Creamy Vanilla Milk

Imagine…it’s been a long day.

You know the routine…

It’s the middle of January.  Post Christmas blahs.  And it’s gray…gray…gray.

And it’s cold.

Very cold.

Maybe you have tons of snow?  Maybe you have a frosty wet mix of cold rain and sleet pelting down outside.  Maybe it’s just 2 degrees without the 30mph wind gusts you’ve been running around in all day.  Maybe you live in the South where you feel like it’s 2 degrees, when in actuality it’s dropped to 32, but you JUST CAN’T HANDLE THE COLD ANY LONGER!!!

Doesn’t matter your actual meteorologic situation…

The fact is you’ve been chilled all day and just can’t get warm.  Like your bones got cold way…deep…down.  Your feet hurt, you have a minor headache, you’re looking at a mountain of laundry, a stack of bills that need paying (remember Christmas?), the phone keeps ringing, emails and texts keep dinging, dinner dishes need washing, and….Mom!!!! Can I have a bedtime snack???

Hang on!  Help is on the way!  Why don’t you slip into those ‘oh so comfy’ sweats and pad back to the kitchen in your fuzzy slippers and get something warm and soothing for your body and soul.

Hot. Creamy. Vanilla. Milk. (JOY!)

You like it ’cause warming up the milk activates that stuff in it that ‘they say’ helps you fall asleep.  You also like the slightly sweet, creamy vanilla taste and soothing scent that wafts up with the steam, warming your ice cold nose as you sip.

AND…it’s got calcium, protein, and has less calories than your regular run of the mill hot chocolate (although who’s ever had a problem with that stuff?).

Oh and you pause to note how much your kids would LOVE this ‘Special Milk’ and smile when you think to yourself  ‘Hey, I bet I’ll be able to get them to drink more milk this way,’ and ‘Ah Ha! What a great bedtime snack’!

Absolutely.

I got this idea when I was about 12, from a friend of a friend’s mother who served it to us at a sleepover (smaarrrrrt lady!).

Ready friends?  It’s as easy as this!

Creamy Vanilla Milk

1 tps   real vanilla extract

8oz    skim milk (for fewest calories but feel free to sub any milk you prefer)

1 tps honey (or sugar)

Directions:

Combine vanilla, milk, and honey or sugar.  Heat in the microwave 2-3 minutes or until piping hot, but not boiling over.

Sit on your most comfy piece of furniture or prop yourself up in front of a roaring fire and go to that oh so lovely, warm, peaceful, quiet, place where you can escape a bit of the days madness, recharge your battery, and get ready for a great night’s sleep.

zzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.