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Chef Gina Prepares Us For Valentine’s Day With Decadent Drinks

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Valentine’s Day may feel far away but if you’re anything like me, it sneaks up on you! Every year I find myself in a bit of a scramble of what exactly to do in order to celebrate love. Whether it’s directed at your partner, your friends, or your children – how do you show your love? Mine is definitely displayed through cooking and food so I figured why not make it an all-day affair this year? 

Starting with breakfast in bed and ending with a decadent dessert, I have a few beverage recipes to keep in your back pocket for when February 14th rolls around – and next week, I’ll have a main course idea for you to round out your day of food… err, I mean your day of love. Both recipes are quick and easy – yet feel like a special twist on familiar classics. And while they take only slightly more time to make than the “typical” versions, they both show a little extra attention was given, making your love feel extra special. 

As a bonus, because love is in the details if you are still following Whole30/Paleo eating, I have provided easy adjustments throughout the recipes to keep these recipes in line with those diets. 

Whipped Coffee

Prep Time: 10 min

Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 TBS INSTANT COFFEE OR ESPRESSO
  • 4 TBS SUGAR OR SUGAR SUBSTITUTE OF CHOICE
  • 4 TBS BOILING WATER
  • ½ CUP MILK OF CHOICE

Directions

  1. Mix instant coffee, sugar, and boiling water together with an electric or stand mixer. After approx. 3 mins the mixture will be light and fluffy
  2. Pour over milk of choice. Good morning!!

Notes

  • Fun Fact: This whipped coffee trend, also called Dalgona Coffee, after a popular South Korean candy with similar colors, took off in the US last year thanks to Tik Tok 
  • While any sugar or sugar substitute will work, it must be instant coffee or espresso that is used. There is something in the emulsifiers that are used in instant coffee (vs. freshly ground coffee beans) that helps it whip up 
  • Sugar substitutes that I have used that work just fine include erythritol, coconut sugar, and monk fruit sugar. I’ve been spooning the coffee mixture over heavy cream lately (because “yolo”) but works over almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, etc. 
  • If making only one serving by cutting the recipe in half, most stand mixers won’t be able to reach the small amount of liquid so you’ll need to use a hand mixer. I’ve tried using the bullet blender but it doesn’t get as light and fluffy 

Thick Hot Chocolate Total Time

Prep Time: 8 min

Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 CAN COCONUT MILK, FULL FAT
  • 3 TBS COCOA POWDER
  • 2 TBS SUGAR OR SUGAR SUBSTITUTE

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan, melt coconut milk
  2. Once melting down, add cocoa powder and sugar
  3. Continue to stir until mixed and heated through
  4. Pour into a mug, let it cool slightly so it starts to thicken up before drinking. Good evening!

Notes

  • I used unsweetened, dark cocoa powder since that’s what I had, if using already sweetened powder, you may want to cut down on the amount of sugar added. Any sugar or sugar substitute can be used
  • By using coconut milk instead of regular milk, it not only keeps it Whole30/Paleo but also gives this a nice, thicker texture than most hot chocolates
  • This recipe is very flexible, for example, you could also add espresso powder for a caffeine and flavor boost; you could add different flavored chocolate chips, different extracts (vanilla, mint, etc.) for an endless array of options. 

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