Here is my recipe for instant hot cocoa, and if you have any boxes of y2k powdered milk that need to get used, it is a good way to get rid of it and make your crew happy at the same time. Combine in a large container (I use my Tupperware cake taker, as it is the perfect size, and seals well afterward):

One large (4 pound) box of powdered non-fat milk; one two pound canister of Nestle's Quick instant cocoa mix, the kind you have to use milk with (Nestles is the best, but Generic stuff is fine, too); one pound of powdered sugar; two boxes of INSTANT chocolate pudding mix; and a large jar of instant coffee creamer.

I like to pour a bit of everything in my mixing container, and stirr it up with my clean, dry hands. Then pour in another layer, and mix it all up, and so on until I get it all mixed up. How much you add to hot water depends on the size of your cup and how strong you like your cocoa. Feel free to add or subtract a bit of something; one of my sons swears that I don't add enough cocoa. Store it in your cupboard in an air-tight container. I can't have chocolate (gives me migraines), so I'll have to take everyone else's word that it is good, since the last batch disappeared in two weeks. I made some more yesterday, with slightly out of date powdered milk my sister in law gave me out of her y2k stash. It worked just fine, and they are digging into it! I plan to give some as a Christmas present, along with a handmade mug, as a Christmas present to a co-worker. I suspect it'll have to be a new batch, by then, tho! I wonder how it would taste in coffee???? Someone try it out and let me know, please!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), November 20, 2000

Answers

Leeann, thanks i have this recipe but without the chocolate pudding, I'll try this, it's good without it but what a nice change.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), November 20, 2000.

Thanks so much Leann. I've been wanting a good cocoa recipe, and this sounds great. Can't wait to try it.

-- Julie (rjbk@together.net), November 20, 2000.

Thanks for the recipe! I have been looking for a good one that I can give in gift baskets! This sounds like it is a nice one to share!

Thanks again Debbie

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), November 20, 2000.

Leann, this sounds great as xmas gift in a jar. Is it 2 small pudding boxes?? Thanks!

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), November 20, 2000.

I have not tried mine with the pudding in it. It is basically the same ingredients, except I use Hersheys cooking cocoa and it works great! I also like to get the flavored coffee creamer to add a different twist to the cocoa mix. Cinnamon in it as well as nutmeg is really tasty. I imagine that putting a different flavor of pudding would change the flavor of the cocoa, like pistachio instead of chocolate? hhmmm I am also allergic to cocoa, but can handle enough of it to please me without getting fat or worse, breaking out in hives. :-)

-- Cindy in OK (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), November 20, 2000.

Last winter there was a great thread with recipes for lots of these cold weather mixes. It's in the archives somewhere.

-- Peg in N. WI (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), November 21, 2000.

DW, I used the small ones, but I'll bet the big ones would be better. Don't they have a chocolate mint pudding...???? Hmmmmm.....

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), November 21, 2000.

I have tried the previous recipe and it is great. Afew years ago one of my daughters had a cooking project and the following recipe for hot chocolate caught my eye because of its' simplicity and use of only a few ingredients that I always have on hand. In a large container mix together 2 cups powdered milk, 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa. I will usually take this recipe times 4 or 5. Add to hot water to your own taste. My kids all love this and you could vary it by adding the flavored puddings as mentioned above. We will probably need a lot of it this winter since we already have snow.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 21, 2000.

When I was working at a nursing home, we made a mix similar to this. One lady liked mocha, so we would put a couple of spoonsful into her coffee. She liked it very well.

-- Barb Fischer (bfischer42@hotmail.com), November 21, 2000.

If you only want a cup at a time, use 1/3 cup dry milk powder, 1 tsp. sugar and 1 tsp. cocoa. Add boiling water. And don't forget the marshmallows!

-- Sandy (smd2@netzero.net), November 27, 2000.