So you've started building your food storage. Maybe you've got some #10 cans on a shelf, a few pouches of freeze-dried fruit, some powdered milk you bought because everyone says you should have it.
And now it's just... sitting there.
Here's the thing nobody tells you about prepping: you actually need to USE this stuff. Not just store it. Use it.
Why? A few reasons.
First, you need to know if you even LIKE it. That powdered milk you've never opened? Some brands taste great. Some taste like chalk. Better to find out now, in your kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand, than during an actual emergency when you're stressed and hangry and your kids are looking at you like you've lost your mind.
Second, you need to know HOW to use it. Powdered milk isn't complicated, but there's a learning curve. How much powder to water ratio tastes right to YOU? Does it mix better with cold water or warm? Do you need to let it sit before it tastes good? These are things you figure out through practice, not panic.
Third - and this is the sneaky part - your family needs to get used to it too.
If the first time your kids taste reconstituted milk is during a power outage, you're going to have a bad time. But if they've been drinking hot chocolate made with powdered milk for months? They won't even notice the difference. They'll just think you make really good hot chocolate.
Why Hot Chocolate Is the Perfect Prep Practice
We're big believers in what we call "sneaky prep" - finding ways to integrate preparedness into normal life without making it weird. Hot chocolate is perfect for this because:
- It uses shelf-stable ingredients you should have anyway (cocoa powder, sugar, powdered milk)
- Kids think it's a treat, not a drill
- It tastes GOOD - like, actually good, not "good for emergency food"
- It's easy enough for kids to make themselves, which means they're learning skills without realizing it
- It's fun to customize, so everyone can experiment
Basically, you're building comfort with your prep supplies while making something delicious. Win-win.
The Base Recipe
This is our go-to single-serving recipe. Adjust to your taste.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (more if you like it dark - try adding some Dutch-process dark cocoa for extra richness)
- 2-3 tablespoons powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar dissolves smoothly without getting gritty)
- Pinch of salt (this is the secret - it makes everything taste MORE chocolatey)
- 1 cup hot water
- 3-4 tablespoons instant dry milk powder (we like it creamy, so we add extra)
Instructions:
- Mix the cocoa, powdered sugar, and salt in your mug
- Add a splash of hot water and stir into a paste - this prevents lumps
- Add the rest of the hot water
- Stir in the milk powder until completely dissolved
- Enjoy
That's it. Five ingredients, five minutes, and you've just practiced with your food storage.
Make It Fancy: Add-Ins
Once you've got the base down, experiment. This is where it gets fun.
- Vanilla - A few drops of vanilla extract. Or, for true long-term storage, keep vanilla powder on hand. It lasts forever and works beautifully.
- Hazelnut - A few drops of hazelnut extract gives you coffee-shop vibes without leaving your kitchen.
- Caramel - Caramel syrup or a few caramel bits melted in. Decadent.
- Peppermint - Crushed candy cane or a drop of peppermint extract. Classic for a reason.
- Powdered Candy Cane - If you have a freeze dryer, try this: freeze-dry candy canes and powder them. Sprinkle on top. It's ridiculous in the best way.
- Freeze-Dried Marshmallows - Float them on top. They're crunchy at first, then they start to melt. It's magic.
- Mexican Hot Chocolate - A pinch of cinnamon plus a tiny pinch of cayenne. Warming and a little spicy.
- Mocha - Add a teaspoon of instant coffee. Perfect for adults who need that extra kick.
About the Milk Powder
Not all powdered milk is created equal. Here's what we recommend:
For Long-Term Storage:
We love Augason Farms Country Fresh Instant Nonfat Dry Milk. It's real milk, it actually tastes good, and it has a 20-year shelf life when sealed. This is what we keep in our prep pantry.
For Experimenting:
If you just want to TRY making hot chocolate with powdered milk before committing to long-term storage, Walmart's Great Value Instant Dry Milk is actually really good. It's NOT 20-year storage - more like a few years sealed, about a year once opened - but it comes in a resealable container and it's cheap.
This is a great way to get your family used to the taste without a big investment. If they like it (and they will), then you upgrade to the long-term stuff.
Pro tip: Worried about extra milk powder going to waste? You can make ice cream with it. But that's a post for warmer weather.
Make It a Family Activity
Here's where the sneaky prep gets even sneakier.
Get your kids involved in making a big batch of hot chocolate mix. Let them measure the ingredients, pour everything into a bowl, mix it up. Package it in mason jars with ribbon. Give it as gifts to teachers, neighbors, grandparents.
They'll be so proud of what they made. And they'll have no idea they just learned how to use shelf-stable ingredients, practiced measuring and following a recipe, and created something useful from their family's food storage.
That's the real prep. Not the stuff on the shelf - the skills and confidence to use it.
Batch Mix (makes approximately 16 servings):
- 2 cups powdered milk
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar (confectioners')
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix everything together thoroughly. Store in an airtight container - mason jars work great. Lasts 6-12 months in a cool, dry place.
To serve: 1/3 cup mix + 1 cup hot water. Stir well until dissolved.
The Bottom Line
Prepping isn't just about buying stuff. It's about knowing how to use what you have, building skills before you need them, and getting your family comfortable with the transition.
Hot chocolate is a small thing. But small things add up.
Make a mug tonight. Get the kids involved this weekend. And the next time the power goes out, you won't be scrambling to figure out how powdered milk works - you'll just be making hot chocolate like you always do.
That's preparedness that actually works.
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