Hot Cocoa Mix (Dairy Free)

This version of the Hot Cocoa Mix gives you the choice of what milk you want to use in your hot cocoa. I'm pretty sure you could use soy, almond, hemp, coconut, etc. At our house milk free of rBGH (a.k.a. recombinant bovine growth hormone), pesticides and antibiotics means one less migraine trigger. I recently had another awareness that staying away from milk free of hormones meant sour cream, yogurt and cheese too. Totally obvious. Sigh.

The brands of milk that currently seem safest for us (being rBGH, pesticide and antibiotic free) are Horizon and Tillamook. A few years ago we took a tour of the Tillamook Cheese factory in Oregon. Their farmers are part of a co-op. They make great cheese and the factory staff made one mean chocolate shake!

Some other milk producers state they're rBGH free, but they don't say they're free of pesticides or antibiotics. I've noticed an asterisk on the label that takes you to the fine print assuring consumers that there's no problem with rBGH. So, no problem unless you're sensitive or allergic to it? Scientific proof in the way of hypothesis, multiple tests with various brands--result: when we cut out dairy with rBGH (hormones), pesticides and antibiotics, there are less migraines. If you've ever had a migraine... less migraines=awesome! I had just made the cocoa mix from Alton Brown with, you guessed it--milk powder, when I realized I needed to make a hormone free version.

Hot Cocoa Mix (with No Milk Powder)
2 C powdered sugar
1 1/8 C cocoa powder Dutch process
2 t corn starch
1 (scant) t salt
1/4 C Splenda brown sugar
1/4 C mini chocolate chips (really good*)

Mix ingredients together with a spoon or fork. To make a mug of cocoa, combine two heaping spoonfuls of mix (to taste) with hot milk.

*The tiny chocolate chips melt at the bottom of your mug, for a last hit of chocolatey goodness.

Recipe Inspiration/Source: Alton Brown's Hot Cocoa Mix

Suzanne
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