Homemade Vegan Hot Chocolate

I’m at home again today, with all this snow our city is shut down. That’s a four-day weekend as of today and last week with Martin Luther King Day I only “worked” three days. I will be tele-working today, making a few calls and checking the status of my clients, to prevent the inevitable build up of work that will accompany these days off.

As a homeless services professional I’m probably more conscious than the masses of the dangers present when this kind of weather hits. Thursday as we were expecting the bad weather, the outreach team in my city canceled our monthly meeting and instead went to the “camp sites”, and the streets to pass out some cold weather gear and inform about the impeding storm. Trying to convince a person who’s had negative experiences with shelters (or not) to go into a shelter is not an easy task, add to that, many of our chronically homeless have some form of or are suffering with a mental illness. Many of our chronically homeless have become accustomed to living in their makeshift “homes” outdoors. These “homes” are personalized with art work, collected treasures, make shift household items, family pets and even love. They  more than often share these spaces and it becomes a community. They look out for each other, and even in freezing temperatures to take them away from the “home” they’ve created is a tough task. As we passed out cold weather items at one “community” we were reminded by a resident of a gentlemen who died right out in front of our cities cold-weather overflow shelter when according to him “he was denied entry”. Word travels fast amongst those who live on the streets. Still while he recollects the story of the gentlemen who lost his life weathering the freezing temps, he also sounds as if he plans on weathering the winter storm himself, right there in his outdoor home. My fellow outreach colleague encourages the gentlemen to take advantage of the overflow shelter which will be open the entire weekend and through the cold weather conditions. I give him a look of concern while reiterating my colleagues previous offer. Encouraging him to take advantage of the overflow shelter, which  will be open during the days in addition to its normal overnight schedule. What I really wanted to say was “you better take your a$$ over to that shelter or this storm will kill you!” When life and death is of concern, many times I will get direct with clients and say it how I see it. Usually not in the presence of colleagues mainly due to the bureaucracy surrounding my actual title and agency.

 I know that regardless of how many street homeless we warn there will always be some who choose not take advantage of the shelter. I use the word “choose” very loosely as I know that for many it is not a choice, as some are not equipped to make any decisions, in addition to the more personal and convoluted reasons they may avoid shelters. Either way as I “suffer”through this storm my professional experience allows me to reflect in a way that makes it clear that I’m not suffering at all. There are real victims, and I am not one. Grace is all that keeps me safe and warm, and if not for a few altered seconds in any moment of my existence I could be faced with the decision to either abandon my “home” or live.

Can I share with you this awesomely delicious warm and chocolaty drink? If you are not a fan of “The Choc”, then this recipe is more than likely not for you. If you are a fan of “The Choc”and you also enjoy glowy and healthy skin then this is the recipe for you. I used maca, cacao, coconut milk and cream. This drink is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and yumminess. Don’t forget the marshmallows! I made homemade brown sugar marshmallows and when they meted on top I was transported into another world of deliciousness. Just imagine drinking a warm and melted together s’mores!

And it’s vegan.

Are you feelin’ me yet?

Now check out the pics.

Share it....