EASY homemade peppermint mocha!

It's easy to make your own, inexpensive peppermint mochas at home (or mint hot chocolate!). I like to make it lower fat or low calorie and here's how I do it: I buy Splenda (Fred Meyer/Kroger stores sells a knock-off Splenda and in a similiar yellow package at a few dollars off and it tastes exactly the same!). I also buy 100% dark cocoa (I get some Dutch kind at Fred Meyer for only a couple bucks). I will buy decaffeinated (or regular, if you choose) coffee, instant or brewed via your coffee pot. You make your coffee (if it's decaf, then you warm up hot water and mix in the coffee), and put a teaspoonful of the cocoa powder in. Put two teaspoons of splenda and mix. You can add a dash of milk or cream of some sort if you like. Throw in a small/mini peppermint candy cane and drink (be careful not to drink the candy cane). It will melt slightly and let off a peppermint taste! The OTHER way to do it is to buy organic peppermint oil from the store...I have also done this and it is STRONG and you only need a drop! Do it this way and you can save $4 trips X however many trips you make to the local coffee shop. Three or four to the coffee shop pay for all these ingredients that will last all winter!

INGREDIENTS:

• COCOA POWDER (if you buy sweetened, then you don't need sugar or splenda, unsweetened needs splenda)
• SPLENDA OR SPLENDA KNOCK-OFF
• PEPPERMINT OIL (REAL, NOT SYNTHETIC) OR MINI CANDY CANES
• COFFEE (DECAF BREWED OR INSTANT, OR CAFFEINATED)
• MILK, RICE MILK, CREAM (WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE IT CREAMY)
• OPTIONAL: WHIPPED CREAM HANDMADE OR FROM A CAN TO TOP IT OFF.
• OPTIONAL: ADD SOME COCOA/SPLENDA MIXTURE SPRINKLED ON TOP OR SHAVE SOME PIECES OFF A CHOCOLATE BAR.