ML Interest Tag: cup

Choc It Up! These Spots Serve the City’s Best Hot Chocolate

by Abbey McGee

Winter is the perfect time to grab a cup of hot chocolate that goes beyond the everyday from a Seattle cafe

Nothing says winter in Seattle like gliding down a slick chute on a snow tube, taking the kids for spin around an ice skating rink, or heading out on a winter hike. And nothing warms you up after a day of winter play in the Seattle’s nearby mountains than a cup of hot chocolate, Seattle families. So the next time you and the kids need a mug of rich and creamy hot cocoa, don’t reach for a mix. Pile in the car and head to a local cozy cafe where they’re getting creative with their hot chocolate choices. We’re talking real European drinking chocolate, homemade marshmallows, and secret spices that add a bite to your cup. But don’t take our word for it, check out our favorite hot chocolate Seattle shops while it’s still cold outside.

Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery

It's hard to go wrong at a shop that prides itself on serving warm chocolate lava cakes for a living. So the next time you've got a craving for a rich cup of hot chocolate, we're here to tell you there's nothing wrong with pairing it with cake. Turn up the heat with a spicy hot chocolate for parents (hint: they can also spike it if you wish) or keep it calm and creamy for the kids.

5427 Ballard Ave. N.W.
Seattle

1650 E. Olive Way
Seattle
Online: getyourhotcakes.com

Related: PB & Yay! Where to Celebrate Peanut Butter Lovers Day

Fran's Chocolates

Among their four boutiques, the Fran’s U-Village locale displays chocolate like a jewelry store displays diamonds; but don’t let the fancy interior intimidate you. The chocolate displays are a testament to the love put into these delectable treats. If you can manage to pry yourselves away from the selection of truffles, place your order for Dark Hot Sipping Chocolate. With a 3 oz. and 5 oz. option, your petite connoisseurs are sure to enjoy a belly full of chocolate-y goodness. Each cup comes with a perfect mound of whipped cream and an additional chocolate square for the road.

Locations in Downtown Seattle, University Village, Georgetown & Bellevue.

Online: franschocolates.com

Chocolati

If you're looking for a cup of hot chocolate that is thick and creamy and oh-so delicious, look no further than Chocolati. This popular cafe, with locations in Greenwood, Wallingford and Green Lake as well as the Downtown Library, doesn't serve hot cocoa made with water or milk. Nope. They serve what is technically known as "drinking chocolate." In addition to house faves like the Dark House Hot Chocolate with dark chocolate marshmallows, the cafe offers a robust menu of specialty hot chocolates. Get your chocolate-y cup infused with lavender, raspberry, Irish cream, peanut butter, peppermint, cayenne...the list goes on. Psst...be sure to save room for one of their delish truffles or add a slice of quiche or a croissant to your order to balance out all the sweetness. 

Locations in Greenwood, Green Lake, Wallingford & Downtown Seattle 

Online: chocolati.com

Bellden Cafe

Sip scrumptious cocoa and support a great cause while you're at it at Bellevue’s Bellden Café. Located in the heart of Old Bellevue on Main Street, this café was a Reader’s Digest 2020 Finalist for Nicest Place in America. Serving tasty breakfast and lunch items, coffee, pastries, and of course, cocoa, this café has a unique mission. Bellden Café partners with non-profit organizations, creating signature drinks to highlight different organizations and donating a portion of the profits from the sale of the drink. It also operates as a community hub, especially during the pandemic, collecting donations and goods to support its neighbors in need. When you order from Bellden Café, you get wholesome, delicious food and drinks while giving back to the community. Definitely a win-win.

10527 Main St.
Bellevue, WA
Online: belldencafe.com

Related: 11 Neighborhood Coffee Shops with Kids Play Spots

Chocolat Vitale

iStock

After tasting Chocolat Vitale’s traditional European drinking chocolate, you’ll never look elsewhere for cocoa. This Ballard café features traditional European hot chocolate that always receives rave reviews. The sinfully rich drinking chocolate is concocted from a blend of pure Swiss and Belgian chocolate. This decadent drink contains no cocoa powder–it’s made from 100 percent pure chocolate. The café serves hand-crafted drinks using its chocolate and Velton’s Coffee. You can also enjoy other eclectic food and beverages while shopping its thoughtfully curated selection of art and collectibles.

6257 3rd Ave. N.W.
Seattle
Online: chocolatvitale.com

Indi Chocolate

Nestled within the busy corridors of Pike Place Market you’ll find a chocolate paradise! Indi Chocolate offers a wide range of cacao-based products including teas, spice rubs, mixology kits and body care products, all created using small batch, single origin dark chocolate directly sourced from international farmers and cooperatives. Tantalize your taste buds with a cup of their single origin drinking chocolate. Or, for the ultimate chocolate-y experience, order the ultra-rich sipping chocolate. This beverage has an entire bar’s worth of chocolate in it and offers a thicker texture than traditional hot chocolate. All of their products originate from beans sourced from around the world, giving unique flavors and textures for every chocolate connoisseur.

Pike Place Market
1901 Western Ave., Ste. D
Seattle
Online: indichocolate.com

Related: 8 Seattle Candy Shops We're Sweet On

Bakery Nouveau

two kids sit drinking hot cholocate seattle with in red cups with whip cream
iStock

Bakery Nouveau knows chocolate—and just about every other treat under the sun. World renowned baker, William Leaman, opened the first Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle and has expanded to two other Seattle area locations. You might be in the mood for a delicious hot cocoa, but don’t forget to bring your appetite. The bakery’s expansive menu is filled with baked goods, sandwiches, pastries and of course, chocolate. Take home some of Bakery Nouveau’s handcrafted bars or chocolates, made fresh, in-house with its signature chocolates. Choose from a rotating selection of mouthwatering morsels, including favorites like salted caramel or coconut ganache. The bakery’s chocolates are truly works of art.

Locations in West Seattle, Capitol Hill & Burien

Online: bakerynouveau.com

Related: The 10 Best (Non-Chain) Breakfast Places in Seattle

Arosa Cafe

Located in Madison Park, Arosa Cafe has been serving up delish cups of espresso and hot cocoa to families for over 21 years. This warm and friendly neighborhood cafe uses a proprietary, microroasted blend from Fonte Coffee in their handcrafted cups of Joe, imported Swiss chocolate in their mochas and hot chocolate and organic milk (including soy, rice, and almond).

Good to Know: Arosa Cafe mixes fresh shaved chocolate into each steaming cup of cocoa and serves world famous Belgian Liege snack waffles that are so naturally sweet, you won't even miss the syrup. Don't forget about their grilled panini sandwiches, made with a tangy olive oil blend and only the freshest ingredients.

3121 E. Madison St., Ste. 101
Seattle
Online: arosacafe.com

Dilettante Mocha Cafe

Chocolate can be very personal; a debate between whether dark or milk chocolate is better can polarize a conversation. This is why Dilettante made our list for best places to grab hot chocolate; you get to choose your favorite. With six (very difficult) choices; extra dark, Mexicano, dark, ephemere dark, milk and white, every visit to Dilettante is different. With melting pots behind the counter, each cup of hot chocolate is melted down to liquid perfection. This is the perfect place to bring your mini-chocolate lover to determine where their chocolate loyalties lay (nudge nudge – white chocolate).

Good to Know: The Kent Station Dilettante location has an enormous brick fireplace located directly outside the store that is a delightful place to cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate on a cool evening.

Locations in Seattle, Bellevue, Kent & SeaTac Airport

Online: dilettante.com

Caffe Umbria

With four locations open in Seattle, Caffè Umbria offers the Italian take on hot chocolate. It’s a thicker, spoonable chocolate that’s served with whipped cream. In addition to a “moka bar,” drip coffees and number of traditional espresso-based Italian drinks served in colorful Italian ceramics, Umbria’s Ballard location offers baked goods from Le Panier and Macrina, light lunch offerings from Volterra, a Tuscan-inspired restaurant next door and a good selection of Italian wine and beer.

Locations in Pioneer Square, Westlake, Olive Way & Ballard

Online: caffeumbria.com

Dubsea Coffee

Take a trip a little off the beaten path and find your way to the Greenbridge neighborhood nestled in White Center. Dubsea Coffee is well worth the trek, and is settled comfortably among bright and colorful housing and the vibrant local community center. A cup of hot chocolate is filled with rich, deep flavors and is topped with a hazelnut whipped cream.

9910 8th Ave. S.W.
Seattle
Online: dubseacoffee.com

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Here’s Where to Find the Best Hot Chocolate in San Francisco & the Bay Area

by Andie Huber

Whether you like it rich or spicy, with marshmallows or whipped cream, here’s the best hot chocolate San Francisco has to offer

With the weather we’ve been having, nothing can warm up a rainy day or a snow day adventure than a cup of the best hot cocoa. In our food-obsessed Bay Area, it’s not surprising that people (kids and adults) take their hot chocolate as seriously as any other treat. The best cafes and hot chocolatiers use premium chocolates, freshly steamed milk, and gourmet toppings galore, taking a simple cup of cocoa to a whole new level. Whether you like it rich or spicy, locally sourced or European style, hot chocolate near me will cure a multitude of cold weather woes.

The Best Hot Chocolate in San Francisco

 

1. Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates

This modern chocolatier in Hayes Valley is known for its eye-popping, gorgeous decorated chocolates, but if you haven’t tried their drinking chocolate, you’re only getting half the experience. With numerous flavors to choose from, there's something for everyone. The Classic and Cocoa Noir are the best bets for the kids and can be topped with housemade vanilla bean marshmallows. If your little one can’t finish their chocolate, the staff here recommend taking the remainder home and popping it in the refrigerator. It will set into a zero-effort chocolate pudding by dinner time. If you can’t get enough of the hot chocolate, Christopher Elbow also sells the mixes in canisters so you can get your fix at home.

401 Hayes St.
San Francisco
Online: elbowchocolates.com

2. Socola Chocolatier

Socola’s Asian-inspired chocolates have an enthusiastic following in the Bay Area, and fans cheered when sisters Wendy and Susan Lieu finally opened a jewel box of a shop in SOMA. You can find their whole line of gourmet chocolates, from guava to earl grey to Vietnamese coffee-filled truffles, along with coffee and a killer gourmet hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is made with their 72% dark ganache and freshly steamed milk and is topped with a homemade chocolate marshmallow. 

535 Folsom St.
San Francisco
Online: socolachocolates.com

3. Kokak Chocolates

We love this Castro spot for small batch single origin heirloom chocolates and hot chocolates too. "Kokak," meaning "ribbit" in the Filipino language, stems from Founder and Head Chocolatier Carol Gancia's deep Asian roots and passion for making adventurous flavors with the rare cacao variety, "Naciónal." Your hot cocoa options include classic, hot hot chocolate (spicy drinking chocolate that harkens back to the Mayans), single province hot chocolate, and cold chocolate milk if you want yours chilled. 

3901 18th St.
San Francisco
Online: kokakchocolates.com

4. XOX Truffles

French truffle maker and San Francisco chocolate hero Jean-Marc Gorce makes quite the show with his fancy hot chocolate at his chocolate shop and cafe on Columbus Ave., just up the hill from North Beach Library. There you’ll find him talking truffles in his tiny, sunshine-yellow and blue storefront. His hot chocolate recipe begins with a ladle full of liquid truffle which is then whisked with hot milk on the countertop before your eyes. Decide if you want whipped cream and claim a free truffle with every drink. Peanut butter truffles are a hit with the kids but there are tons of other flavors to choose from. If the kiddos can’t finish their cup make sure you sneak the final sip to get the luxurious, rich truffle sediment.

754 Columbus Ave.
San Francisco
Online: xoxtruffles.com

5. Dandelion Chocolate

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This chocolate factory serves up three types of hot chocolate (and bites to eat that look so perfect, glazed, and petite it’s almost a shame to eat them). Take your pick from a thick, rich European drinking chocolate, a Mission blend with Mexican spices, or the Dandelion classic, lighter, and sweeter than the rest. They all come with a micro cookie on the side. Dandelion also serves Frozen Hot Chocolate, a recipe invented by the pastry chef. When they're back open for in-person dining you can pull up a seat in the cafe or better yet, snag a stool at the sidebar and watch chocolate science taking place. You’ll see vats of melted chocolate being stirred and shaken.

740 Valencia
San Francisco

1 Ferry Building
San Francisco
Online: dandelionchocolate.com

6. Lush Gelato

Hot chocolate at an ice cream parlor? Definite yes. Lush is the first store licensed to make gelato from scratch in the city of San Francisco. They feature many local purveyors in their flavors, including Cowgirl Creamery, Frog Hollow Farm, and Bellweather Farms. The house hot chocolate is made with their chocolate gelato, is served piping hot, and is wonderfully rich and smooth—just like everything else at Lush. Your child may have trouble choosing between a hot chocolate and an ice cream cone!

520 Columbus Ave. 
San Francisco
Online: lushgelato.com

The Best Hot Cocoa in the East Bay

1. Chocolaterie

The gourmet chocolates in this store are so artistic they could be installed at SFMOMA. People regularly come in just to take pictures of the meticulously fashioned bon bons. Drinks are made with the same Solstice chocolate that's used to make the signature truffles. The classic hot chocolate blends 75% dark chocolate with sugar and a touch of salt and is then hand-mixed with steamed organic whole milk. There's also a Mexican blend with cinnamon and chili as well as an option to add lavender for a different taste altogether. All are rich, smooth, and silky. Afterward, snag a box of chocolates to continue the indulgence at home.

1964 University Ave.
Berkeley
Online: shopchocolaterie.com

2. The Chocolate Dragon Bittersweet Cafe & Bakery

This favorite chocolate shop offers lots of options when hot cocoa cravings hit. Their classic hot chocolate is made with traditional milk chocolate with a touch of dark, or you can go for a spicy version—an intense and spicy sipping chocolate. Salted caramel combines all those great flavors and chocolate chai melts dark chocolate into their unsweetened house-brewed chai. 

5427 College Ave.
Oakland
Online: chocolatedragoncafe.com

Where to Find the Best Hot Chocolate on the Peninsula & South Bay

1. Timothy Adams Chocolates

Timothy Adams offers the ultimate custom hot chocolate experience. Pick from nine different chocolates ranging from white to dark, from Valrhona to TCHO, combine it with milk, almond milk, or hazelnut milk, and have it served hot with homemade marshmallows or chilled over ice. Spice it up with a Mexican blend, or for parents, make it a mocha. Timothy Adams is a place for the serious chocoholic: the owners have been making chocolate for over twenty years and selling professionally for a decade. 

539 Bryant St.
Palo Alto
Online: timothyadamschocolates.com

2. Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

Although this hot chocolate is only available on Saturdays and Sundays, it’s worth the wait, and the drive. The Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay opens up its hot chocolate bar on its outdoor terrace at 1 p.m. on weekends. After you get your cup of dark or milk hot chocolate, embellish it with all the toppings your heart desires, from cinnamon whipped cream to caramel to chocolate crispies to mini marshmallows. Adults can add a shot of liquor as well if you need extra warming. Enjoy your hot chocolate in front of some of the most spectacular views in the Bay, then get a s’mores kit for your kids to enjoy making over the fire pits.

1 Miramontes Point Rd.
Half Moon Bay
Online: ritzcarlton.com

3. Cocola

Cocola has locations all over the peninsula and we particularly love getting a hot chocolate from their Santana Row location and finding a sunny spot outside to sit. Grab a chocolate eclair if you're feeling especially indulgent. 

Various Locations
Online: cocolabakery.com

The Best Hot Chocolate in Marin County

Equator Coffees & Teas

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Equator might be better known for its coffee but which kid can resist a hot chocolate that comes with frothy bear artwork? The dark chocolate they use comes from TCHO, a Bay Area chocolatier that works directly with cacao bean farmers and cooperatives to improve growing and drying methods. Baristas at Equator add sugar and water and mix the chocolate with soy, almond, or regular milk creating something that just hits the spot on your way to or from the beach or hiking the trails of Marin.

Various Locations
Online: equatorcoffees.com

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Holy Cacao! Where to Score the Best Hot Chocolate in Portland

by Hannah Judge

Nothing quite says winter like sipping on a cup of creamy hot chocolate, Portland parents

While Portland may not boast the snowy winters of the midwest, we can still get our winter sports on with the kids, whether we’re tubing on Mt. Hood, ice skating at Lloyd Center, or just finding a peaceful forested trail in the city to stretch our legs. And you know what pairs well with a day of winter adventuring? A rich and creamy cup of hot cocoa, of course. So if you’re wondering where to score the best cup in town, we’ve got options (including vegan hot cocoa). So get out there and make the most of winter’s cooler days. We’ve got your warm up right here.

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Ranger Chocolate Co.

Who doesn't love chocolates and hot chocolate? Ranger Chocolate Co. has it all from your classic hot cocoa to a Salted Maple Latte. Oh, and don't forget to check out their baked goods like biscotti and shortbread cookies as well as their chocolate-dipped candied ginger and chocolate-covered vanilla bean marshmallows. Everyone will find something they love here.

118 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Portland
Online: rangerchocolate.co

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1927 S'mores Company

The hot drinks at 1927 S'mores will hit the spot. Try a decadent gourmet hot cocoa topped with marshmallows, chocolate drizzle, whipped cream, toffee, or sprinkles with a pumpkin pie s'more on the side. Their s'mores marshmallows are huge, delicious, and the kid won't be able to get enough. They do have a vegan option available.

1126 S.W. Adler St.
Portland
Online: 1927smores.com

Jinju Patisserie

Found yourself and the babes in the Boise district in NE Portland and feeling a little something sweet? Head to Jinju Patisserie for their extremely satisfying, triple-chocolate cocoa, and be sure to grab one of their croissants or cookies for little hands while you're at it. Jinju believes in well-crafted, soul-warming indulgences, and after taking a look at their array of sweet options, you will probably want two of everything. Be sure to text their phone number in advance if you'd like them to set some items aside for pick-up.

4063 N. Williams Ave.
Portland
Online: jinjupatisserie.com

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Harlow PDX

Is it cold out? Don't stay stranded and undecided on the sidewalk. Head over to Harlow PDX for their host of warm beverage options. This locally owned café and juice bar has beautifully crafted lattes and steamers, such as red velvet cocoa or turmeric golden latte. Whether you choose to head to their SE Hawthorne location or to their newer shop on NW 23rd Ave, you will stave off the cold with Harlow's delicious drinks.

Harlow on Hawthorne
3632 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland

Harlow NW
505 N.W. 23rd Ave.
Portland

Online: harlowpdx.com

La Perlita

If you've never visited the EcoTrust building in NW Portland, La Perlita is a great excuse to go for the first time and enjoy a delicious chocolate drink while you're at it. Described by their owners as "a love letter to the people who love coffee," La Perlita is about as authentic as roasters come. They know how to brew up a batch of something with that holiday sweetness we all are craving, so be sure to check out their truly Mexican hot chocolate, garnished with cacao nibs, or a traditional hot chocolate for the kiddos to keep it simple.

721 N.W. 9th Ave.
Portland
Online: reformaroasters.com

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Tea Chai Té

If you're a Portland native, then this suggestion will come as no surprise! And if you've never been, you should absolutely take the time to check out this Portland staple. Home to a nearly endless menu of teas and handcrafted tea-based lattes and chai, Tea Chai Té is sure to satisfy the desire for a warm drink on a cold day. Not to mention their slew of locations—no matter where you are in town, you're not far from this cozy neighborhood spot. Bring your family and friends down to this tea house for good conversation and even better drinks.

Locations in Portland, Sellwood, and Eugene

Online: teachaite.com

Pip's Original Donuts

Chai. If you just had an extremely pleasurable reaction to reading that word then wait until you step inside Pip's Original Donuts and buy one of their chai lattes—it'll blow your mind! Not to mention their donuts are to die for. A must-try spot for almost any Portland tourist, take a day being a tourist in your own city by visiting Pip's for one of their small-batch chais, spiced apple ciders, or hot chocolates. You'll be sure to add it to your family's weekend go-to, winter or not! And buy a donut when you go, it's worth it. 

4759 N.E. Fremont St.
Portland
Online: pipsmobile.com

 

Additional reporting by Taylor Clifton

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4 Indigenous Food Recipes to Add to Your Table

by Amber Guetebier

These Laxota recipes will appeal to everyone at your table this holiday season

November is Native American Heritage Month and it’s an important opportunity to recognize and honor the original inhabitants of North America. Help kids (and their grown-ups) make that connection by filling their tummies with indigenous cuisine. These Native American recipes are also great for cooking with kids. We caught up with Chef Kimberly Tilsen-Brave Heart of Etiquette Catering in Rapid City, SD for some mouth-watering menu items that incorporate traditional Lakota ingredients.

“As the original inhabitants of this land, it is important to teach all children the significance of indigenous foods, history, and existence,” says Chef Kimberly Tilsen-Brave Heart. “We all reside upon the ancestral lands of indigenous people.”

With full recipes below, Chef Tilsen-Brave Heart has curated a special menu for Native American Heritage Month and beyond. The following mouth-watering dishes incorporate ingredients like pumpkin and bison, which are major food staples for the Lakota people. You’ll also find foods like cranberries and rice that are also indigenous ingredients.

Magic Pumpkin Squash Soup

Magic pumpkin squash soup is a Native American recipe from the Lakota nation.
Etiquette Catering

Ingredients:

  • 1 large butternut squash

  • 1 tbsp. garlic powder

  • Kosher salt

  • Black pepper

  • Olive oil

  • 1 stick of butter

  • 1 medium yellow onion

  • 1 can organic pumpkin puree

  • 2 cups coconut milk

  • 4 cups chicken broth or vegetable stock

  • Roasted pumpkin seeds (for topping)

Instructions:

  1. Roast a large peeled and cubed butternut squash at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.

  2. Sprinkle with 1 tbsp of garlic powder, sprinkle kosher salt, and cracked black pepper

  3. Toss with olive oil and put in on a baking sheet before putting in the oven

  4. 1 stick of butter melted with a chopped medium yellow onion, sprinkle with some salt until translucent.

  5. Add 1 can of organic pumpkin puree

  6. Add 2 cups of coconut milk

  7. Add 4 cups of chicken broth or vegetable stock

  8. Add the roasted butternut squash

  9. Simmer for 30 minutes

  10. Then blend with an immersion blender

  11. Top with roasted pumpkin seeds

 

Related: 10 Ways to Honor Native American Heritage Month with Your Kids 

Wild Rice, Cranberry, and Bison Stuffed Mushrooms

Etiquette Catering

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground bison

  • 1 lb Italian sausage

  • 3 tbsp. butter

  • 1 yellow onion

  • 6-8 baby portabella mushrooms

  • Qtr. cup dried cranberries

  • 1 cup wild rice {optional: purchase wild rice from: https://redlakenationfoods.com}

  • 2 cups bone broth or vegetable stock

  • Olive oil

  • Kosher salt 

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  2. Melt 3 tbsp. of butter with a half-chopped yellow onion Sauté

  3. Wash and clean 6-8 baby portabellas remove stems and chop add to the butter and yellow onion

  4. Add qtr. cup of dried cranberries

  5. Add 1 cup of wild rice, and continue to saute all together (you are popping the wild rice, so it will become fragrant)

  6.  Add 2 cups of bone broth or vegetable stock, lower heat, and cover to simmer; set timer for 25 minutes

  7.  In another pan saute  2 tbsp of butter and the other half of your chopped yellow onion, cook until translucent

  8. Add 1 lb of ground bison, 1 lb of Italian sausage, and 1 tbsp of garlic 

  9. Cook until brown over medium heat 

  10. Add wild rice and bison mixture together

  11. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle kosher salt over portabellas 

  12. Stuff with bison wild rice mixture

  13. Bake for 15 minutes; serve warm

Related: 13 Children’s Books That Celebrate Native American Cultures & Authors

Bison Stew

bison stew is a Native American recipe from the Lakota nation.
Etiquette Catering

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs buffalo meat

  • 3-4 tbsp. olive oil 

  • 1 tbsp. garlic powder

  • 2 tbsp. kosher salt

  • 1 tsp. black pepper

  • 1 tsp. paprika

  • 1/2 tsp. turmeric

  • 3-4 bay leaves 

  • Mirepoix (chopped onions, carrots, celery)

  • 6-8 cups of beef broth/stock or water

  • 6-8 russet potatoes

Instructions:

  1. Braise 2 lbs of Buffalo meat (1-inch cubes) with half an onion (fine chop), in a warmed stockpot with 3-4 tbsp. olive oil 

  2. Spice 1 tbsp. garlic powder, 2 tbsp. kosher salt, 1 tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. paprika, 1/2 tsp. turmeric, and 3-4 bay leaves 

  3. After browned, add Mirepoix (chopped onions, carrots, celery), and a can of diced tomatoes 

  4. Add 2 cups of water or stock/broth and simmer on medium-low heat for 30-45 mins or until tender. (Stir occasionally, more water or stick/broth may be needed) times will vary with the size of the meat and location

  5. When meat is tender add 6-8 cups of beef broth/stock or water and bring back to boil 6-8 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces or bigger 

  6. Cook an additional 15-20 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender 

  7. Remove from heat and let stand for 10-15 minutes, serve

Related: 7 Places to Visit to Responsibly Experience Native American Culture

Buffalo, Cranberry, and Wild Rice Meatballs with Blackberry Wojape

Etiquette Catering

Ingredients:

Meatballs

  • 1 lb Buffalo (Can be substituted with beef)

  • 1/4 lb Italian Sausage

  • 1 cup Wild Rice

  • 1/2 cup Yellow Onion

  • 3 cups of Chicken Bone broth

  • 1/2 cup Rehydrated Cranberries

  • 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

  • 1/4 cup Breadcrumbs (optional)

  • 1 egg

  • 1 tsp. Salt

  • 1 tsp. Garlic Powder

  • Dash of Paprika

Blackberry Wojape 

  • 1 cup Berries

  • 1 cup Sugar

  • 1 1/2 cups Water

Instructions:

Meatballs

  1. Clean wild rice with cold water 

  2. Saute wild rice with 1/2 cup of yellow onion and some oil for 5 minutes, allowing the rice to gently pop

  3. Add in 3 cups of bone broth per 1 cup of wild rice

  4. Add in rehydrated cranberries, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes 

  5. Add in 1 cup finished wild rice to buffalo 

  6. Add 2 tbsp. of Worcestershire sauce

  7. Add 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs (optional) 

  8. Add 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. garlic powder, and a dash of paprika 

  9. Place meatballs on a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until internal temp is 165 degrees

Blackberry Wojape

  1. Add into a pan: 1 cup of berries (of your choosing), 1 cup of sugar, and 1 tbsp. of cornstarch and 1 1/2 cups of water 

  2. Render down for about 10 minutes

  3. Drizzle blackberry wojape on top of the meatballs and enjoy 

 

 

 

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A Far More Realistic List of Ways to Prep for Motherhood

By Lauren Lewis

I bet you clicked on this post expecting to read something fun and simple like, “10 Easy Ways to Prepare for New Motherhood!” Sorry, you won’t find that here, not really.

Because nothing—I mean nothing—can truly prepare you for the excruciating love you feel for this new, tiny human. For the sleepless nights, the overwhelming worry, the completely abnormal fascination and pride that comes with every. Single. Thing. Your. Baby. Does.

But here are a few things you can try.

1. Stop showering for several days at a time.

2. Set your alarm randomly through the night, anywhere between five-minute and two-hour increments. Each time it goes off, take a lap around the house while holding something fragile, like your grandmother’s crystal—without collapsing. Repeat.

3. Dirty dishes. Prep for motherhood and all the “letting go” that comes with it by allowing your sink to sit full of dirty dishes for multiple days. Better yet, do those dishes and find a way to magic them dirty again within 30 minutes of washing. (I’m sure your hubs can help with that.)

4. Color the walls with a marker. The walls, the couch, your favorite yoga pants. Research different ways to remove marker ink from various surfaces around your house. (Helpful hint: dry erase markers are not friendly to walls. Don’t ask me how I know.)

5. Borrow someone’s sick kid (it’s flu season, you’ll find them) and wear a little vomit on the shoulder of your shirt. Forget it’s there and continue to wonder where that smell is coming from as you sanitize every surface of your home, but one: you.

6. Sit for hours at a time snuggling a small creature and smelling its head, completely blissed out. Do this for long after you’ve had to pee and your legs have fallen asleep.

7. Get into yoga. You’ll need those stretches to reach halfway across the bed with your pinky toe to grab your phone because the baby fell asleep on your boob again and you can’t reach it.

8. Go into your closet and place at least 10 articles of unworn clothing into the laundry pile every day.

9. Buy a Roomba. Smear peanut butter on the bottom of it and set it to run all day. Try to clean up after it. (Side note/epiphany: every mom should add a Roomba to their baby shower registry.)

10. Allow barn animals into your home. Try to retain sanity.

11. Get yourself a drink in a green cup. No, now a red cup. Try a blue cup now. Just kidding, you’re not thirsty anymore.

12. Decide you need to eat mac and cheese. Realize you don’t have any. Go to the store, come home, fix mac and cheese. Decide you hate mac and cheese.

13. Analyze and Doctor Google everything. Every bath product in your home, every red bump on your arm, why you didn’t sleep well last night. Don’t sleep because you are worried about the toxicity level of your sheets and the LED light in your bedroom and convince yourself they’re the reason you aren’t getting any rest.

I’d like to tell you that these steps will completely help you prepare for what it’s like to become a parent.

But it won’t.

As a former nanny who had helped raise several babies, I thought I would have this motherhood gig in the bag. I could change diapers with the best of them and swaddle with ease. Every book, sleep bible, and baby terminology manual was read and practiced…

I was going to be the Best Freaking Mother Ever.

But the second the doctors laid that warm, cheese-covered ball of mush on my chest, it occurred to me: I have no freaking clue what I’m doing.

And I didn’t. (Maybe I still don’t.) Some days, I’m completely failing. I yell, then I hide from them, then I cry for a moment of peace (or sanity), then I hug the crap out of them because I can’t believe I got to grow these amazing, kind, brilliant, hilarious little humans.

I wish I could tell you the secret to rocking motherhood. I wish I knew the secret to rocking motherhood. But, here is what I can tell you, what I know deep down in my bones.

Do your research. Ask questions. Know this too shall pass. Let go of the worry. Throw your books out the window (after reading them) and do what works for you, your family, and your kids.

No mom ever went wrong by trusting her gut.

Sending love to you, new mom.

You got this.

With over 10 years in childcare experience, Lauren's passion for lifting up moms and advocating for children pours through her work with Breastfeeding World and her daycare. Her life is full of busy, crazy and LOUD. Oh, and coffee—always lots of coffee—but she wouldn't have it any other way.

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Coffee Linked to Lower Risk of Dying, So Moms Are Basically Immortal

by Julie Scagell

Good news for coffee drinkers (so, all moms). Moderate consumption of “unsweetened and sugar-sweetened coffee” has been shown to increase longevity, according to a new study. That’s right. Pour that second cup as you chase your family out the door in the morning and go about your day.

The study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, found people between the ages of 37 and 73 who drank 1.5 to 3.5 cups of coffee per day (even with a teaspoon of sugar) were around 30 percent less likely to die than those who didn’t. In fact, the more you drink (to a reasonable point), the lower your risk of dying.

Researchers found people who drank unsweetened coffee were 16 to 21 percent less likely to die (we know, it sounds morbid), and those who consumed three cups per day had the lowest risk when compared to noncoffee drinkers. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can go to your local Starbucks and order a triple grande vanilla latte with added whip. “All bets are off when it comes to matching this with a latte, a Frappuccino, the super mocha whipped whatever,” said Dr. Eric Goldberg, a clinical associate professor of medicine at the N.Y.U. Grossman School of Medicine. These drinks are higher in calories, fat, deliciousness, etc.

But the study results had researchers and coffee drinkers celebrating. “It’s huge. There are very few things that reduce your mortality by 30 percent,” said Dr. Christina Wee, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a deputy editor of Annals of Internal Medicine.

For this study, researchers looked at coffee consumption data collected from more than 170,000 people from the U.K. Biobank, a large medical and health information database from people across Britain. The mortality risk remained lower across the seven years they followed participants, which included both decaffeinated and caffeinated coffee drinkers. The data was inconclusive for people who used artificial sweeteners, so clearly, real sugar is the way to go.

This isn’t the first study to find such results. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles tracked more than 185,000 people over 16 years and found people who drank one cup of coffee per day were 12 percent less likely to die during the course of the study than those who didn’t drink any.

It’s official. Parents can keep fueling their bodies with the brown stuff all day. Science said so, and we’re exhausted. Let us have this.

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Surprising & Amazing Things You Can Buy on Amazon

by Karly Wood

Amazon is famous for being the go-to place for everything. The online retailer already has plenty of programs that meet our household, grocery and personal needs, but hiding amongst the ordinary lie quite a few surprising and amazing products. Keep scrolling to see some of the most interesting and useful things to buy on Amazon that you might not have known were there.

A Tiny House

Amazon

Whether you're looking for a backyard retreat, in-law suite or a vacation home, you can find just what you need in the shape of a tiny home! With several sizes and styles to choose from, adding a mini mansion to your shopping cart has never been easier. For a cool $8,560, this Allwood Somersby Garden House can be all yours––free shipping included!

Live Ladybugs

Amazon

Kids love ladybugs? Or are you just trying to get your garden in check by ridding it of aphids and moths? Either way, Amazon sells live ladybugs and they are guaranteed to stay that way upon delivery! For just $6, you can snag 1,500 of these adorable bugs that are bound to make your kiddos and garden happy.

Joytutus Cup Holder Expander

Amazon

Tired of having your water bottle be slightly too big to fit in your car cupholder? The Joytutus Cup Holder Expander makes it so you don't have to worry about how big your water bottle is. Your put the expander in the cup holder, and any bottle will fit!

Guac-Lock

Amazon

There's nothing quite like the taste of fresh guacamole but you can't always eat an entire batch in one sitting. Luckily, the Guac-Lock is here to keep that pesky browning at bay. Pack the container, use the attachment to push up the base and squeeze out excess air and enjoy brown-free guac whenever you want.

Puff-N-Fluff

Amazon

Winter brings lots of smelly and cold doggies, but the Puff-N-Fluff makes drying a breeze. Just pop your pup in the suit and attach your hairdryer to the hose to give your furry friend the total spa treatment. The genius contraption is also great for dogs who are scared of hairdryers!

Amazon Home Installation

Amazon

Rather than vet out tons of house cleaners to get your home spick and span, just trust Amazon Home Services! The online marketplace offers home installation services, and it couldn't be easier to book. They have all sorts of services to meet your home installation needs.

Shower Foot Rest

Amazon

Shaving your legs in the shower always proves to be a dangerous fete, but no more! The Safe-er Grip Foot Rest simply suctions to your shower wall, providing that much-needed support when you don't have a built in ledge or stool. Who knew?

Gardening Claws

Amazon

Why bother with a hand shovel or trowel when you can just dig in with your own Gardening Claws? Your unruly weeds have met their match when you slip on a pair of these Marvel-esque gloves that guarantee a fit like a second skin and claws that don't dare fall off.

Snap N Strain Pot Strainer

Amazon

Holding a pot at the right angle so you pour your pasta and hot water into the right spot can be such a strain! This handy Snap N Strain Pot Strainer makes it much easier with no lost noodles in the process.

Tapi

Amazon

Make your own drinking fountain at home with the Tapi! The BPA-free rubber slip-on contraption slides over most taps and with a simple squeeze turns any faucet into an instant fountain! Cut down on last minute "I need water" requests and senseless dirty cups. No promises that this fun gadget won't become a water squirter!

The Gift of Nothing

Amazon

They said it, you listened. This thoughtful Gift of Nothing requires no extra wrapping and is perfect for friends and family who refuse to give you gift ideas.

Watermelon Cube Slicer

Amazon

Cutting watermelon will be a challenge no more with this Watermelon Cube Slicer! This tool is designed so you get the perfect cube every time and it's absolutely kid safe.

––Taylor Clifton & Karly Wood

 

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Make This Tonight: Taco Salad Pizza

By Catherine McCord

 

What do you get when you merge two really tasty kid-friendly dishes? Taco salad pizza! Catherine McCord of Weelicious dreamt up this delicious dish that is incredibly adaptable. Use either homemade or storebought pizza dough and let the kids in on the fun of adding toppings to the pizza. Catherine recommends making this dinner in a cast iron skillet if you prefer thick crust or a half sheet pan if you like your pizza on the thin side.

4-6 servings
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
1 pound pizza dough, at room temperature
1/2 cup salsa
1 cup refried beans
2 cups cheddar, mozzarella and/or Monterrey Jack cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small red onion, diced

1 package plant-based ground meat
1 1/2 teaspoon taco seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
1 avocado, pitted and diced
1/4 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons cilantro
Optional Toppingssli
radish, sliced
tomatoes, diced

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 425 F.

2. Lightly grease a sheet pan with olive oil and stretch the dough to fit the size of the pan (about 16″ x 11″). Alternatively, you can use a large circular pizza pan or 12-15 inch cast iron skillet.

3. In a medium bowl stir the salsa and refried beans until thoroughly combined. Spread on top of pizza dough and top with grated cheese.

4. Bake pizza for 18-20 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.

5. While pizza is baking heat a large sauté pan over medium/high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil, add red onion, plant-based protein starter, taco seasoning and salt. Break apart with spatula and cook until moisture has evaporated and plant-based meat browns, about 12 minutes.

6. Remove pizza from the oven, top with plant-based meat, lettuce, avocado, sour cream* and cilantro and other optional ingredients.

* for decorative fun place sour cream in the corner of a small zipper bag. Use scissors to cut a small hole in the corner of the bag and twist it to resemble a piping bag. Drizzle the pizza in a zip zag pattern.

This post originally appeared on Weelicious.

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Catherine McCord is the co-founder of One Potato and the founder of the popular Weelicious brand, a trusted content resource synonymous with family and food. She has written three cookbooks including her latest Smoothie Project. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.

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Starbucks Valentine’s Day Merch Has Arrived & It Is Pretty Perfect

by Erica Loop

Do you heart Starbucks? Even though you may have just put down your Christmas cup, it’s already time to pick up something from Starbucks’ new Valentine’s Day collection.

The coffee giant released its Valentine’s Day 2022 lineup, and it is so, so cute. You can now get holiday-themed cups in Starbucks stores. And the collection is so adorable, you’ll be toting it all year ’round.

Starbucks
Starbucks

So what do this year’s Valentine’s cups look like? A whole lot of cute and a whole lot of Paris love. It’s the city of love, right?

Starbucks
Starbucks

Along with this cold beverage tumbler, some Starbucks stores also have a heart-covered pink mug, a clear cup with confetti hearts in the handle and other select designs. Check out your local Starbucks for tumblers and mugs available in your area.

—Erica Loop

 

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Common Baking Substitutions Real People Swear By

by Amber Guetebier

We’ve all been there: all set to bust out your favorite recipe or do some baking with the kids and you find yourself short on a key ingredient. Whether you’re looking for a baking soda substitution or you are in need of an egg substitution, or it’s just not practical (or safe) to go to the store, we’ve got a handy list for those just-in-case moments.

photo: cottonbro via Pexels

Baking powder: The following are equal to 1 tsp. baking powder. 

1/4 teaspoon of baking soda + 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar

1/2 cup plain yogurt + 1 tsp. baking soda. Mix dry ingredients together first before adding yogurt. dded to dry ingredients. (Reduce amount of water or other liquids).

1/2 tsp. lemon juice + 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

1/4 cup of molasses + 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

1/2 tsp. vinegar + 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

Baking soda:

Baking powder at a 3x ratio (i.e. 3 tsp. baking powder = roughly 1 tsp. baking soda).

Brown sugar:

1 cup white sugar + 1 tbsp. maple syrup or molasses

Maple syrup, agave nectar or molasses at the ratio of 2/3 cup liquid to 1 cup of brown sugar. Reduce your other liquids in the recipe by 1/4 cup each.

photo: evita ochel via Pixabay 

Butter: The following are the equivalent to 1 cup of butter:

1 avocado (mashed)

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 cup coconut oil

Buttermilk:

Add one tbsp. of white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk.

Cake flour:

Add cornstarch to flour as follows: 1 cup of flour minus 2 tbsps. Sub in 2 tbsp. of cornstarch. Sift together well.

Cornstarch: 

As a thickener, you can add in flour in place of cornstarch at a 3 to 1 ratio (3 tbsp. flour = 1 tbsp. cornstarch).

In baking you can substitute arrowroot powder on an even basis, but it’s not a very common ingredient.

Cream of tartar:

1 tsp. white vinegar or lemon juice for every 1/2 tsp. of cream of tartar

photo: skitterphoto via Pixabay 

Egg: You won’t believe the things you can swap for an egg in recipes! The following are equal to one egg in a recipe:

1/4 cup of applesauce, avocado or pumpkin puree. (Go! Go! Squeeze to the rescue.)

1/2 of a medium-sized banana, mashed.

Baking soda + vinegar: 1 tsp. of baking soda to 1 tbsp. of vinegar

Chia or flax seeds, processes to a 1 tbsp. of powder. Mix with 3 times the water, use warm water and let it sit for several minutes.

1/4 cup of pureed tofu.

3 1/2 tablespoons of an gelatin blend made by using 2 tsps. of unflavored gelatin to 1 cup of boiling water.

Pectin: 1-2 tsps added directly to your mix.

3 tbsp. of nut butter.

1/4 mashed potatoes or 2 tbsp of (rehydrated) instant mashed potatoes.

1 tbsp. vegetable oil + 2 tbsp. water + 2 tsp. baking powder.

Aquafaba, aka bean water! This is the liquid leftover from canned beans. Use 3 tbsp. per egg. This is great to sub for whipped meringues or when a recipe calls for egg whites.

Flour:

It’s Pretty hard to sub out flour, but you can create your own flour from dried oats if you powder them. Other flours, such as almond flour or coconut flour, can be used on a 1 to 1 ratio but don’t expect the same results. Liquids bind differently with these flours, so if possible try for a half regular/half alternative flour recipe.

Half and half or heavy cream:

Add 2 tbsp. of cornstarch to regular milk.

Melt 1/4 cup butter into 3/4 cup regular or skim milk.

Lemon/lemon juice:

You can sub in vinegar, orange juice, lime juice or white wine in place of lemon juice.

Powdered sugar:

DIY your own powdered sugar by putting regular (castor) sugar into a food processor until it’s…well…powdered!

Sour cream:

Add 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice to yogurt.

Yeast: 

There isn’t really a great substitute for yeast, but in a pinch you can try using equal parts baking soda + vinegar (or another acid like lemon juice) to create a leavening effect.

 

photo: calum lewis via Unsplash 

Other Clever Substitutions 

Sub a little of your water for vodka and your pie crust somehow comes out flakier. And now you have an almost-full bottle of vodka on hand. Just sayin…

If you run out of food coloring, Use Jello to tint decorative icing.

—Amber Guetebier

featured image: Gustavo Fring via Pexels 

 

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