Hot Chocolate and Holiday Snacks

Happy Holidays! Don’t forget to make them sparkle. Today’s post is all about the power of a silver fringe curtain. And creme de menthe. I’m all about easy-to-prepare holiday snacks, and this one takes the cake. Or shall I say, takes the truffles. Serve popcorn and store-bought truffles, and wash them down with spiked hot chocolate. You’ve got your sweet, your salty and your minty, thanks to the “spiked” part. Read on for details…

You would think I work for Trader Joe’s, because I’m always writing about the delicious, affordable foodie finds that this grocery store offers. And they’re great about bringing in seasonal products! Today’s post features the following items:

• Trader Joe’s Original Hot Chocolate (Dark)
• Trader Joe’s Popcorn with Herbs and Spices
• Trader Joe’s Premium Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Truffles

The truffles were a gift, the popcorn I have on hand at any given time (can’t stop eating it), and the hot chocolate is that wonderful cube-on-a-stick variety where all you have to do is heat the milk and stir in the chocolate. So easy! In fact, as the chocolate melted, I decorated the inside of the glass with delicious streaks of cocoa goodness (shown above).

Here’s how you make the hot chocolate: 

1. Brew a cup of your favorite hot cocoa. Any kind will do.
2. Add a dash of creme de menthe (a minty alcoholic beverage). I mixed a tablespoon into my hot chocolate and got a great ratio!
3. Sugar sprinkles around the rim, chocolate streaks on the glass and the candy cane “stirrer” are optional (but highly recommended)!

Don’t forget the snacks! I love baking at this time of year, but if you want to make it easy, serve up some store-bought goodies from your favorite market, bakery or grocery. There is SO MUCH delicious seasonal food available for the purchasing. So enjoy it!

In case you’re wondering, the napkins are from IKEA. I’m loving the use of pink in this season’s holiday palette, so I was thrilled to find these fun geo napkins! Speaking of fun, I hope your holiday is nothing less. I’ve been swamped every day, but I’ve tried to make the evenings festive with special treats. Hope you can do the same!