Good news for people who love Hot Chocolate! Spicy Hot Chocolate and Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

Written by Natalie –

Now that winter is ramping up, all I want to do is get super cozy and indulge in my favorite comfort beverage – hot chocolate. I present to you my new favorite recipe, Spicy Hot Chocolate. The Abuelita Chocolate gives it a rich chocolate flavor with a touch of cinnamon which is so near and dear to Latinos around the holidays. We spiced it up with cayenne pepper and then gave it an aromatic touch with ground cloves. I love this drink. I might try it over ice in the summer just to get my fix.

And sometimes, the hot chocolate isn’t enough to satisfy my chocolate obsession, so we created these Hot Chocolate Cupcakes. Everything hot chocolate! These are TRIPLE chocolate cupcakes, combining Rich Milk Chocolate Flavor NESTLÉ Hot Cocoa Mix, NESTLÉ NESQUIK Chocolate Flavor Powder AND NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels. The flavor is deliciously decadent and also incredibly moist. We decided to have fun and decorate them for the holidays as Santas and Snowmen. Kids would absolutely love decorating these cupcakes with WONKA NERDS Candies. Have fun!

Spicy Hot Chocolate

Ingredients for 2 servings:

• 2 cups 2% milk
• 1/2 tablet NESTLÉ ABUELITA Chocolate
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions:

HEAT milk in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add Abuelita Chocolate; cook, stirring frequently with a whisk, for 5 to 7 minutes or until chocolate is dissolved. Stir in cayenne and cloves; let stand for 1 minute. Using a whisk or hand blender, whisk mixture until frothy. Serve hot.

Cook’s Tip: Sprinkle with cayenne pepper, if desired.

Links:

• Spicy Hot Chocolate
• Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
• NESTLÉ ABUELITA Chocolate

Related Recipes:

Fresh Mint-Infused Hot Cocoa	Spicy Hot Malted Chocolate

Family Game Night & a Trail Mix Recipe

Written by Chris -

Spending quality time together as a family, whether it be eating together or gathering around the table for game night, is essential. This is a time to reconnect; a fun and interactive way for family members to spend time together.

Over the summer, our family took our love for games to a whole new level. We decided to register for Family Game Night on The Hub network. Guess what? We were selected!

If you aren’t familiar with Family Game Night, this is an hour show featuring classic board games where families come together to compete for prizes and a chance to win cash. The show we were on aired last Sunday.

It was a first for us and a first for FGN; we’ve never been on a game show and they’ve never had triplets as contestants.

Our hearts were racing as host Todd Newton called our names. As we ran to the stage, we saw that we were going to be playing Yahtzee. As Mr. Newton talked through the prizes, my husband had his eye on 3 of a Kind, which was a VIP sports package. The kids were pulling for a Straight, which were 3 laptops. Four of a Kind was a trip to the Caribbean – that’s what I was secretly hoping for. My daughter had two ones with her first roll, so we decided to play for 3 of a Kind. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out so well. We only had two ones and by our third roll, it was too late to change course.

We still had an opportunity to win by pulling a card from Mr. Monopoly shown above. If we picked the card with the correct colors, we had a chance to play for a car.

Well, it just wasn’t meant to be. See the family next to us also in red? They won it all! But, like I said earlier, what matters is the quality time you spend with your loved ones. This was the most amazing experience for us and we have created so many memories that will last us a lifetime!

So I leave you with this; a game night recipe that I promise will go over well with kids and adults alike!

Raisinets Trail Mix

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (12.5 ounces) NESTLÉ RAISINETS Milk Chocolate-Covered Raisins
• 2 cups small pretzel twists
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup coarsely chopped dried apricots
• 1 cup coarsely chopped dried apples

Directions:

COMBINE Raisinets, pretzels, marshmallows, raisins, apricots and apples in large bowl.

NOTE: Any variety of Raisinets can be substituted.

Links:

• Raisinets Trail Mix
• Family Game Night
• Nestlé Kitchens Snacks on Pinterest

Related recipes:

Sweet Minglers Recipe

Nutty Raisinets Trail Mix

Healthier Doughnuts: Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes Recipe

Written by Chris -

Let’s face it; doughnuts taste great! But I really haven’t met a healthy or healthier doughnut I’ve liked — until these Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes. My kids’ love for pumpkin bread helped inspire this recipe.

Last Halloween, I brought Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes to their classrooms for their Fall Harvest party. To my surprise (well, not really — it was sweet season after all), there were bakery doughnuts there, too. My immediate thought was that my doughnuts had no chance. I fully expected the container to come home full, or at least half full.

Guess what? Every single doughnut got eaten! Every. Single. One. I was so happy! I’m not one to squash indulgence; it has its place every now and again. But when there is an equally good tasting, healthier alternative, I say go for it.

Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes

Ingredients for 36 doughnut holes:

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 3/4 cups white whole-wheat flour or 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 cup Baker’s sugar (ultrafine pure cane sugar)
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 to 4 tablespoons butter (melted (optional)

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 425° F. Lightly spray mini muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray.

WHISK flour, baking powder, 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon and salt in large mixer bowl until combined.

WHISK eggs, oil, brown sugar and pumpkin in medium mixing bowl until well combined. Pour pumpkin mixture into flour mixture; stir until just combined. Fill each mini muffin cup with about 1 rounded tablespoon batter. A small cookie scoop works perfectly for scooping, as shown above!

BAKE for 9 to 10 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean (tops should be golden brown). Cool in pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle.

COMBINE Baker’s sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon in a pie plate or shallow bowl (or even a zip-top bag works well!). Brush or dip tops (or all sides) of doughnut holes in melted butter to lightly coat; roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture as shown above. There will be about ½ cup cinnamon-sugar mixture left which can be discarded. (For less fat and calories, skip the butter and just roll in cinnamon-sugar.)

ENJOY warm or at room temperature.

Happy Halloween!

Links:

• Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes
• See Libby’s promotions

Related recipes:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Frankensteins

Halloween Dipped Marshmallow Pops

Baked Banana Boats & Granola: Raisinets Snacks for Kids

Written by Brandi -

Please enjoy today’s guest post by Brandi of Bran Appetit.

If you’re anything like me, snacks get boring after a few weeks. I tend to find one thing that I love, bring it to work every day, and after 2 weeks of eating the same thing every afternoon, I don’t ever want to see it again. I’m always looking for new ideas to throw into the rotation, and these banana boats are my new favorites.

Bringing a plain banana is fine, but stuffing it full of nuts, coconut, and dark chocolate Raisinets puts it over the top. The best way to make these is to bake them, but if you want to make a quick version at home for a snack or dessert or in the office, just wrap them loosely in some paper towels and microwave them for about a minute until everything is warmed and the chocolate is starting to melt.

Baked Raisinets Banana Boats

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 4 bananas
• 3/4 cup NESTLÉ RAISINETS Dark Chocolate or Milk Chocolate-Covered Raisins
• 1/2 cup macadamia nuts (chopped)
• 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.SLICE each banana lengthwise, leaving the peel on to keep the banana together.DIVIDE Raisinets, macadamia nuts, coconut and salt between each banana, stuffing the mixture into the middle of each banana.

WRAP each banana with a piece of foil, making sure to not wrap too tightly. Leave top loose so foil doesn’t touch ingredients inside of banana. Place on baking sheet.

BAKE for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through. Remove foil: serve warm.

A few months ago, Raisinets were a treat I ate by themselves. That’s not a bad thing, but I had never tried mixing them into my favorite recipes to make a twist on a classic.

And then I fell in love with the Dark Chocolate Raisinets. Have you tried them yet? You’ll be addicted after the first one, too. As much as I wanted to just sit and enjoy them on their own, I decided to throw them into my favorite quick and easy granola recipe with some unexpected spices and dried fruit.

This granola is absolutely perfect for a quick snack or served with milk or yogurt for breakfast. The best thing about this granola is that it’s quick to make and it’s easy to customize.

Get the recipe for Stove Top Spiced Raisinets Granola here.

Links:

• Baked Raisinets Banana Boats
• Stove Top Spiced Raisinets Granola
• Watch the Raisinets drama on YouTube

More Raisinets recipes:

Spicy Sweet Raisinets Popcorn

Iced Cranberry Raisinets Cinnamon Rolls

My Ooey-Gooey Take on the Classic Comfort Food: Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Written by Chris -

The rich, sweet, nutty flavor of Gruyère cheese complements basil pesto and sourdough bread so well; it really takes this adult grilled cheese sandwich to a whole new level!

Now that my family is back to somewhat of a chaotic weeknight schedule, squeezing in a few quick & delicious meals is a must. The beauty of grilled cheese is that you can cater to your family’s preferences. You just need to have a few different varieties of cheese and bread on hand. My kids still prefer the classic grilled cheese made with American cheese and white bread. However, they’ve been loving sharp cheddar and fresh spinach on wheat lately!

So if you are looking for a way to simplify dinner, give this Pesto Grilled Cheese a try. Then customize to your liking. Caramelized onions, thinly sliced Bartlett pears, peppery arugula or sliced tomatoes make great additions to this grilled cheese.

Pesto Grilled Cheese

Ingredients for 2 sandwiches:

• 2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3 to 4 tablespoons BUITONI Refrigerated All Natural Pesto with Basil
• 4 slices sourdough cracked wheat bread
• 1 cup (about 4 ounces) shredded cheese (I like a combination of Gruyère, sharp cheddar and mozzarella)

Directions:

HEAT a heavy-duty, large skillet or grill pan over medium heat. Spread butter over one side of each bread slice. On two of the slices, spread the unbuttered side with pesto, just enough to cover the surface.

PLACE slices of bread with pesto, butter-side-down, in the skillet. Sprinkle cheese evenly over bread in the skillet, as shown above.

PLACE remaining slices of bread over the cheese, butter-side-up. Cover skillet loosely and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden on bottom. Uncover; carefully flip the sandwich over. Cook uncovered for 3 to 4 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread is golden brown. Slice in half and enjoy immediately (with a side of fresh veggies and fruit). If you like wine, I recommend a lightly sweet or dry Riesling.

Be sure to check out Meals.com for additional quick & delicious recipes!

Links:

• Pesto Grilled Cheese
• Buitoni Basil Pesto

More grilled cheese recipes:

Grilled Ham and Tomato Sandwiches

Smoked Turkey and Tomato Wraps

Simple is Best: After School Snack Ideas

 

Written by Chris -

Now that school is back in session, my nine-year-old triplets are heavy into snacks. After school snacks, that is. Come 3:30 p.m., they are hungry! Not just hungry, but HUNGRY! So before they begin homework, it’s snack time.

At this age, I’ve learned, simple is best. For me, having fruits and vegetables on hand, like apples, oranges, nectarines and grapes plus edamame and carrots, is essential. In addition, a well-stocked refrigerator (we eat our share of yogurt and cheese) and pantry (lots of whole-grain cereals, crackers and nuts) is a must!

One of my most recent assignments at Nestlé was to create snack ideas for Nerds and Nestlé Raisinets. This was one of those projects that made me look cool to my kids! Well, sort of. Actually, maybe not. What I do know is that my kids love Nerds and I love Raisinets.

So, on a recent triple-digit summer day (just before the start of 4th grade), my kids and I stayed indoors and made Tasty Bugs. We used what we had on hand – Nerds, shredded carrots, apples, celery sticks and all-natural peanut butter. We made snails, caterpillars and butterflies. Sure, this activity may have been better suited for younger children, but we had a ball making and eating them! Kids love to play with their food, no matter what age.

A small word of caution about the snails – if you have dogs, try to keep them away from the table. One bump and the snail can tip over (see above). If my kids were a lot younger, there would have been tears. Here’s a little tip to prevent potential disaster: With a knife, level the bottom of the celery (middle center) so that it is flat, not round. After a few wobbly snails, I caught on!

If you are a Raisinets fan like me, read on…

Raisinets are great out of hand, there’s no denying that! But have you added them to peanut butter and celery (aka Bumps on a Log pictured above)? That’s a tasty combo! Kids love it, too! And I don’t think it’s just the cute name.

Here are a few more ideas just in case you have Raisinets on hand and want to get playful.

• Spread whole-grain toast with all-natural peanut butter then sprinkle with a few Raisinets
• Create a snack mix with whole-grain cereal and Raisinets
• Sprinkle Raisinets over lowfat yogurt
• Enjoy them with almonds

One final tip that I think is worth sharing. When kids have their after school snack, have them eat at the kitchen table and not in front of the TV or computer. This way they pay attention to what they’re eating. This is taking some getting used to on our end. But, I think it’s a smart idea.

Do you have any favorite snack ideas you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them! Please post in the comment section. Thank you!

Links:

• Tasty Bugs
• Bumps on a Log
• More Raisinet Recipes
• Raisinets on Pinterest

More After School Snacks:

Nesquik Peanut Butter & Banana Wrap

Ovaltine Better Bagel Topper