Chocolate milk was a favorite childhood treat of mine. My mother never bought pre-made chocolate milk for home, but for 10 cents more, I could buy chocolate milk at school lunch. I felt so special when she would give me that extra dime to carry to school for my treat. She always gave my siblings and me exact change for school lunches. I remember her counting out each dollar and coin on the golden-brown, kitchen table to make sure we had just what we needed, then placing our money into individual paper envelopes and folding them in half and instructing us to place them in our pockets. I have no idea how many times she let me or my siblings buy chocolate milk, but for me, it was every few months.
At times, I know that extra ten cents was a splurge as she kept tract of every penny to make sure we had enough food to eat, but she was committed to communicating how much she cared for me. I felt so loved when I handed over my money to the kind lunch lady sitting at a small desk. The lunch lady always let me pick my own carton of chocolaty, sweet goodness and I would then sit down at one of the long tables in the gymnasium with my classroom friends. I remember drinking the thick, rich treat and feeling thought about, cared for, and cherished. All of the cares of my day seemed to melt away for the few minutes I got to drink my sweet chocolate milk. To this day, the chocolatey beverage inspires feelings of love, safety, and care.
The spices in this recipe add both flavor and comfort. Cinnamon and cardamom contain analgesic (or pain relieving) properties. Eating recipes with cinnamon and cardamom always helped soothe and calm tummy pains while I was recovering from SIBO.
Spiced Chocolate Milk
Ingredients
- 4 cups almond milk (no thickeners or fillers)
- 2 Tbs clear honey
- 4 tsp raw cacao powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
Instructions
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Place the almond milk and honey into a blender.
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Add the cacao powder, cinnamon, and cardamom.
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Blend on medium until smooth.
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Pour into a pitcher or jar and place in the refrigerator to cool.
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Serve chilled.
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