Chocolate Banana Licuados

I just made this up as a throwback to our 2009 Honduras trip.  There are three things that are memorable about Honduras:

1) Taking a quick dip in the ocean on a hot day only to be horrified by a maxi pad floating by in the water
2) Swine flu
3) Licuados and baleadas  (a quesadilla-type concoction with beans, meat, cheese, avocado...whatever the cook thinks of to throw in...sounds ok but easy to get tired of these babys)

So my favorite take-away from the now "murder capitol of the world" are licuados.  These frozen concoctions are a little piece of heaven when you are beating the pavement looking for a hotel or the next tourist stop.  The basic essence is a blended drink made with milk, ice and fruit.  You will find places that blend cereal in as well but I never tried it because soggy cereal isn't really my thing.  My favorite flavor was chocolate banana.  They use cocoa powder to make it chocolate which at first is a little strange, but actually really grew on me.  The combo is delicious.  So here's my best crack at it here at home and it tastes pretty close to what you get down there.  Oh, and to get the authentic experience, pour the finished product into a clear cellophane bag, insert straw and tie the bag shut around the straw.

2 cups milk
4 heaping tablespoons Nestle Quik (more or less to taste)
14-16 ice cubes
1 banana

Put it all in the blender and process till smooth.  That's it!

Pineapple Limade

1 cup sugar
6 cups pineapple juice, chilled
1 cup lime juice
2 liters sparkling water, chilled
Lime slice, if desired

Mix sugar and juices in large plastic or glass pitcher. Pour half of mixture into another pitcher. Just before serving, stir sparkling water into juice mixture. Serve over ice. Garnish with lime slices.

Steamy Hot Chocolate

1 quart milk
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Whipped cream, for serving

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder. Cook, whisking, until chocolate chips melt and cocoa powder dissolves. Stir in vanilla and salt. Remove from heat. Ladle into mugs and top with whipped cream and marshmallows.

Spice Cider

2 qt cider
½ c brown sugar
1 T whole cloves
1 T whole allspice
2 sticks cinnamon

Simmer 1 hour and serve. (May add orange juice.)