For a non-coffee drinker, I always thought I was a little too obsessed with Starbucks but I don’t care, I’ll stand by my love of their perfect hot chocolate (no whip), bacon and gruyère egg bites, and blueberry muffins. 

And while I don’t foresee myself not patronizing them any time soon, my DIY genes run deep so I had to find a way to make an at-home version of Starbucks. (Growing up, my parents would sometimes do a “McRedfords” night complete with cheeseburgers, homemade fries, and milkshakes. We would go CRAZY for this night and it’s still one of my favorite memories.)

I found this recipe for homemade Starbucks Hot Chocolate and it is delicious. But since I’m trying to improve my diet by 1% every so often, I cut out the sugar and added a scoop of chocolate protein powder. It’s still the perfect combination of dark and sweet (but not too sweet) and you get that much-needed protein to keep your energy levels even. See my full Protein Hot Chocolate recipe here.

I’ve also been experimenting with these bacon and gruyère egg bites (pronounced gree-air). You can make them in the oven but it’s the sous-vide texture that takes them from ordinary to exceptional so making them in an instant pot is best. I’m new to instant pot cooking so I might update this recipe in the future.

Lastly, the humble blueberry muffin. I won’t lie, I usually just buy a pack of muffins from the grocery store bakery because while I love to cook and bake, these are better than anything I can make. . . for now. My personal favorite is to splurge a little with some Whole Foods or Harmon’s blueberry muffins. 

So almost anytime I wake up to rain or snow, I just have to get that rich hot chocolate for warmth and comfort, some egg bites for nutrition and energy, and a muffin for a little sweetness. And now you can have it at home!

xo Enjoy!