel will be. If you’ve got kids, enlist them—to make the process more fun, the dough can easily be formed in the shapes of letters and numbers.

• 1 1⁄2 CUPS WARM WATER
• 4 CUPS FLOUR
• 1 PACKAGE YEAST
• 1 TEASPOON SALT, PLUS MORE FOR ON TOP OF PRETZELS
• 1 TABLESPOON SUGAR
• 1 EGG, BEATEN

Preheat oven to 425°F. Put the warm water into a large bowl, sprinkle in yeast, and stir until it dissolves. Add
sugar, flour, and salt. Mix well, then knead dough until it is smooth and soft. Roll and twist dough into desired shapes—letters, numbers, twists, and so on. Grease two cookie sheets. Lay the pretzel dough shapes onto cookie sheets. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle lightly with salt. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden. Makes 1 to 2 dozen, depending on size.

This post is an excerpt from The Joy of Self-Care by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Chocolate Pudding

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There is nothing like chocolate pudding made from scratch! It’s quite simple to make. If you are a fan of the “skin” of the pudding, chill uncovered (the longer you chill it, the thicker it will get). If you dislike the skin, cover the pudding tightly and serve as soon as it’s cold.

• 4 TABLESPOONS COCOA
• 4 TABLESPOONS CORNSTARCH
• 2/3 CUP SUGAR
• 1⁄4 TEASPOON SALT
• 2 CUPS LIGHT CREAM
• 1 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT

In the top of a double boiler over hot but not boiling water, combine cocoa, cornstarch, sugar, and salt. Add 1⁄2 cup cream and stir until smooth. Stir remaining cream in slowly, stirring constantly, until thick. Stir in vanilla. Pour into container and chill. Serves 4.

This post is an excerpt from The Joy of Self-Care by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Perfect Mashed Potatoes

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Potatoes are high on the list of universal comfort foods. And what could be more basic than good old mashed potatoes? This recipe comes from Jane and Michael Stern’s Square Meals: A Cookbook. The authors claim to have found the best way to make perfect mashed potatoes. See what you think.

• –  2POUNDSMEDIUMPOTATOES,PEELED AND HALVED
• –  1⁄2CUPMILK
• –  1⁄4CUPHEAVYCREAM
• –  3TABLESPOONSBUTTER
• –  SALTANDPEPPERTOTASTE

Boil potatoes in rapidly boiling salted water until you can pierce them easily with a fork. Drain and return
potatoes to pot, then reheat until all moisture is evaporated, being careful not to let them burn. Transfer
to mixing bowl and mash well. Combine milk and cream in a small bowl and pour into potatoes while continuing to mash. Add butter, salt, and pepper to taste. Serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.

This post is an excerpt from The Joy of Self-Care by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Cranberry Vinegar

https://puttingupwiththeturnbulls.com/2010/12/07/festive-cranberry-vinegar/

You’ve heard of raspberry vinegar, but what about cranberry? It’s great on salads and chicken dishes. Wash and pick over the cranberries, then thoroughly pat dry using clean towels. Use 1 cup of fresh cranberries per quart of vinegar. Pack the cranberries into clean bottles or jars with lids or corks, and fill each container with white wine vinegar that has been heated just to the boiling point. Cork or cap them after filling, then set them on a sunny windowsill for about two weeks (four weeks if it’s not very sunny). The warmth of the sun will infuse the vinegar with the cranberry flavor. Do a taste test; if the vinegar doesn’t seem flavorful enough, strain it and add more cranberries. When it suits you, label and decorate the jars with a beautiful ribbon. Store at room temperature.

This post is an excerpt from The Joy of Self-Care by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Mood-Enhancing Spray

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If the dark days of late fall are dragging you down, consider this little pick-me-up—an easy-to-make rose room spray. Besides being the classic scent of romance, rose is said to have antidepressant properties; lavender and bergamot are also mood lifters.

Simply combine 4 drops of rose essential oil, 2 drops of bergamot essential oil, 2 drops of lavender, and 1 cup of water. Place in small plastic spray bottle, shake well, and spray the room.

This post is an excerpt from The Joy of Self-Care by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Homemade Mint Lip Balm

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The microwave makes this a snap.

• 1 POUND JAR PETROLEUM JELLY
• 1 MICROWAVE-SAFE QUART CONTAINER
• 2 TABLESPOONS DRIED MINT, FINELY PULVERIZED
• 1 OUNCE SHREDDED BEESWAX(AVAILABLE AT CRAFT STORES)
• PIECE OF CHEESECLOTH
• 1 QUART CONTAINER WITH SPOUT
• 1 OUNCE ALOE VERA
• 20 DROPS LIQUID VITAMIN E
• 2 TABLESPOONS WITCH HAZEL
• TINY REUSABLE CONTAINERS WITH LIDS (AVAILABLE AT HARDWARE OR CRAFT STORES)

Take the petroleum jelly out of its jar and place in a microwave-safe quart container. Set the microwave melted. Take the cheesecloth and fold it in half. Strain the beeswax and petroleum jelly mixture through
the cheesecloth into the quart container with spout. Discard cheesecloth. Stir in the remaining ingredients and pour into containers. Fills several containers, depending on size.

This post is an excerpt from The Joy of Self-Care by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Headache Pillow

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This is a Midwestern pioneer recipe

• 1⁄2 OUNCE GROUND CLOVES
• 2 OUNCES DRIED LAVENDER
• 2 OUNCES DRIED MARJORAM
• 2 OUNCES DRIED ROSE PETALS
• 1 TEASPOON ORRIS ROOT
• 2 PIECES OF COTTON BATTING, EACH SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN A HANDKERCHIEF
• 2 HANDKERCHIEFS
• OPTIONAL: LACE OR RIBBON

Grind spices, flowers, and orris root together, either with a mortar and pestle or in a food processor. Pack the powder in between the two pieces of cotton batting. Sew together three sides of the two handkerchiefs. Place the cotton “pillow” inside and hand sew the fourth side tight enough that the contents don’t leak out. Decorate with lace or ribbons if desired. To use, lie on pillow, perhaps tucked under your cheek, and inhale fragrance or place it over your eyes.

This post is an excerpt from The Joy of Self-Care by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.