Monday, December 10, 2012

Easy do it yourself mochas using the microwave

I have a confession.  I'm totally, completely, 100%, addicted to mochas.  It's true.  

Forget the diamonds. This is all it takes to make me a very happy woman: 
Being a stay at home mom of five, crazy kids can be rough.  This is how I look and feel most days: 
By the end of the day I look forward to my mocha.  No, scratch that. I NEED my mocha. I have gotten into this habit of running to get a white chocolate caramel mocha every single day, after I pick up the kids from school.  It makes me feel instantly more relaxed and just….human!  However, it hasn't been kind to my bank account.  Those little suckers add up quick! Think about it….one small mocha is approx. $3.35 (i'm using an average price between my 3 favorite coffee places).  That's $100 a month! GASP! $100 a month just on mochas!  Crazy!!!!  

So, I made a vow that I would stop buying mochas and just make coffee at home.  But after drinking mochas, making coffee at home just doesn't work for me.  So, I decided to experiment at home and make my own mocha. The problem is I suck at all things cooking.  Most of the tutorials I found online required an espresso machine, or other expensive, complicated ingredients or instructions that I didn't understand.  Too fancy and expensive for my blood.  I should mention that we have a $20 coffee maker from Walmart.  After reading several tutorials, I decided to try my own and it worked.  Does it taste like Starbucks or Dutch Bros?  No.  It doesn't.  I'm sorry to burst your bubble.  However, it was still rich and delicious and completely satisfied my mocha craving so still a huge success and it cost a fraction of what just one small mocha would cost from a local coffee stand.  

Here's what you'll need: 
Ingredients: 
1/3 cup milk
1 packet of hot chocolate 
1 to 1 1/2 cups of brewed coffee 
Torani flavored syrup (optional)
Whipped cream (optional)

Directions: 
I first started brewing the coffee in my coffee maker.  You don't need much. I made a little over a cup of coffee.   While I was waiting for the coffee, I dumped one packet of hot chocolate mix into the bottom of a large mug.  Then I heated up 1/3 cup of milk in the microwave for approx 30 seconds.  Add the heated milk and brewed coffee into your mug with the hot chocolate powder.  Stir really well.  Add a little bit of flavored syrup.  I LOVE caramel so I added two small spoonfuls of caramel syrup into my mocha.   You can also add some whipped cream on top.  I always get whipped cream on my mochas, but I didn't have any at home today, so I skipped this part, but I WILL be buying some whipped cream at the grocery store tonight for my next mocha. 

My mocha came out smooth, rich, chocolately, and delicious.  And now I don't feel the need to drive to my local coffee stand to buy a mocha.  I'm sure i'll be missed by my baristas and my punch cards will remain unpunched in my wallet, but my bank account is doing cartwheels right now, as is my hubby who has started to notice his wife's daily mocha habit (I think the pile of empty coffee cups in the recycling bin tipped him off).  

So hurry up and go make yourself a mocha! You deserve it :)

8 comments:

  1. You're totally RIGHT! I do deserve it! I am fairly certain vanilla-flavored vodka will probably "stumble" into my cup as well ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry it's taking me so long to comment. I'm stuck in a vicious cycle. I thought I saw a recipe on your blog, passed out, woke up, thought I saw a recipe on your blog, passed out, woke up, thought . . .

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice ~ My addiction is peppermint tea. I can buy that crap by the case if only Costco would carry it.
    Now I have to share it with my daughter when I make some because it's her "coffee."

    See what kids do to us!

    Gonna have to try this out :)

    Lanaya
    www.raising-reagan.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I make them all the time, although I gave up the mocha addiction and traded it for Americanos with a shot of half and half and hersey chocolate..... :-) I think they are tos better than starbucks. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. A sugary, chocolate treat with a caffeine kick is definitely better than a an icy rock. Especially when you have kids. I know what I'm talking about because I was eating a piece of chocolate cheesecake a minute ago. Guess I still need some caffeine...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yeah! I totally agree with ou babe! I was buying Starbucks every day for a long time then I figured I'd just make it myself! Sound delish! I'm gonna go and make one now! xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  7. I had to ditch the coffee out long ago. Love my mochas!

    ReplyDelete
  8. nice!! I just need my shot of espresso...that I brew at home!

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.