Dear Friends,

One of my favorite ways to Pamper myself (our habit for December!) is with a warm wonderful cup of comfort for a special treat.

In 1996 I lived in a little community in Transylvania County, North Carolina. It is called Balsam Grove and was just a few miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, up a narrow mountain road. There were 78 curves between my little cabin and downtown Brevard. I was attending college and had to drive those curves every morning to get to class. I hardly had money for gas much less a cup of cafe mocha which was my favorite.

That is when I decided to make my own. How hard could it be? It was pretty easy to figure out: coffee, chocolate and milk. I wanted a mix, that would store easily, so all I had to do was put a scoop in a travel mug and fill it with hot water. I was good to go.

Not only did I have a drink that was much cheaper than a cup of Cafe Mocha at the coffee shop; I treated myself to something special every morning. I could even take a little with me so that I could make some
more for the drive home in the afternoon. Nothing says I love you like a cup of something warm and wonderful.

Making your own Cafe Mocha does several things.

1. Saves Money
2. Saves Time
3. Saves the Environment when you use your own travel mug.
4. Warms you up on a cold day
5. Best of all; You feel loved and pampered

That is five good reasons for a cup of something warm and wonderful.
Here is my recipe.

Cafe Mocha

You will need a:
box of good powdered milk,
a jar (8 oz) of instant coffee (decaf or regular)
Nestles Quik chocolate milk powder.

I take the jar of coffee and pour it into a mixing bowl. Then I use it as the measuring cup, because this is a proportional recipe and the jar is the guide. Then I add two jars of the chocolate milk powder (16 oz) and three jars of powdered milk (24 oz). Stir with a spoon. If you use a less expensive/coarser powdered milk, you can put all of it into a food processor or blender and mix it better. I have even used the Hazelnut instant coffee and it is great too.

To Use: Scoop out 1/4 of a cup for each mug (mix with 1 cup of hot water) you make.

I keep the Mocha Mix in a glass canister with the 1/4 cup scoop in it. This is a great no cook recipe for a gift! Put in a glass jar with a pretty mug lined with plastic wrap, add directions, a measuring spoon and a bow and you have a nice little gift.

Take a little time for you to pamper yourself with a cup of coffee, cafe mocha, tea or even a bottle of water. Taking time for you is what matters. Make that few minutes just for you sacred and special. FLY: Finally Loving Yourself.