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Helen, Lindsey, Madalynn and Alicia
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How To Make Hot Cocoa Bombs the 3 Winks Way

12/3/2019

19 Comments

 

This post contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase after clicking them, we will be compensated, but there is no additional cost to you.  All opinions expressed are our own.  Thank you for your support.
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    This is the first year in many years that we haven't participated in a craft show and sold our beloved Hot Cocoa Bombs.  So many of our past customers have contacted me wanting to know where we are!  Many are discovering our Hot Cocoa Bomb Idea booklet on Etsy.  So, I thought today I would re-post our original tutorial that shows how to make the best and most entertaining Hot Cocoa ever!  
The time has come! I am going to introduce the method we use to make our Hot Cocoa Bombs with all of their chocolaty goodness and hidden surprises!  Believe me, it took a lot of trial and error to get them to come out the way we imagined them.  Today, I am going to start you out with the basic Chocolate Marshmallow Bomb.  After that, the flavors and decorating ideas are endless.
To begin, here are the tools and supplies I use:
Wilton Brownie Pop Molds (Easy to order through Amazon!) Here is the kind I am using, and here is a Halloween one!  You can sometimes find Christmas ones as well! 
One double boiler
One soup sized spoon
One teaspoon

One rubber spatula
1 bag of chocolate chips per tray (I use whatever is on sale.)
Nesquik
Marshmallows
​Candy Melts and sprinkles to decorate

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You actually need two bags of chips to do two trays of bombs.
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 Instructions:
     Begin by using a double boiler to melt the chocolate chips over hot water.  That is the best way to melt the chocolate to a creamy consistency and to avoid burning it. (Don't let the water run out in the bottom, or you will burn it.)  If you temper the chocolate correctly, it will make the chocolate shine when it cools.
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    * I want to note here that you may be tempted to try to melt flavored chips to make the shell of your bombs. My experience has been that the cinnamon, mint and other flavored chips do not harden as well to make a firm shell.  If you want to use those flavors in your cocoa, you may use them inside the shell as I will show you in future tutorials.
So, melt the chips until they are smooth and silky chocolate!
    After the Chocolate has melted nicely, use the soup spoon filled as pictured below to put chocolate into the cavity of the mold. 
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I know, I am kind of messy.
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After filling all of the molds, use the teaspoon to swirl the chocolate around to form the shells.
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Next, I put them in the freezer to harden for at least 20 min.  (Usually I get busy and forget to get them out to finish hours later, but either way works).  Anyway, after they are hardened, take them out of the freezer.  The next step is very important if you do not want to break most of your shells.  After a lot of broken bombs and frustration, we discovered this method. Pop the shells out of the mold like this:  FIRST-stretch the mold a little bit around the shells. SECOND-flip the mold over and push them out from the bottom onto a towel or waxed paper. THIRD-pop them back into the molds.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FILL THEM BEFORE POPPING THEM OUT THE FIRST TIME.  THIS WILL ONLY FRUSTRATE YOUR LIFE!
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Stretch the mold gently.
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Push them out, gently.
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Oops, this one has a little hole.  That is okay, just patch it up with a quick dot of chocolate from the chocolate that is left over for the tops.  If you aren't quick the hot chocolate will just melt the hole bigger, so it takes a quick touch and pop it back into the mold.
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Now, it is time to fill them!  One of the best things about these Hot Cocoa Bombs is that the marshmallows pop up from them when it is time to melt and drink your bomb!   So, the first thing we do is pack them with 5 or 6 mini marshmallows.  Then, we put about a tsp and a half of Nesquick in with the marshmallows. We have used the store brand of chocolate milk mix, but we have discovered that the Nestle brand, Nesquik, really does dissolve more smoothly.
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Finally, we top them with a last layer of melted chocolate!
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Use just a teaspoon full of the chocolate. Slide it on top with the spatula and then use the spoon to tap it out to the edges to cover the entire top with chocolate, sealing it to the edges.
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Back in the freezer they go for another 20 minutes or more.  Then you pop them out and the decorating begins!
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I kept these simple using a little white topping.  The candy melts harden quickly on the frozen cocoa bombs.  
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Time to taste them!  Make some nice, hot milk.  I love real cocoa made in milk rather than the water kind. Don't you?  Fill your mug about 3/4 full of the hot milk, drop in your Hot Cocoa Bomb, and stir! You will love it!
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Up pops the mallows! Yum!

​* Since we first came up with the Hot Cocoa Bomb Idea, we have developed many flavors and ideas as we have progressed! We have a Hot Cocoa Bomb Recipe and Idea book available for purchase here! 


If you would like to watch a video that shows how to make Hot Cocoa Bombs, go here to our YouTube Channel and watch! Be sure to follow us there and here as well. Thanks! 


19 Comments

Buffalo Plaid Finds on Etsy!

11/29/2019

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This post contains affiliate links. We will be compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.​
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    Recently I wrote about how much I love the buffalo plaid trend and I promised to write more about it.  Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is time to bring out the Christmas decor!  I've been having so much fun finding buffalo plaid items to add to my decoration collection.  Some of my things have seen better days and it is nice to replace a few of them.  Buffalo plaid seems like a classic Christmas motif that will never really go out of style.  I don't know why I have just now latched onto it, but I can't get enough.  
    One place that I like to shop online is on Etsy.  So many artists who sell on Etsy have such cool ideas that you just can't find in the store.  This makes my decorations a little unique and not the run of the mill that you find everywhere.  Today, I thought I would share some of my favorite finds! 
 Printables:  The great thing about printable files is that there is no shipping charge!  You just download and print and use the file the way you would like to.  
  • A Hogwarts Christmas-Why does Harry Potter always make me think Christmas?  I guess because there is always the snowy scenes when Harry gets a hand knit sweater from Mrs. Weasly.  This printable file is amazing! 
  • HO HO HO-in plaid!  So cute and easy!  Just print it and frame it.
  • Believe-I adore this one!  
Table Runners:  Instead of or on top of a tablecloth?
  • Red and black personalized table runner.  It is beautiful and has great reviews! 
  • Black and White table runner.  I love mixing the red and black with the black and white.
Ornaments, tree skirt and decor:  To die for!
  • Buffalo Plaid Stockings-should I or shouldn't I?
  • Embroidery Hoop Disney Ornaments-Maddy will love these!
  • Sock Snowmen- These would be so cute on a shelf or mantel! 
  • Tree Skirt-I already bought one somewhere is, but this one is gorgeous and a couple of dollars less! 
    Those are just a few of the things that caught my eye on Etsy.  If you find something adorable that I missed, please let me know! 
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You can find these trees on Etsy, too! 
3 Comments

The 6 Best Places to Order Photo Cards (and Photo Gifts!)

11/26/2019

1 Comment

 
This post contains affiliate links. We will be compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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    In just about a month, my wonderful husband and I will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary! WHAT?  Yes, it's true, we are that old! As an early gift, Madalynn surprised us with a photo shoot!  Our photographer, Melissa @ Aww Snaps Photography, did a great job! And in spite of my trepidation about a photo shoot and my non-photogenic qualities, she was able to get some cute shots of us and the entire experience was a lot of fun! 
     With these great photos in hand, what could I do except get Photo Christmas Cards printed this year.  In 40 years, this is the first time I've done this.  Sure, I've included photos in our cards before, but this is the first time that we've had professionally printed photo cards.  I think I always felt that it was out of our budget.  But, I love receiving photo cards from family and friends and seeing that everyone else and their children are growing just as old as we are! HaHa!  It does seem to be the trend of late to send photo cards rather than just regular folded cute Christmas cards.  So, this year I took the plunge and it didn't turn out to be nearly as expensive as I thought it was going to be! 
     Of course, you don't have to have a professional photo done to use it to make a Photo Card, so many of the cards are just creative selfie snapshots!  Digital photography certainly helps to keep the costs lower because you can just snap a photo, download it and send it to the printer that you will be using.  Then, you just choose the design you want and the process is easy as pie.  
     Speaking of pie, it is almost Thanksgiving and there are some good deals out there right now for ordering photo cards, so you need to hurry and take advantage of them!  Everyone knows that the weekend of Thanksgiving is the best time to send out your Christmas Cards because after that, the chances of them making it into the mail before the New Year is low.  (I may or may not be speaking from experience).  Anyway, here is a list of places that I have found that I have either used for other projects or one of my kids has used them.  There are links to special deals and lots of choices of designs! 
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Snapfish  is a company we have used before for simply printing photos.  They do a great job and they are always offering discounts and special offers!  But, if you want 75% off of your photo cards, their special for that ends today!  So, if you have a photo ready, order right now!  It is an easy process. Use code NOELCARD at checkout.  Snapfish also offers other photo gifts like books, calendars and canvas prints. 
Minted does beautiful photo cards and gifts all year long and their designs are wonderful. But, once again, their 15% discount ends today! So, hurry! If it is your first time ordering from Minted, you will be offered a 20% discount! Minted also has beautiful fabrics and home accessories to choose from. I love looking through their site.
Mixbook  Earlier this year I used Mixbook to make a photo book to share with my grandchildren.  I love it and I love reading it to my grandchildren.  Mixbook offers many photo gifts and book templates.  Right now, they are doing 11 days of deals, so you have a few extra days, (until 11-29) to get your photo card order in! Use code BFDEALS at check-out. 
Shutterfly is a great place to store photos and print awesome gifts. One year for Christmas, we received an adorable Christmas ornament with our grandson's photo from Alicia and her husband. It is a treasure! Shutterfly is always offering awesome discount offers and freebies. Right now through Thanksgiving they are offering 50% off Christmas Photo Cards, plus an additional 20% off. Use Code EXTRA20. While I was looking at their site, a pop-up came up offering me 4 free gifts! I love free!

​Costco Lindsey just let me know about the great deal Costco is for printing Photo Cards! They offer 50 Photo Cards for $13.99 and include gold foil lined envelopes. They also have 20% off of foil embossed cards. Lindsey said that last year they gave her a small photo calendar for free when she ordered cards. I don't know if that is an offer this year, but it sounds cool! Also, you can order your cards one day and then pick them up the next! Or, you may choose delivery within 5-7 days. They also offer photo gifts and one gift that they offer is a plush photo blanket! Wouldn't that be cute with a picture of a pet or a beautiful landscape?
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Walgreen's  I hadn't thought about using Walgreen's until I received an email from them offering a great deal on Photo Cards.  What I loved about them is that I ordered the cards in the morning and I was able to pick them up at my local Walgreen's after lunch!  Using the code CARDSTAT through November 30th, you will get 60% off of your card order.  If you click on the Deals category on their website, you will see that Walgreen's is offering 75% off of photo books!  Who knew that Walgreen's does photo books?  
    I ordered our photo cards from Walgreen's this year.  I was excited to get them the same day.  But, you may like another company's designs better or extra offers, so peruse them and see what you think!  Just do it quickly so you don't miss the deals!  And, Happy Thanksgiving! 
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    Creators of Hot Cocoa Bombs!  (copyrighted)

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    Author

    Helen Reynolds: Mother of six children , grandmother to ten and counting!  I love to cook, craft and create things and I especially love doing that with my family, So, when my lawyer daughter, Lindsey, my artist daughter, Madalynn, and I came up with the idea of Hot Cocoa Bombs, this blog was born.  Then, one more daughter, with her technical and science skills, plus creativity has joined in to round us out!  Read more about us here!
        

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    Click this link and visit 3WinksDesignShop on Etsy. Find our Hot Cocoa Bomb Idea Book, our For the Love of PIe e-book and more of our creations!
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