Budget Recipe of the Season

By Emily Siefken

My inspiration

This is one my favorite--and easiest!--holiday recipes and it makes a perfect gift if you put a little time into decorating the jar. It can also be fun to customize the recipe for the different people in your life. Add cayenne pepper instead of crushed peppermint to make spicy hot chocolate, or cinnamon and vanilla for a subtler flavor. Best of all, the whole thing cost less than $7.00, which fit perfectly into my VISTA budget.

Layer in the jar:

2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
2 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 cup crushed peppermint sticks
1 cup marshmallows

When you make a cup of cocoa:
Mix all the ingredients together, and add a scoop of cocoa mix to a mug of hot water or milk.

Makes 10 cups of cocoa!