Countdown to Christmas Day 22: Sparkling Fruit Punch

Happy Dec 23rd! Only 3 more days until Christmas! This is going to be the simpliest recipe yet! I didn't have time to bake today because I worked a half day and now I'm making last minute preparations to get on the road to start my 725 mile journey to KY within the next few hours! But before I head out I wanted to be sure and leave you all with a fun, festive and super easy holiday drink! Sparkling Fruit Punch is such a fun way to celebrate the holiday with friends and family. This is a kid friendly drink too because it uses sparkling grape juice. But for those of you that want some alcohol you could substitute some champagne instead!



You only need three things...sprarkling grape juice, Cran Pomegranate juice and OJ. How easy is that?



Any my favorite part, getting to pick out my festive red and pink polka dot champagne flutes out of my china cabinet that only come out on special occassions! I think this calls for a celebration! CHEERS!

Sprakling Fruit Punch

Welch's Sparkling White Grape Juice (or substitute champagne)
Ocean Spray Cran Pomegranate Juice
Tropicana Orange Juice

• Buy one container of each type of juice at the store.
• To make punch, combine equal parts of sparkling grape juice and cran pomegranate juice.
• Add a splash of orange juice.

ENJOY!

Countdown to Christmas Day 12: Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

Happy Dec 12th! It has been a cold, rainy, soggy day here in Mobile...a day perfect for a nice cup of hot chocolate! I had all intentions of throwing on this recipe for slow cooker hot chocolate early this morning before I left to go run a half marathon in the freezing cold rain...but I got up a little too late, 6:30AM and didn't quite have time to get things together before I had to rush out the door for the race. I know what you are thinking...6:30AM...late??? Yes, on a typical Saturday I am normally up around 4:30ish preparing for my Saturday long run marathon training day. Today was a day where I got to sleep in a little later because we ran a race that didn't start until 8:30AM. Normally by 8:30 AM I am finishing up my miles for the day while most of you are probably just rolling out of bed. I am a morning person though and don't mind waking up early and getting in some good miles of running, knowing that afterwards I will have the rest of the day ahead of me to relax, watch movies, run errands, or hang out with family and friends. So since I was running late this morning, it was out the door, no hot chocolate in the crockpot, and I would have to wait until later in the day to enjoy this hot drink to warm me up.


How cute are these snowman mugs? These are going to be perfect for my homemade hot chocolate.


I had a backup plan for making this recipe though. My friend Molly had invited Randolph and I to go to the Nutcracker tonight. So I thought I would put on the hot chocolate before we left for the ballet and then by the time we got home it would be ready to drink! What a great idea...and then we could enjoy a cup with some Christmas cookies for dessert! We just got home from the Nutcracker a little while ago so now I am enjoying a cup of the hot chocolate as I type up this post. This is definitely what I needed to warm me up, after such a cold and rainy day, and the rain is still coming down like buckets out side.


Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
5 1/2 cups fat free milk
1 (14 oz) can fat free sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla

• Put cocoa and 1 cup of milk in crockpot, and whisk until blended.
• Add remaining ingredients and whisk.
• Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
• Pour into mugs and add marshmallows.

ENJOY!