Mexican Hot Chocolate

4 cups milk

3 disks (about 9 oz) Mexican chocolate, such as Ibarra, coarsely chopped (found in Mexican section of your local market)

½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)

4 sticks of cinnamon (optional)

In medium saucepan, add milk, chocolate and ½ tsp cinnamon. Heat mixture over medium heat, stirring with whisk, until very hot and the chocolate has melted. Pour hot chocolate into mugs garnish with cinnamon sticks and a dollop of whipped cream. Enjoy on a cold winter night.

My mom used to make this for us almost every night during Christmas vacation. We would sit under warm blankets, watch a movie and enjoy our hot chocolate.

Patty Aguilar

Patty and Jimmy’s Party Salsa

3 to 4 Serrano chilies or 2 to 3 jalapeño peppers

6 to 7 Roma tomatoes

¼ of a white or yellow onion

4 to 5 whole peeled garlic

½ cup of cilantro

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 tbs Garlic powder

1 tsp Cumin powder

Boil the peppers, tomatoes, onion, and garlic until the skins of the tomatoes begin to peel off. When tomatoes are done peel off the skins and place the tomatoes, peppers, garlic, and onions in blender and blend. Next add the fresh cilantro and spices and blend again. Now you are done and you can enjoy with chips or on tacos.

Patty and Jim