A little something extra for Mrs. Claus

Plan on adding a little something extra this year for someone very special...

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Halloween is over and the calendar page is turned to November. Moms are making those critical lists, the ones sort of like Santa’s, the ones with all the names of all the children (alongside the rest of the family as well as teachers and friends) maybe with a few notes about what they would like for Christmas.

Staying focused on Thanksgiving and experiencing one holiday at a time simply won’t work for a super mom doing it all. She tries to stay one step ahead, moving through tasks without complaint - organizing, shopping, wrapping and stashing gifts all while planning holiday meals, working, and making sure the house and everyone in it is well cared for with love.

Scrolling through menu options, she decides which traditional dishes are must haves, if any can be updated, and revising one or two to meet allergy or other dietary needs of some family members.

Christmas ideas keep popping up and she tries to press snooze.

Fine, she sighs. Give in to it. Start drafting the Christmas menu now. Thumb through cookie recipes and imagine which ones will be put out for Santa with a glass of milk and a carrot or two for the reindeer. Maybe this year the magic oats mixed with environmentally safe glitter could be set on the porch for Rudolph and the gang.

What about Dear Mrs. Claus?

What would she like for Christmas? A little something extra should be set out on the table for her on Christmas Eve. Can you see her? Wrapped up in a robe, or more likely, a favorite and worn oversized sweatshirt or t-shirt, nestled in the corner of the couch, with her feet tucked under her, phone in hand.

It’s time to say thank you to Mrs. Claus. Take a moment to acknowledge all of her selfless acts of kindness, crossing off those seemingly endless items on the to-do list of not only Christmas but of every day.

What would be a little something extra she might enjoy?

Chocolate. Ah, a mug of velvety smooth hot chocolate…the possibilities.

Let’s begin with your favorite holiday mug! 

One way to make Dear Mrs. Claus a sweet and comforting reward this year (not just for Christmas Eve) – could be made from scratch with a chocolate bomb complete with tiny marshmallows inside. Recipes for these homemade treats can be found all over the Internet but basically, they are constructed by using a half-circle mold (preferably silicone) that is coated with chocolate, allowed to cool, then filled with cocoa powder, perhaps mini-marshmallows, and then sealed together with a thin layer of brushed on melted chocolate. Once the bombs are joined to form one “bomb” then can be chilled until ready to use. To use: drop one filled bomb in a mug then pour over 2 cups of warmed (not scalded) milk. Top with more marshmallows, whipped cream, or wherever whimsy and creativity take you. Remember, this is a special gift to Mrs. Claus after all.

Or dress up a cup of good quality instant hot chocolate prepared with milk (add a splash or two of half and half to really make it decadent) then stir using one of those cute little chocolate spoons drizzled with caramel then sprinkled with sea salt. They can be found on a variety of retail shelves this year from department stores to grocers or you can make yourself by simply dipping a spoon in caramel (disposable wooden spoons or your own flatware) and adding a pinch of sea salt over the top. Oh, now we are on to something. Other spoon ideas may include dark or white chocolate garnished with a bit of crushed candy cane or chopped up pieces of your favorite candy bar – the possibilities are endless.

Even better, hot chocolate with a tiny splash of maybe hazelnut flavored liquor (like Frangelico) with a small scoop of ice cream or rich, creamy, whipped cream.

Hot chocolate too hot for you? Maybe a chocolate martini? Turn a martini glass upside down in a thin layer of chocolate (or a hazlenut spread like Nutella) then dip into crushed candy cane or nuts. For the cocktail – choose either 4 oz. chocolate liquor with 2 oz. vodka or vanilla vodka and a splash of half and half, or 2 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream with ¼ oz. chocolate liquor and ¼ oz. vodka.

Looking for a mocktail version with a little kick? Treat your glass like the martini options above or squeeze a little chocolate syrup inside the glass before adding a ¼ tsp. of cinnamon to your favorite chocolate milk recipe and enjoy straight up or over ice. Garnish with shaved chocolate or chocolate sprinkles.

Notice how a lot of the garnishes and rims are similar ingredients and likely good staples to have on hand during the holiday season to bring treats like hot chocolate and chocolate cocktails and mocktails to the next level. I can tell you are thinking about including the littles in this so here is a sample shopping/ingredient list:

Hot Chocolate - packaged, high-end, chocolate bomb, your choice

Marshmallows, mini-marshmallows, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, candy/caramel/marshamallow spoons (available at many retailers or can be made at home)

Crushed candy canes, favorite chocolate candies broken into small pieces, caramel, ice cream, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, hazlenut spread, crushed nuts, cinnamon, and coconut flakes would all look and taste great on the rim of glass or as garnishes and toppings.

Remember, you are preparing this little something extra for someone very special, someone who may not normally think to treat themselves during the holiday season, someone who may not receive the accolades or applause but makes sure the holidays are the stuff of magical memories.

For more about Mrs. Claus and making her an official and integral part of Christmas, visit  An Open Letter to Moms Everywhere and discover who she really is...you already know her very well.

Dear Mrs. Claus – thank you for all you do, every day, all year long. Please enjoy this treat prepared with love and gratitude. Take your time and savory each sip. You may be doing all of the work behind the scenes, but you very much deserve a little something special for yourself. So, start a new tradition this year and don’t think of it as adding another task, you deserve to be celebrated well, Fed Well, and recognized for all of that you do! This year, plan to prepare a little something extra for Mrs. Claus and ensure she is Fed Well.