Use Good Sense(s) This Christmas Season

There are so many things that remind me of Christmas – even during other times of the year.

Bells ringing from a church tower. The scent of evergreen. A cold blast of chilly air when I open the freezer. My dad's Norman Rockwell prints.

And the taste of a hot peppermint mocha courtesy of whatever Starbucks coffee shop is near me.

On that note, now that the weather is getting bitter cold, I have downed at least three of the caffeinated delights in the past week.

(It may not help that I live across the street from a Starbucks).

There's something about this tasty drink that satisfies without being too rich or sweet.

If you don't live near a Starbucks, want to conserve greenbacks or don't like super strong drinks, here's a recipe that I use to make a knock-off of this drink:

Ingredients: hot water, unsweetened cocoa, a package of hot chocolate (mmm… Godiva brand if you can find it), one candy cane.

Directions: Boil 12 ounces of water and pour into your favorite mug. Scoop in one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa and stir it with a candy cane. Leave the cane in the mug while you're drinking it. Enjoy!

This time of year, Starbucks also offers some other seasonal drinks you might like. Check them out here and see if you can find a way to replicate them. I'd love to have some more homespun recipes – and I'll re-post them all on Patch in the middle of January when we're in the winter doldrums and could use a pick-me-up.