minty marshmallow hot cocoa

An ordinary evening. Almost bedtime and the children were gathered for their bedtime snack. Requests for warm milk had been made, then changed to hot cocoa. We had homemade minty marshmallows leftover, so it was eagerly agreed all around that warm minty marshmallow cocoa was a superb way to end our day. But I was about to throw in a twist. 

 

I got out some pirate straw toppers I had designed some time ago for our you make do™ shop, our recycled soda bottle glasses, and some striped paper straws. These three little touches, the special way I was about to serve up the warm minty cocoa, was about to change our ordinary evening all together. Our simple snack time became extra special. Memorable even. 

There was extra joy in the novelty of using special fun straws whose revelry is usually reserved for birthday celebrations. The smiles didn't come just from the deliciousness of the creamy warm cocoa. Or the freshness of tasting minty marshmallows in cocoa for the very first time. The smiles came from a bursting happiness of enjoying something that was grandly served, like a holiday meal eaten on fancy china at an elaborately decorated table. And after slurping the last of the warm marshmallow foam from the bottom of their glasses, those satisfied smiles escorted their sleepy tummies all the way up to their warm winter beds.

 

healthy minty marshmallow hot cocoa

1 cup hot milk per person

1 teaspoon honey per cup

1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder per cup

Splunk in a few minty marshmallows (add a few drops of natural peppermint extract if you haven't made any), poke in a fun paper straw (I wouldn't suggest using plastic straws in these hot drinks) and share quiet bedtime laughs together.

©heather cahoon • wordplayhouse®