The Weather Here!

May 11th, 2011

(Something was acting up and I couldn’t get this posted last night, so all those “todays”? They’re yesterdays now. Happy face!)

I’ve been a broken record today. I just can’t get over the beautiful temperatures we’ve had the past couple of days.

“It’s amazing outside!”
“Anthony, it’s so nice outside!”
“Oh Ella, isn’t it a nice day out?”
“It’s cooler outside than in the house!”
“Anthony, it actually feels like Spring!”

Ella Faye seems to have caught a little cold so we opted to keep those germs to ourselves and skip Storytime this morning. I was almost content to just call it a sick day and lazy about the house, but when I found out it was 68 outside, I packed an impromptu picnic lunch and shuffled the gals out the door.

Fancy Nancy sunnies, of course

We spread our blanket under a big tree in the park, but turns out the lower temp plus fierce wind was not ideal picnic weather. We hurried through our lunch with goosebumps on our bare arms and legs and ran for the playground.

 

I guess we don’t take Ella to the park enough? Because she refuses to go down the slide. We’ll have to take more trips to the park for slide practice. She doesn’t know what she’s missing…
Swings, though, she loves loves loves the swings.

By the time we got home it was time for naps because boy, were we pooped.

This afternoon we totally gave in to Starbucks’ half-price fraps deal this week. And we fell for their new mocha coconut flavor, which I was surprised to find actually worked. Ella Faye enjoyed a hot chocolate of her own and when I say enjoyed I mean ENJOYED.

We came home and I cooked dinner. It was nice to cook after a weekend of taking off. And the meal was so Summertime and colorful! We had chicken salad sandwiches, sweet potato fries, broccoli, and strawberry salad with sparkling lemonade. I needed to savor that weather as much as I could so I suggested we eat outside. I cranked Louis Armstrong up loud enough to hear on the patio. Fulfilled so many factors of my summertime dreams.
But then we came inside.
Bugs. Big bugs.
Our patio is not ready for dining sessions just yet. I can’t wait to eat dinner out there once we’re all set up and bugless.

It was a very nice day. All the fresh air has me feeling inspired and creative this evening. Here’s hoping I put it to use!

How was the weather where you are? Did you get out and enjoy it today??

Spicy Hot Chocolate

February 7th, 2011

Happy Monday out there!


My mind is going all different directions right now and I can’t seem to focus on anything for too long, so tonight I thought I’d just share a recipe for some Cozy. Who doesn’t want a little extra Cozy?

I came across a recipe in my blog feed for thick, dark, spicy hot chocolate and the other night, Ant and I decided it was in need of a go.

If there’s one thing that makes the frigid cold worthwhile, it has got to be hot chocolate. Instant, Mexican (our fave!), thick and dark, milk or water based, with mallows or without. It’s allll delicious. (I realize I am out of place calling Phoenix temperatures frigid. I watch the news, I know of those nasty blizzards, but we native Phoenicians are like chameleons. The mercury drops below 60 and we become wimps. Our skin is conditioned for 110° dry heat. It’s all relative.)

So maybe you need something to shrug off the start-or-the-week blues? Or just to warm up your soul on a chilly night at home. Maybe stash the recipe away until next week and whip it up for a cozy Valentine’s Day nightcap. (Imagine with little marshmallow hearts floating on top!)

Whenever you choose to try, delicious, dark, and spicy – that’s what you’ll get…

What you will need:

1 1/4 c. whole milk
3 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
1 T. cocoa powder
1/4 t. cinnamon
pinch sea salt
pinch cayenne
1 T. agave nectar


All measured out and ready for the stove

Mix all ingredients over medium heat. I was whisking to blend until I remembered my Molinillo perched next to the stove. Then I got really excited. (It’s probably my favorite kitchen tool!)

A Molinillo is a Mexican whisk made of carved wood. It’s used by holding between the palms of your hands and turning, letting your hands slide down the handle as you turn. This creates a lovely froth, perfect on top of a mug of hot chocolate.

Serves 1 to 2. We doubled the recipe to get a hearty mug for each of us and topped them with homemade whipped cream and a dash more of cinnamon.

Best served alongside a spicy hot date. Co-zee.

Hope this finds you warm!
Sweetest wishes, Katy