Welcome to a new year and a new you! Wow – Doesn’t that sound corny? Why must we pick the change in the year to dictate when we can change our ways?
I started a weight loss journey back in September, 2013. My goal was to drop 23 pounds by the end of the year. I didn’t make it, but I’m not discouraged. I lost 13 pounds and even though I ate way too many cookies over Christmas, I actually maintained my weight and didn’t gain any of it back!
To me, that’s success!
Again, welcome to a New Year and new ME!! We have decided to swap out the “Weight Loss Wednesday” posts for a simple “Happy and Healthy” post.
What makes you happy?
I’ll tell you want makes me happy – well, besides eating a plate of chocolate chip cookies. I enjoy being outside with my friends and family. I enjoy our weekly game night where there is no TV or computer and we spend an hour after dinner playing Trouble or Sorry.
I obviously like to bake, but I hate to cook. Almost every night I take some time to read. At the moment I am re-reading The Hobbit – again.
What makes you happy? I want to know.
And I want you to do more of it!
A treat I was enjoying in December was real hot chocolate. On the stove with milk, cocoa, sugar and a pinch of salt. Oh, so good!!
This is a Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate. I got the recipe from the new book by Diane Sanfilippo, The 21-Day Sugar Detox. She is also the blogger at Balanced Bites and has a ton of healthy recipes to fit into your resolutions to eat better in 2014!
Jump around and check out the other ladies who are also making being Happy and Healthy a priority for themselves in 2014.
This is a Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate. I got the recipe from the new book by Diane Sanfilippo, The 21-Day Sugar Detox. She is also the blogger at Balanced Bites and has a ton of healthy recipes to fit into your resolutions to eat better all year long!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups full fat coconut milk (comes in a can – look for it by the evaporated milk)
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (check your label for sugar content)
seeds from 1 vanilla bean pod
Cinnamon – for sprinkling
Optional – Whipped Cream, unsweetened
Instructions
Combine all ingredients into a pot and whisk over medium high heat. Pour and serve, sprinkling some cinnamon on top.
I found mine to be a little bitter, so I added a 1/4 cup of unsweetened whipped cream and some extra cinnamon to it and it helped. To keep this treat Dairy-Free as well, you can whip coconut milk fat. I was out of it, so I used whipping cream instead.
I'm Karyn, a mom and wife, and I founded this little baking blog. Baking and making desserts have been my passion since I was a kid. I love experimenting with different flavors and sharing delicious recipes with all of you. Read more.