Hot Chocolate

Our annual Christmas tree trek just wouldn't be the same without this recipe. We always started with a traditional hot chocolate and chili lunch before Dad would lead the way through the deep snow and into the far reaches of the wilderness in pursuit of the perfect tree.

½ cup chocolate baking power

Sugar (to taste)

Milk

Mini-marshmallows or whipped topping (optional)

Mix chocolate power with sugar to desired sweetness. Stir mixture into hot milk on the stove--but don't let it boil. Tune chocolate/sugary taste until just right. Top with mini-marshmallows or whipped topping. Serves about 12 people.

Grandma Anna's Russian Tea

Always serve at Christmas Eve dinner.

1/2 cup suagr
3 quarts water
6 herb tea bags (mango, passion fruit)
1 can pineapple juice
1 can orange juice
1/3 cup lemon juice
12 whole cloves

Boil sugar and water for 5 minutes. Brew tea bags and 1 quart of water for 5 minutes. Add juices. Add water and cloves. Simmer. Remove cloves. Serve warm or cold.
Makes 50 cups.

Homemade Root Beer

Cold water

4-5 lbs. sugar

1 small bottle of Hires Root Beer flavoring

5 lb. block of dry ice

Fill a five gallon container 2/3 full of water. Add sugar, root beer extract, and medium chunks of dry ice from the larger block. Be very careful handling the dry ice and never use your bare hands! Stir and watch it smoke and bubble, then serve.