This Groundhog Day Hot Cocoa is a nutella based cocoa with a cute little cookie groundhog peeking out to see his shadow.
First off, Happy Groundhog Day!
As most of you know today is for real my favorite holiday.
And now onto more amusing topics:
As I shared with my Facebook followers, I received this little beauty of an email yesterday and really, it was too good not to share.
“Dear Peabody,
With the combo of your latest RSS Feed choice as well as the lack of quality of your blog lately I must unsubscribe from you.
A rice Krispie treat and Funfetti in the same week.
I’m expecting to see just a picture of an Oreo cookie the next time I click over the rate you are going.”
Well, as you can see, though it is not an Oreo, it is a store bought cookie (store brand even).
And store bought whipped cream from a can.
So take that!
The decline is on the way!
This little cute groundhog is not my idea.
It comes from a site that has some really fun stuff, especially if you are a parent…Gourmet Mom on the Go.
She actually had a few Groundhog ideas and I was super giddy to see that.
There are lots of ideas for food and crafts to make with your kids.
I don’t have kids, but act like one, I want to make a lot of the things on there…and do. 🙂
And if you are looking for more craft ideas to do for yourself or with your kids, check out Crafts by Amanda.
Cute, cute ideas.
Want More Hot Chocolate Recipes?
Circus Animal Cookie Hot Chocolate
Spiked Stroopwafel Hot Chocolate
Hot Fudge Sundae Hot Chocolate
Groundhog Day Hot Cocoa
Ingredients
- Cookie Groundhogs:
- Chocolate covered cookies (grasshopper cookies or Girl Scout Thin Mints)
- Edible Eyeballs
- Chocolate Chips (for ears)
- Large heart sprinkle (or mini M&M or any other candy, for nose)
- Candy Melts or coating compound (such as Candi-Quik, found in the baking aisle)
- For the Hot Cocoa:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 1/3 cups half and half
- 1/3 cup Nutella
- 3 ounces milk chocolate chips
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- whipped cream for garnish
- green sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- Melt about 4 oz. candi-quik in a microwave safe bowl at 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval. DO NOT USE chocolate chips, they will not set up hard enough to hold your groundhog to the cup. You can buy candy melts at Wal-Mart in the craft section or Candi-Quik at your local grocery store in the baking aisle.
- Lay out your cookies on wax paper or parchment paper.
- Dip a toothpick or pointed knife into the melted chocolate and make three dots on your cookie--two for the eyes and one for the nose.
- Attach eyes and nose.
- Dip two chocolate chips into melted chocolate and attach to sides of cookie for ears (see below).
- Let your groundhogs set up, about 15 minutes.
- Using a spoon, smear some melted chocolate on the side of a mug.
- Press groundhog into chocolate and let set about 15 minutes.
- While your groundhog is drying, smear a shadow shape of melted chocolate onto a saucer with a spoon.
- For the Hot Cocoa:
- In a medium saucepan over low-medium heat, whisk together all the ingredients until fully incorporated and melted.
- When hot, pour into mugs. I suggest using a funnel.
- Don’t fill the mug up to the groundhog or else he is going for a cocoa bath quickly.
- *Warning- the groundhog will heat up and sink. So I suggest removing him after you serve him to the kids. 🙂 Nothing worse than watching a drowning groundhog. Yikes.
Jess @ Bakericious says
woa this is so cute!
Rosa says
Happy Groundhog Day!
What a great drink!
Cheers,
Rosa
Shoshanna says
I still like your blog. 🙂
Hope 2011 brings some positive changes for you! 🙂
Leslie says
Your blog always has been, and always will be, my favorite~~i actually feel sorry for the person who wrote that email, because they think they are too good for an oreo cookie
Baking Soda says
That one is just too cute (yeah and the mail too..)
Blog is the New Black says
I’m sorry you got such a harsh email! 🙁 Honesty is one thing but being mean is another. You’ve always been a favorite of mine and I will continue to read, RSS Feed or not! 🙂
jillian says
I’m okay with change, and am willing to click over from my RSS. 🙂
Mimi says
Greetings Peabody,
You’re one of the most real people writing a blog and I love your honesty and humanity. Sometimes life can really stink. Lucky for us, life is all about change.
Happy Groundhog Day!
Mimi
Sara says
And here I was just thinking about how good Oreos sound… 🙂
Do people think that by writing you nasty little e-mails that you will change your life for them? I don’t get it.
Emily says
Pease make sure your teaser paragraph that does get published to the RSS feed is punchy. I’m sure there’s a lot of great overall entries I miss out on cause the RSS teaser is a yawn-fest such as they went to the grocery store or how their dog is.
Kaitlin says
I can’t believe that people are being such jerks about having to click over. What the hell? It seems that you’re tough enough to not let it get to you, but I’m shocked that people are even rude enough to send you e-mails like that. Jeeze.
You haven’t dipped in recipe quality at all. And besides, your blog isn’t just about the food – it’s about the stories. If people can’t appreciate the two of them together… Well, screw ’em. They shouldn’t be reading your blog anyway!
Pamela says
Your blog always makes me laugh/smile.
Since the changes in your life, I have noticed that you are posting much more frequently. Pretty much everyday… thank you!! Keep it up because a lot of us appreciate it XO
Becca says
Awww he’s so adorable! I wanna cuddle hm, but I can’t because he’s food….and inside a computer…sad. Oh well. Hot chocolate sounds good right now since its -13 degrees F right now, eek. And for once I have nutella in the house, so maybe I can make it! 😛
Patricia Scarpin says
That is so adorable – is there a mug for me, Pea? 😉
I have changed my feed, too, and some of the readers have complained. And some have “threatened” to not read me anymore. Go ahead, is all I say. Some people are just too whiny – they will always complain about something. It’s their cardio.
Bethany @Bridezilla Bakes says
Again… this “change” is not a big deal at all. Totally respect and support you for the choices that you’re making. You were a HUGE source of inspiration for me as I thought about starting a blog, and to this day this blog is a source of joy in my life (funfetti? bring it on, I’m happier already). So keep it up!
Lynn says
Happy Groundhog’s Day! I’ll have to remember to watch the movie today. Again.
It might be that life sucks now and then, but you don’t, dear. Keep up the good work!
Christina says
I can’t believe people are so rude! It’s not like they’re paying you to write this blog. I love reading your blog b/c I know it will bring me a smile and/or a chuckle.
Mary says
I’ll be honest, I just got back to reading my favorite blogs. Hang in there! I’ve subbed and sometimes it feels like weeks before you get another call.
And these groundhogs are ridiculously cute!
brilynn says
Did I ever tell you I’m from about 20 minutes away from Wiarton Willie? I love that you celebrate Groundhog Day!
Kayla says
I’ve bookmarked your site and will be clicking over every day! No more RSS for me. Not one bit mad.
And I’m legitimately pissed off for you right now; you’ve run an IMMENSELY successful blog for 5 1/2 years. Do THEY run a successful blog? No. They probably don’t even know how to start one.
So I commend you on your approach to the situation. If it were me, I’d start making “I hope you burn” cupcakes or something. Your technique is much more tactful. 🙂
Erika says
The cocoa sounds delicious! And what a cute little groundhog!
If it’s any consolation, I have really enjoyed the “less complicated” recipes as of late 🙂
P.S. If you want to put a picture of an Oreo up, I won’t mind. Oreos dunked in milk is a classic treat!
Mia says
You’ve been bookmarked!
Melissa says
Adorable!
Sarah Farley says
Peabody…You were the first blog I ever looked at, and your blog is responsible for my current obsession with food blogs. You have also inspired me to start my own soon. I have always loved you and your creations. When I am bored, I often look through your recipes just to look at the pictures and drool over all your sweet treats.
Brian says
You still rock!!! People are just jerks sometimes.
nancy at good food matters says
very funny post—
happily, punxatawney phil did NOT see his shadow,so we can hope for an early spring!!
avasmommy says
I’m a fairly new reader, first time commenter.
I really don’t see what the big deal is all about. It’s not like clicking a mouse button is all that exhausting, for goodness sake.
People will always find SOMETHING to complain about. Such is life.
Love the site and the recipes. That groundhog is adorable!
chksngr says
Feed, shmeed…and pardon me if I’m not at all appalled with the simple and fun things you present. I think SOME foody should stop being a snooty-patootie-foody…those of us who are as inspired by the way you use the things I actually have in my pantry in addition to the things I have to go buy to make your recipes like you just fine.
PS…I think you are the only person I’ve ever seen who says “I love Groundhog’s Day” and means actual Groundhogs Day as opposed the Bill Murray movie….
stacy says
People must have pretty amazing lives to have this upset them so much. How hard is it to click? Seriously. Pea, you still rock! Oreos or store-bought!
Jes says
I have so many other blogs that I read and have to click through, I don’t really care if you switch to that format. Those that do are just being freakin’ lazy & obviously don’t care about your content, they just want to skim their reader for new recipes. How hard is it to open a link in a new tab? Not very.
As long as there’s something there to catch my eye, yeah… I’ll be clicking through.
Love your stuff, even if I don’t end up making a sixty-eighth of it.
Good luck with life, the universe and everything.
Adam says
But can you not imagine the emotional trauma and phyiscal strain that must come from having to click on a link?
An RSS reader is one more layer of seperation and I find it amusing that people have found a way to be even lazier. We can get everything delivered these days causing a significant decline in people actually visiting physical locations. This is apparenlty not enough and some cannot be bothered to visit a virtual location either.
Won’t it be splendid when we’re all bed ridden, atrophied, and fed intravenously? I mean what’s with this chewing? Cut out the middle man I say.
Nicole says
Nutella in hot cocoa? I think I have gone to heaven as I am a complete Nutella fan. I love the little groundhog, too!
Substitute teaching is hard. I’m a librarian and when I teach I teach someone else’s class and that’s a tough dynamic (unless the classroom teacher is really bad, then they’re happy in my class).
Elizabeth says
That “oreo” groundhog is brilliance!! pure brilliance!!
Karen says
I just wanted to say that I appreciate having a few more manageable recipes on here mixed in with the more complicated and time consuming ones. Of course I also read it for your witty commentary.
Heavenly Housewife says
That is just the sweetest thing eva! Happy Ground Hog’s Day daaaaahling!
*kisses* HH
Jill says
Keep doing your thing and you’ll have plenty of readers. You do seem to get more than your share of weirdos, though!
Laura says
it’s that reader’s loss, not yours. Don’t let it bother you.
Frieda says
Crap! I need an Oreo. Stat! I am a new reader as of last week and am following your blog because I find your writing a refreshing change from typical food blogs. Good for you for sticking to your guns!
kristin says
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile and your recipes, whether simple or more complicated are always delicious sounding and beautiful! I don’t know why people are being so rude and ridiculous (people always have to complain about something!) but I will definitely still be reading your blog for your humor and your recipes!
Felice says
Your groundhog looks a little worried. I think he heard when you mentioned the sinking part 🙂 Stay the same Peabody that everyone has come to know and love.
Joanne says
People are really THAT angry about the rss feed? Really? I find that so odd. If I love a blog, then I love it no matter what. The end.
These cookies look so adorable!
Ashley says
I had funfetti for my wedding cake…my mother-in-law may be an awesome cake decorator, but when you got down to it, the cake was still the unbeatable funfetti. 🙂
*just trying to show my non-lurkerness*
sarah says
i always clicked over to your site anyway b/c i always want to bookmark your recipes or read the comments.
thanks for the awesome posts and i hope everything goes well!
Kristen says
As adorable as the groundhog is, my biggest thought right now is “ZOMG, Nutella in hot cocoa?!”. We’ll be picking up some half and half on the way out today. 🙂
And pfft, it’s her loss. She can shove that Oreo cookie someplace, I think. 🙂
Jamie says
I love reading your blog and I always come to the website.
Jen says
I love, love , love your blog Peabody. In fact, your blog was the first food blog I ever started reading. I am always in awe of the baked goods you create, whether it be completely made from scratch or from a box. Don’t listen to the negativity. Some people just need to bring others down. I know I will be a life time reader 🙂
Beth Meyer says
Super cute! Would be delicious with an Oreo! 😉
Megan says
Ugh people suck! I’m so sorry. I for one really enjoy your blog (and I’m even vegan! It’s just very inspirational and creative!).
Also drowning groundhog = sad but kinda cute, hahahaha.
Dolores says
I’m still getting the full feed, so maybe it’s because I’m not seeing what others see, but I don’t get the resistance to clicking over. About every other post, I click over to bookmark the recipe anyway, so what’s the big deal?
And I’m all over store bought cookies and canned whipped cream. 🙂
Peabody says
Dolores- you will still get the full feed until sometime this weekend.
Shelby says
OMG what is this world coming to? Now they are too lazy to click a button?
Lisa @ The Cooking Bride says
I sure do hope that person kept their subscription long enough to realize they were included in their very own post! Geez, get a life, buddy!
Awesome Music Videos says
Are people honestly this whiny and mean on the internet…I just like to read your posts and the last few have been pretty cool. Haters gonna hate. Yum, cocoa.
ps.
I visit your site from work where i don’t have an rss reader. Actually, I want to buy you a gold plated Hummer with a built in Oreo cookie dispenser so I’ll visit this page another 5 times today before going home. Peace and GO SHARKS BEAT THE DUCKS TONIGHT YEAAAH
CookiePie says
Imagine being angry and bitter enough to write a nasty letter to a food blogger. That is just… sad. Peabody — love you, love your blog, love your recipes whether they’re gourmet and involved or store bought and silly/fun. I have 2 words for whoever wrote that note, and they ain’t “happy birthday.” 🙂
Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat says
You have one of my favorite blogs- funfetti and all!
Susan says
I love the groundhog, so adorable!
You are awesome, and by far my favorite blog to read!
ames says
I’m so sorry you have been getting negative feedback, I love your website and recipes and hope you don’t get too terribly discouraged by idiotic comments because I know life in general can be discouraging enough…..sorry again, and good luck
Caroline says
I’m so sorry to hear of some of the hurtful emails you’ve been getting, but I love this! It’s not always about the gourmet and the elegant, it’s about sharing what comes out of our kitchen. And I, for one, love hot chocolate!
mary says
Just wanted to say–I still love your blog; love Oreos, too.
Alexis says
Love this! it’s so adorable!
ErinsFoodFiles says
My mom is a former full-time teacher, now a substitute. Not yet retired, but filling the rest of her years before she does retire.
Lauren says
I check your blog daily and love all your posts even though I’m starving after seeing all the deliciousness.
Oreo’s rock.
Amanda says
Hey thanks for the shout out you wonderful woman you 🙂 🙂 *batting eyelashes* and don’t worry about the feed! Glad to see you are with platefull, that’s definitely a good start. They are great to work with and your visitors will always see relevant ads 🙂 HUGS!
Paula says
it looks so cute!
Catarina says
I find it amusing that someone would go to the effort of telling you why they’re unsubscribing. It’s like they’re breaking up with you!
To be honest, while I originally started reading your blog for the food, I keep coming back for the funny comments and stories more than anything else. In many ways, we have very similar attitudes to things. I often chuckle as I’ve been in similar situations & am relieved that someone else has the same thoughts on something I thought I was alone with.
Keep up the great work 🙂
Emily says
So cute. I appreciate that you mix up the gourmet posts with the cute/fun/easy stuff. Keep it coming and I’ll continue to be a loyal follower! I can’t believe some of the people out there and their negative energy!