The Nourishing Gourmet

Nourishing. Satisfying. Gourmet.

Katie Mae

Instant Raspberry Hot Cocoa Mix (Dairy-free)

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instant-raspberry-hot-cocoa

By Katie Mae Stanley of Nourishing Simplicity

Rich cocoa mingling with creamy coconut and tangy raspberries.

Cold winter days were made for hot cocoa. It’s the time of year that is perfect for warming yourself by the fire and wrapping your hands around a steaming mug of cocoa.

You love hot cocoa, you savor the simple art of heating the milk on your stove in your favourite stainless steel pot and mixing your cocoa and sweetener together and whisking it into the milk.

But some days, you just can’t. You may be having a busy day. Or maybe you are just.too.tired.

Instant cocoa mixes from the store are tempting for those days when you aren’t going to be able to make a cup from scratch. Unfortunately, the ingredients are generally not nourishing. If you need it to be dairy-free, you are going to be hard pressed to find one.

Did you know that you can make your own dairy-free mix in 5 minutes?

Coconut milk powder is my go to for making instant hot cocoa. It is dairy-free and full of nutrients.

A basic mix is always nice to have on hand but sometimes you want something a little different. Raspberry and chocolate have long been a favourite combination of mine, second only to peppermint. I have enjoyed many cups of raspberry Earl Grey hot cocoa over the years.

This instant raspberry hot cocoa mix only has five ingredients, coconut milk powder, cocoa powder, unrefined sugar, freeze dried raspberries, and unrefined salt. It is perfect for those days when you need an easy to prepare cup of hot cocoa! If you prefer you can use powdered cow or goat milk.

Ingredients Needed:

Instant raspberry hot cocoa mix is also a perfect gift when paired with a cute mug!

Instant Raspberry Hot Cocoa Mix

  • 2 cup freeze dried raspberries
  • 1 cup coconut milk powder
  • 1 cup powdered cocoa (Fair trade and organic, preferred)
  • 3/4 cup unrefined sugar
  • 1/8 tsp unrefined salt

Directions:

1: Place all the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high for about one minute or until the raspberries are completely powdered.

2:  Sift the mix into a bowl using a sifter or a fine mesh strainer to remove the raspberry seeds.

3: Store in a glass jar for up to a year.

Mix 1 to 3 TBS of cocoa mix with 8 ounces of hot water depending on the desired strength of the cocoa. Stir until smooth. Top with coconut milk whipped cream if desired.

Instant Raspberry Hot Cocoa
 
Serves: 3½ cups
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Ingredients
  • 2 cup freeze dried raspberries
  • 1 cup coconut milk powder
  • 1 cup powdered cocoa
  • ¾ cup unrefined sugar
  • ⅛ tsp unrefined salt
Instructions
  1. Place all the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high for about one minute or until the raspberries are completely powdered.
  2. Sift the mix into a bowl using a sifter or a fine mesh strainer to remove the raspberry seeds.
  3. Store in a glass jar for up to a year.
  4. Mix 1 to 3 TBS of cocoa mix with 8 ounces of hot water depending on the desired strength of the cocoa. Stir until smooth. Top with coconut milk whipped cream if desired.

 

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Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

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pumpkin-spice-hot-cocoa

By Katie Mae Stanley of Nourishing Simplicity

Warm spices mingling with rich cocoa, a touch of pumpkin mixed in, topped with maple whipped cream – it’s a whole new way to enjoy fall.

Every year as the cooler weather settles in the world gets a tiny bit extremely excited about pumpkin spice lattes and other fall drinks. I didn’t get the hype for several years until I made one myself, after that I was hooked.

This year as autumn made it’s appearance I decided that I needed a change – enter pumpkin spice hot cocoa! Chocolate and pumpkin are a surprising, yet delicious combination. That’s why recipes such as my pumpkin chocolate chip muffins are so tasty.

I am a huge fan of hot cocoa, and all forms of dark chocolate, if truth be told. I pretty much have a hot cocoa recipe to go with each season now that this tasty pumpkin spice version has been added to my list. You can easily use pumpkin pie spice from the store, but I have been using my own blend that takes less than five minutes to whip up.

Other Autumn Drinks to Enjoy:

Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 cups raw milk (or milk or milk substitute of your choice)
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
3 TBS cocoa powder
3 TBS maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/8 tsp unrefined salt
Maple whipped cream (optional)

1. Heat your milk in a small saucepan. (If you are using raw milk and want to preserve the enzymes do not heat above 110.)

2. While the milk is heating, mix the remaining ingredients in a small bowl, making a paste.

3. Once the milk is warm, mix the cocoa paste into the milk with a whisk.

4. Pour into two mugs and top with maple whipped cream and extra pumpkin pie spice if desired.

Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
 
Serves: 2
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Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
Ingredients
  • 2 cups raw milk (or milk or milk substitute of your choice)
  • ¼ cup pumpkin puree
  • 3 TBS cocoa powder
  • 3 TBS maple syrup
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • ⅛ tsp unrefined salt
  • Maple whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
  1. Heat your milk in a small sauce pan. ( If you are using raw milk and want to preserve the enzymes do not heat above 110).
  2. While the milk is heating, mix the remaining ingredients in a small bowl, making a paste.
  3. Once the milk is warm, mix the cocoa paste into the milk with a whisk.
  4. Pour into two mugs and top with maple whipped cream and extra pumpkin pie spice if desired.

What is your favorite autumn hot drink?

Thai Chicken Fried Rice

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Thai Chicken Fried Rice NG

By Katie Mae Stanley of Nourishing Simplicity

Savory grains of rice are mixed with fresh summer vegetables, tender chicken, and spicy basil.

Thai chicken fried rice is the perfect dish to enjoy anytime, especially in the summer when gardens are bursting with zucchini, bell peppers, string beans, and basil, all of which make up this dish.

I am a huge rice fan. Part of that comes from living in Mexico for ten years where I ate it almost every day. The other part is simply because rice is pretty tasty. It helps that rice is an excellent way to stretch pricier items like meat. Even now that I have been State-side for over two years I crave rice if I go more than a few days without eating it.

Rice is the humble staple of many cultures. Whether it is Arabic rice, Chinese egg fried rice, Jamaican rice and peas, or a savory miso rice congee, rice is an integral part of life. It is the substance that keeps many people going.

Unless it is necessary for me to go grain-free I don’t see my kitchen ever going without rice.

Thai is one of my weakness when it comes to picking a restaurant to eat at. If I could, I would eat it out at least once a week but that is not exactly budget friendly.

Thankfully over time I have started to learn how to recreate some of my favorite dishes, like yellow curry or Kimi’s simple Thai broth. It was only a matter of time that I finally broke down to create a Thai chicken fried rice that satisfied my cravings.

This Thai chicken fried rice is a combination of three of my favorite restaurants in various parts of California.

I mentioning making velvet chicken in this recipe. It is a process of poaching the chicken to make it more tender. It is a beneficial step but not necessary. There are times when I skip it, so don’t pressure yourself to do it. If you have a little extra time then it is worth it in my book.

If you are confused about why we are okay with white rice read more about it here.

Thai Chicken Fried Rice

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups steamed white rice (Jasmine preferred), made at least a few hours before and chilled
  • 1 pound chicken breast, thinly sliced and velveted (optional)
  • 1 cup Thai basil*
  • 1 cup zucchini, quartered and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup string beans or long beans, chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 4 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 2 teaspoons coconut/palm sugar
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce/tamari for gluten free
  • 1/2 teaspoon unrefined salt

* If Thai basil can not be found, feel free to substitute with sweet basil. To cut the basil roll a few leaves at a time into a cigar shape and thinly slice.

Directions:

1. Cook the rice a few hours to a day or two in advance. Allow to cool.

2. Thinly slice the chicken breast. Use the velveting method to par-cook the chicken or set the raw chicken aside to cook in the skillet.

3. Quarter the zucchini, cutting it 1/4 of an inch thick. Remove the end from the string or long beans, cutting them into 1/4 inch pieces. Cut the bell pepper in half, removing the seeds. Thinly slice the bell pepper. Roll a few basil leaves at a time like a cigar. Thinly slice the rolls of basil. Crush the garlic.

4. Mix the soy sauce, palm sugar, and salt in a small dish.

5. In a wok or cast iron skillet heat the oil for two minutes.  Add the green beans and bell pepper. Cook on high heat for 5 minutes, allowing them to blister, stirring frequently.

6. Add the chicken and crushed garlic. Stir until the chicken is almost cooked.

7. Add the rice, zucchini, the soy sauce mixture. Stir for 3-5 minutes until thoroughly mixed and heated through. Add the basil and stir again.

Top with extra basil if desired.

Thai Chicken Fried Rice
 
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups steam white rice (Jasmin preferred)
  • 1 lb chicken breast, thinly sliced and velveted (optional)
  • 1 cup Thai basil*
  • 1 cup zucchini, quartered and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup string beans or long beans, chopped into ¼ inch pieces
  • 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 4 TBS coconut oil
  • 2 tsp coconut/palm sugar
  • 2 tsp soy sauce/tamari for gluten free
  • ½ tsp unrefined salt
Instructions
  1. * If Thai basil can not be found, feel free to substitute with sweet basil. To cut the basil roll a few leaves at a time into a cigar shape and thinly slice.
  2. Cook the rice a few hours to a day or two in advance. Allow to cool.
  3. Thinly slice the chicken breast. Use the velveting method to par-cook the chicken or set the raw chicken aside to cook in the skillet.
  4. Quarter the zucchini, cutting it a ¼ of an inch thick. Remove the end from the string or long beans, cutting them into ¼ inch pieces. Cut the bell pepper in half, removing the seeds. Thinly slice the bell pepper. Roll a few basil leaves at a time like a cigar. Thinly slice the rolls of basil. Crush the garlic.
  5. Mix the soy sauce, palm sugar, and salt in a small dish.
  6. In a wok or cast iron skillet heat the oil for two minutes. Add the green beans and bell pepper. Cook on high heat for 5 minutes, allowing them to blister, stirring frequently.
  7. Add the chicken and crushed garlic. Stir until the chicken is almost cooked.
  8. Add the rice, zucchini, the soy sauce mixture. Stir for 3-5 minutes until thoroughly mixed and heated through. Add the basil and stir again.
  9. Top with extra basil if desired.

Some links may be affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on items purchased through my links. 

Vanilla Bean Creme Fauxccino

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Vanilla Bean Creme Fauxccino NG

By Katie Mae Stanley of Nourishing Simplicity

This drink is sure to hit the spot on a hot day. It is creamy, slightly sweet, and bursting with vanilla.

Few things are better than drinking a cold icy drink out of a mason jar with a fun straw in the summer. This vanilla bean creme fauxccino is definitely at the top of my list right now. Hot days make me want to wander into a coffee chain and order a nice big blended iced drink. Honest moment here, I may have in the past couple months given in and ordered a few with less syrup and dairy-free milk.

As you know, I am a big fan of fauxccinos for many reasons- they are delicious, so much better for you, less expensive, and easy to whip up! You can have your own ready in less time than it takes to drive to the coffee shop!

This specific fauxccino is coffee free, it’s a milk based drink instead. I used almond milk, but you can adapt to whatever type of milk you prefer. The key to this icy drink is making frozen milk cubes. They ensure that your drink doesn’t become watery.

Other Fauxccinos to Enjoy:

Vanilla Bean Creme Fauxccino

1 cup milk (raw, almond, or coconut)
8 milk ice cubes (raw, almond, or coconut)
2 TBS maple syrup or raw honey
1/2 vanilla bean caviar*
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Whipped cream (optional)

1. Freeze milk of choice in an ice cube tray until solid.

2. *Cut a vanilla bean in half, slice it open. Use the sharp side of the knife to scrape out the caviar (seeds).

3. Place all the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until smooth.

4. Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream if desired.

Vanilla Bean Creme Fauxccino
 
Serves: 2 cups
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Ingredients
  • 1 cup milk (raw, almond, or coconut)
  • 8 milk ice cubes (raw, almond, or coconut)
  • 2 TBS maple syrup or raw honey
  • ½ vanilla bean caviar*
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
  1. Freeze milk of choice in an ice cube tray until solid
  2. *Cut a vanilla bean in half, slice it open. Use the sharp side of the knife to scrape out the caviar (seeds).
  3. Place all the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until smooth.
  4. Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream if desired.

Some links may be affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on items purchased through my links.