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Me N My Ikey

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My husband's friend Troll gave us some cocoa beans. I found this article on how to make Hot Chocolate from real cocoa.

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http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Hot-Chocolate-Mix-from-Pure-Cocoa">How to Make Hot Chocolate Mix from Pure Cocoa

Mmm... hot chocolate. It's a great winter drink, and it's even better when it doesn't come from a mix.

  Steps

1.   Get a mug. It is traditional that cocoa is drunk from a mug but a cup will do if that's all you have.  You need to know the capacity of the mug.  Most are 10 oz. but some are 8 and some more than 10.
   
2.   Put one teaspoon of sugar in the mug.
   
3.   Measure out one rounded teaspoon of cocoa powder and put it in the mug.  You may want to use more but for the first time, start with one.
   
4.   Add two teaspoons of water.  The next step is what paint chemists call "wetting out the pigment."  Stir the sugar, water and cocoa until the cocoa is completely wetted out.  You can tell this by the appearance of the surface.  If it is reflective, you have wetted out the cocoa.  If it is not, you need to stir more and possibly add a few more drops of water.
   
5.   Add about one inch of milk and stir to completely mix your cocoa paste and milk.  Fill the rest of the mug with milk, up to about 1/2 an inch off the top.  The mix will expand about 5% on heating, so don't over-fill.
   
6.   Put the mug in the microwave.  For an 8 oz cup, heat (on highest setting) for one minute, 45 seconds.  For a 10 oz cup, heat 2 minutes, 10 seconds.
   
7.   Watch the cup for the last 20 seconds.  For some reason, the cocoa tends to foam up.  Usually this does not happen but, just in case, watch.  If it does, open the door and stir.  Take out the spoon, close the door and finish heating.
   
8.   Enjoy!
   

  Tips

• If your taste runs to more cocoa, use more.
  
• Sprinkle with cinnamon or extra cocoa powder over the top if desired.
  
• A dollop of whipped cream can also be added if desired.
  
• Add marshmallows if you like them. If you are a vegetarian, purchase vegetarian marshmallows from your health food store.
  
• If you make the hot chocolate using a kettle rather than a microwave, some people prefer the hot water to be poured straight onto the cocoa powder and then add the milk; this is to avoid a "scalded" taste to the milk.  This is a personal choice, you may or may not detect the difference.  Mix well, whichever way you choose to pour your milk (and/or water).
  
• Leave out the sugar if you like the strong, bitter taste of cocoa.  It's an acquired taste but it is really, really good if you get used to it.
  
• Cocoa still carries the anti-oxidants found in chocolate, so enjoy without guilt.
  
• Vegetarians and vegans can substitute soy milk, rice milk, oat milk etc. for dairy milk.  Vanilla soy milk adds quite a delicious touch if you purchase a good quality brand.
  
• You can save a little time by heating the milk (or water) while you prepare the cocoa paste.  Pure milk is less likely to boil over - if you are heating in a microwave.  The paste dissolves more easily in hot milk.
  

  Warnings

• Don't attempt to overheat.  Also note item about last 20 seconds of heating (above).
  
• TAKE THE SPOON OUT BEFORE YOU PUT THE CUP IN THE MICROWAVE!
  

  Things You'll Need

• Mugs
  
• Spoon
  
• Teaspoon
  
• Milk
  
• Cocoa
  
• Microwave
  
• Water
  
• Sugar
  

  Related wikiHows

• http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Cinnamon-Hot-Chocolate" title="Make Cinnamon Hot Chocolate">How to Make Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
  
• http://www.wikihow.com/Make-the-Perfect-Cup-of-Green-Tea" title="Make the Perfect Cup of Green Tea">How to Make the Perfect Cup of Green Tea
  
• http://www.wikihow.com/Drink-Hot-Chocolate-With-Ice-Cream" title="Drink Hot Chocolate With Ice Cream">How to Drink Hot Chocolate With Ice Cream
  
• http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Frozen-Hot-Chocolate" title="Make Frozen Hot Chocolate">How to Make Frozen Hot Chocolate
  
• http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Hot-Chocolate-Milk-Shake" title="Make a Hot Chocolate Milk Shake">How to Make a Hot Chocolate Milk Shake
  

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Me & My Teaguie

                                  Me & My Teaguie

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I have recently quit caring whether I please others or I piss them off. It was too much work trying to walk that tightrope for so long. When I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia a year ago, everything came to a head. I was just so tired and I hurt so badly, it was more than I could do trying to keep up appearances of normalcy. I had to learn to let the not-so-important things go. Like, it's not so important if the sink is full of dirty dishes, if the laundry isn't all done or if the kids' toys are strung out all over the house. If ya think less of me because my house isn't spotless, I guess I don't really care what you think anyway. You obviously don't love me for who I am. I've been trying to reprogram my neurotic, insecure little self to think this way all the time. It's a process, of course, and I still have those panicky moments when I feel like a lazy slob because my house is in disarray.

When I took my oldest son to Head Start earlier this year, it was with the understanding that he would get a position soon. Until then, I had to stay there with him. My tolerance was pushed to the limit in this experience, because mornings are so hard for me -- I could barely get up that early in the morning with the stiffness and achiness that my illness causes. Sitting there all morning while the kids wanted me to hold them on my lap or get down in the floor with them was very difficult. I got my fill of the teacher giving her advice on how to manage my pain, too. Basically it consisted of eating healthfully in accordance with Dr. Oz from Oprah. MOAN....BTW, I get sick of people giving me advice when they don't even know what Fibromyalgia is! Anyway, by Christmas, I quit taking my son to Head Start. I hate to even call them & talk to them about it, b/c when I enrolled him, the chick in the office said something to the effect of, "Oh yeah, a position should open up for him real soon, b/c getting up & getting their kids here every morning is just too much work for some people, and several usually end up dropping out." So now I feel like a lazy good-for-nothing bum of a mom. Great, just what I needed.

I've had a few people in my life express disgust with me because of symptoms of my illness that they don't understand, like me needing so many naps b/c of the fatigue, my complaints related to my pain, my brain fog & memory/cognitive problems. I'll forget what I'm saying in the middle of a sentence. I must seem like a comlete idiot or spazz to some people who don't understand. The depression it causes becomes a huge problem for me at times. Since my diagnosis, I have had a huge light click on -- hey, I'm not a hypochondriac & I'm not crazy -- all these symptoms are related! But I've also had a severe blow to my self-esteem, b/c I just feel like I've been dealt an unfair hand, I'm fatally flawed, I'm somehow less than b/c of this illness. Of course I realize that feelings aren't facts & I am a special, wonderful person -- sometimes. Other times, when I'm hurting, I still struggle. I am currently in therapy, trying to deal with this illness.

I would love to see more public service announcements spreading awareness of this disorder. I know quite a few people who have Fibromyalgia, and I hope that we see some medical improvements soon. I am so frustrated with this never-ending pain.   

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