• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact
    • Press

Honey, Whats Cooking logo

April 8, 2013 41 Comments

Almond Joy Hot Chocolate… vegan!

When I was 9 years old, I moved to the United States from Nigeria.
triple coconut cake 123

Obviously moving to the US was a major culture shock for me in every way imaginable. 
To name a few…
  going to a pre-dominantly white school
  seeing kids with hair color other than the color black
  wearing colorful clothes to school and not a uniform

  getting used to the American accenttriple coconut cake 063

I do admit, I LOVED the American accent when I first arrived here, and my role model was my cousin, Ajay, who had been living in the US his entire life, and who is 2 years older than I.triple coconut cake 058

I studied the way Ajay spoke, and I was especially fascinated with the phrases he used in his 11 year old whiny voice:
  ehewww
  leave me aloooooooooone 

  cut it out
  go away
  stop it
  owwww 
  don’t bother me

  I don’t wanna talk about ittriple coconut cake 070

You get the idea, he was super whiny, and I was just mesmerized by his accent.triple coconut cake 078

But out of all the phrases he so eloquently spoke, I do have to say my favorite phrase was ehewww.  WTF was ehewww?  I had never heard of such a phrase before in the Indian school I went to in Nigeria.  triple coconut cake 084

And the more I listened, “eheww” was being used everywhere, especially in school.  Every time a kid would be grossed out, they would then proceed to say, “ehewww.”  I finally got the hang of it and I wanted to use it too, but first I needed to learn how to say it.  triple coconut cake 102

So while my family and I were temporarily staying at my cousin’s home, one day I was sitting in Ajay’s walk-in closet where I would typically hangout all by myself due to the number of us living in their home, and I was practicing how to say “ehewww”
  eh-ew (quick and easy)  
  ehhhhhh-ew  (a little more emphasis on the ehhhhh)
  eh-ewwww  (a little more emphasis on the ewwww)
  E-U  (literally e-u)
  AAAAaaaaa-ewwww  (dramatic A)
  ..
  ..
  and so on.triple coconut cake 117

While I was practicing my ehews in an American accent, Ajay was standing outside the closet listening to me practice, and of course he eventually opened the closet door and was hysterical. triple coconut cake 092

Oh, he never let that story down.  He still jokes about it with me so much so he mentioned the story while giving a speech at my reception.  Yeah, I was quite embarrassed.triple coconut cake 134

And till this very day Ajay thinks he is being funny with his cheap shots towards me, but the truth is I unfortunately still give him great material to work with, hence why he has a great sense of humor.triple coconut cake 141

And now food, since my cousin LOVES coconut, and Almond Joy is his favorite drugstore chocolate brand, I thought it would be fitting to share this vegan Almond Joy Hot Chocolate recipe for today’s post, and yet there is no Almond Joy chocolate in this delicious beverage.triple coconut cake 147

So instead of Almond Joy chocolate, I highly recommend using Sweet Riot’s 70% Organic Dark Chocolate Coconut bar which is organic, vegan, only 21 calories per square, and tastes amazing!  This bar can be purchased at Whole Foods, Duane Reade, Wegmans to name a few, or find a location near you.   Enjoy!triple coconut cake 096


NUTRITION: Almond Milk is Vegan, contains no cholesterol, and is loaded with vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants with high levels of Vitamin E.  Almonds help lower cholesterol and are an excellent source of Vitamin E.  Godiva’s Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa powder is high in fiber and protein.  Coconut is low in cholesterol and sodium, and it is a good source of fiber.  Although coconut contains high amounts of saturated fats, not all saturated fats pose as a health problem, especially those linked with coconut.
  


INGREDIENTS (makes 1 regular serving or 2 small):

  • Whole Foods 365 Organic Almond Milk Unsweetened – 1 cup
  • Godiva Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa – 2 tbsp
  • Pure Vanilla Extract – 1/2 tsp
  • Sweet Riot 70% Organic Dark Chocolate Kickin’ Coconut – 6 squares  (highly recommended; amazing coconut chocolate + organic & vegan)
  • Let’s Do Organic Unsweetened Shredded Coconut – 1 tbsp  (toasted)
  • Slivered Almonds – 1 tbsp  (toasted)



DIRECTIONS:
1. Start by toasting unsweetened shredded coconut and slivered almonds on a pan on medium heat.  Stay close and stir occasionally.triple coconut cake 010
2. This is what you should have after a few minutes, you should really be able to smell the coconut.  Turn off the stove and set aside.triple coconut cake 012
3. Heat a small pot on low-medium heat, add almond milk. 
4. Add hot cocoa and vanilla extract.  triple coconut cake 003
5. Stir all the ingredients until well incorporated. triple coconut cake 006
6. Add the dark chocolate coconut squares.  I used 6 squares (21 calories each) for that perfect consistency, and the coconut squares release shredded coconut flakes as well.  Keep stirring so all the squares melt into the hot chocolate.triple coconut cake 008
7. After a few minutes this is what you should have.  Bubbles will form around the sides.  Turn off the stove.  triple coconut cake 013
8. Pour into a serving cup.triple coconut cake 056
9. Top with toasted coconut and almonds.triple coconut cake 123
10. You can stir the hot chocolate so you’ll have coconut and almonds in every bite.  Tastes amazing!triple coconut cake 145

TELL ME: Have you moved to another country between the ages of 8 to 15?  Did you experience a culture shock?  Have you ever tried Almond Coconut Hot Chocolate?



Previous Post: « Triple Coconut Cake w/Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
Next Post: Ofrenda | New York City »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Akila says

    April 8, 2013 at 4:22 AM

    Saying ehwwwww is really funny… Hope u used if finally… Ha ha ha… Almond chocolate looks delicious

    Reply
  2. Khushboo says

    April 8, 2013 at 5:38 AM

    Haha love this story and I gotta say- Ajay is one lucky guy…you give him good comedy material AND amazing hot chocolate! I've hesitated to heat up almond milk because it curdles in my coffee but I'm glad to see that you've had great results with doing so! Can you believe I've never tried Almond Joy? For the most part, I've written off American chocolate (Reeses is an exception) in my mind because let's be honest- it doesn't come close to English chocolate ;)! And thanks for the laughs this morning- that eehw story gave me a chuckle :)!

    Reply
  3. Sapana Behl says

    April 8, 2013 at 6:44 AM

    nice eehhww story!clicks are wonderful, love your style!

    Reply
  4. diaryofanindianmum says

    April 8, 2013 at 9:10 AM

    Nisha such a funny and great story. I can totally hear practising eewww! I was a similar age to you when I moved to England and hearing kids my age talk was fascinating. My English taught by English nuns in a convent in India proved to be too posh (ironically) for the other kids and used to be teased about it! I tried my hardest to speak like them, but it sound all wrong to an extent where I was speaking slang in a posh English accent! I finally gave up! To this day my friend still tease me about it. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Gourmantine says

    April 8, 2013 at 11:51 AM

    It's such a lovely story and funny too. I haven't done any moving while young, but I have moved to live in Netherlands in my early 20's, but I was already feeling at home there the next day (I move around easily).
    Great hot chocolate recipe, especially since it's relatively healthy too 🙂

    Reply
  6. Asmita says

    April 8, 2013 at 12:23 PM

    I could just dive into this hot chocolate. Looks incredible! Love your photos and presentation!

    Reply
  7. Nandini says

    April 8, 2013 at 2:29 PM

    I was crying because I was laughing so hard reading this. You are just too cute. I wish I had known you back then – would have protected you from Ajay 🙂 haha. Just sent this to him – he''ll love it. And you are right, he will love this recipe – def will try it soon!

    Reply
  8. Ankush Narula says

    April 8, 2013 at 4:08 PM

    Very funny story! As Ajay's brother and one of your former housemates, I beg you not to shame me by coming up with a recipe with Tic-Tacs. 😉 <3

    Reply
  9. Dixya says

    April 8, 2013 at 6:54 PM

    funny story but I can relate few things from this one because I moved here when I was 16 and it took me a while to get adjusted..thats very nice of your to make this deliciousssssss hot chocolate. I have to look for that dark chocolate soon- thanks for sharing it 🙂

    Reply
  10. honeywhatscooking says

    April 8, 2013 at 8:11 PM

    @Khushboo – yeah, Ajay is lucky, to be related to me. Haha.. but I'm lucky too, he's a great cousin, but more like a brother and friend to me. You've never tried Almond Joy? OMG! When I meet you, I'll buy you some. I know British chocolate does taste pretty amazing, I have to agree, but Almond Joy, Peanut M&Ms, and Resees are the best American chocolates! You gotta try AJ (almond joy) funny for sure. Thanks.. glad you had a chuckle. 🙂

    Reply
  11. honeywhatscooking says

    April 8, 2013 at 8:11 PM

    @Akila – YES, I finally used it. Haha!
    @Sapna – thank you.

    Reply
  12. honeywhatscooking says

    April 8, 2013 at 8:16 PM

    @diaryOfIndianMum – Sejal.. I envy you, I love the British accent, it's my most favorite accent. I can totally fake it, but only a true English would see thru me. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. And I thought all English in England is "posh," at least it sounds that way.

    Reply
  13. honeywhatscooking says

    April 8, 2013 at 8:18 PM

    @Gourmantine – I wish I had your ability to just pick up and move, but I think moving to the US at such a young age traumatized me for life. I have issues with major change for extended periods, I need familiarity, but I hope someday I can just move around and try living in new places. Wow, you live in the Netherlands, very cool. I hope to visit soon.. wanna try those brownies. LOL!

    Reply
  14. honeywhatscooking says

    April 8, 2013 at 8:18 PM

    @Asmita – thanks girlie.. appreciate it.

    Reply
  15. honeywhatscooking says

    April 8, 2013 at 8:20 PM

    @Nandini – I'm glad you were.. you needed a goooooooood laugh, and what better way then to make a little fun of Ajay? If you knew both of us back then, he would have surely targeted you too, he IS such a bully! We both would have needed protection, me more than you though. Try this recipe soon. 🙂

    Reply
  16. honeywhatscooking says

    April 8, 2013 at 8:21 PM

    @Ankush – haha.. you are my next target, I'm going to shame you for being ruthless to a 9 year old. I'm trying to think of some peppermint recipes to go with that story.

    Reply
  17. honeywhatscooking says

    April 8, 2013 at 8:22 PM

    @Dixya – Wow, 16, huh? Not an easy age to move to another country, that's like High School. The hot chocolate is delicious, definitely get the Sweetriot Coconut bar, it's totally up your alley with being a health food chocolate + vegan + organic + 21 calories a square. 🙂

    Reply
  18. Ameena says

    April 8, 2013 at 8:39 PM

    I had no idea that you used to live in Nigeria! That must have been a shocking transition, especially when you were so young!

    Reply
  19. nina says

    April 8, 2013 at 9:45 PM

    Eheeew is sooo cool. I was amazed by this word when I heard my american neighbors 6yr old daughter say it . I was wondering – how do you learn such words at this age?? Lol but I do love the way she says;-)

    Thats a lovely story behind the "word";-)

    The hot chocolate sounds divine to me….oh how much I love chocolate;-) yum. My fav hot chocolate is the one from coldstone brand.They come in small packs, just mix with hot milk and enjoy. So never tried my hands on these at home. You are tempting me.

    Btw I tried your parsley hummus today and it was too good. Took some pics too will post soon. Thanks for a great recipe;-)

    Reply
  20. honeywhatscooking says

    April 8, 2013 at 9:52 PM

    @Nina – thanks for the feedback on the Parsley Hummus. So glad it worked out for you.

    I know, eheww is such a cool, yet strange word. I'll have to check out Coldstone's Hot CHocolate, I can't resist their ice-cream, so damn good! And when I go there, it's always for ice-cream. 🙂

    Reply
  21. honeywhatscooking says

    April 8, 2013 at 9:53 PM

    @Ameena – Yes.. thought you knew. It was a very hard move which is probably why I resist any kind of major change. 🙂 It was all too traumatic.

    Reply
  22. Parita says

    April 8, 2013 at 11:54 PM

    That is such a cute story! While my English was always ok (I was born in the US), my Gujarati can be another story sometimes. I think I'm pretty good (compared to many of my cousins and friends) but my parents get a kick out of some of the things I say. Haha!

    And this looks freakin' delicious! I have to get that bar of chocolate the next time I'm at WFs!! Heaven!

    Reply
  23. honeywhatscooking says

    April 9, 2013 at 3:04 AM

    @Parita – Thanks. I hear ya. I mess up my masculine and feminine when speaking in Hindi, although I'm fluent at it, sometimes I just mix things up. Thanks.. hope you make this and definitely try the Sweetriot bar, it's only $4 at Whole Foods.. pretty reasonable for organic + vegan.

    Reply
  24. Guru Uru says

    April 9, 2013 at 7:45 AM

    Haha this was an awesome drink my friend 😀
    And an awesome story with it ;D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    Reply
  25. Lawyer Loves Lunch says

    April 9, 2013 at 5:09 PM

    This is hilarious! I always forget that Americans have an accent 🙂 Although if it makes you feel any better, Pakistanis always laugh at my Urdu because apparently, I have an "American" accent when I speak it! We need to get together for some hot chocolate so we can discuss language and accents further 🙂

    Reply
  26. honeywhatscooking says

    April 10, 2013 at 4:23 AM

    @Lawyer – Thanks! That happens, my Hindi is good, but there are always a few words that I mispronounce. Hot Chocolate/Tea/Coffee and conversation is like my favorite thing in the world. 🙂

    Reply
  27. honeywhatscooking says

    April 10, 2013 at 4:23 AM

    @Guru – Thanks! Glad you approve.

    Reply
  28. Brieanna @ Going Brienanas says

    April 11, 2013 at 11:04 AM

    That's awesome!! I too was not born in the U.S. and my mom said I just stopped talking when we moved to the states because I was trying to pick a language (I used to be fluent in German). At least you adapted quickly : ) On a different note, this hot chocolate looks decadently amazing! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  29. honeywhatscooking says

    April 11, 2013 at 6:12 PM

    @Brieanna – Awww.. you just stopped talking? My personality certainly changed when I moved here, and then my true self came back years later. So I'm assuming you moved to the US from Germany? That is a slight culture shock, not major, right? Glad you like the hot chocolate. 🙂

    Reply
  30. Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies says

    April 11, 2013 at 7:38 PM

    I was born and raised in Toronto but the area I grew up in was primarily desi so when I started to work I was exposed to so many different cultures and what always amazed me was blonde hair and blue eyes. I don't think there was anyone in my school that had blonde hair and blue eyes….although I didn't have to work on an accent I just loved your story.very cute and this hot chocolate looks divine as well!

    Reply
  31. Amelia Kumar says

    April 12, 2013 at 5:02 AM

    Brilliant story, loved reading this …
    Oh this recipe..amazing! I love almond milk, I think we should use it more often

    Reply
  32. honeywhatscooking says

    April 12, 2013 at 9:29 PM

    @Amelia – Thanks.. glad you enjoyed it. I love Almond Milk too, love almonds in general. Definitely need to incorporate them more into our lives. 🙂

    Reply
  33. honeywhatscooking says

    April 12, 2013 at 9:30 PM

    @Asiya – Toronto has a big desi population. Just like you I was amazed with brown hair and blue eyes, like obsessed! Thanks.. glad you enjoyed my story. 🙂

    Reply
  34. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

    April 15, 2013 at 4:38 AM

    I moved from a small town to the big city within Malaysia itself — and i was horrified to see girls in makeup at school. Yikes!

    I want to dive into that chocolaty goodness 😀

    Reply
  35. honeywhatscooking says

    April 15, 2013 at 12:34 PM

    @Kiran – haha.. I know that was another one, girls wearing makeup and shaving their legs by the age of 10. I was like WHAT is going on here??? Thanks girlfriend!

    Reply
  36. [email protected] The Frosted Vegan says

    April 16, 2013 at 2:16 AM

    I loved this story! It's funny how things can look and sound from the outside. When I lived in Australia for a few months they loved the American accent, but it seems straight up boring to me!

    Reply
  37. honeywhatscooking says

    April 16, 2013 at 4:19 AM

    @Abby – I'm glad you enjoyed the story. You are so fortunate to have lived in Australia.. my 2 favorite accents are the British and Australian accent. The American accent is so boring, totally agree, but then we live here so we don't appreciate it. 🙂

    Reply
  38. Amy says

    April 17, 2013 at 7:00 PM

    What a sweet story! (As long as you're the one telling it… I'd want to crawl under the table if he told that at my reception!)

    Your hot chocolate looks absolutely amazing. My mom's favorite candy bar was the Almond Joy, and she loved Halloween when my brother and I sorted through our loot. We gave her anything with nuts, especially those Almond Joys!

    Reply
  39. honeywhatscooking says

    April 17, 2013 at 9:10 PM

    @Amy – Thanks, my cousin totally embarrassed me at my reception, but I guess it's okay. He never lets this story down. Almond Joy is also my favorite candy bar. I sound like your mom, I only ate stuff with nuts.. Almond Joy, Peanut M&Ms were amongst my faves. Resees was second place. Thanks for sharing.. so funny!

    Reply
  40. - spoonstories- says

    August 8, 2013 at 7:52 AM

    Oh i love the hot chocolate…

    Lilia

    Reply
    • honeywhatscooking says

      August 8, 2013 at 5:17 PM

      Thanks Lilia… me too. 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar





Subscribe

Don't miss a single post!

Trending

  • Mexican Pizza Taco Bell (vegetarian)
  • World’s BEST Spaghetti RAO’s Homemade Marina...
  • Bombay Grilled Sandwich (vegetarian, gf option)
  • Indian Afternoon Tea
  • Gajar Ka Halwa | Indian Carrot Pudding (gf)
  • Green Moong Dal Khichdi (healthy)
  • Lavash Bread Pizza (vegetarian, healthyish, 8 ingr...
  • Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Arugula

Footer

About Me

A foodie who is passionate about living a healthy-ish lifestyle, cooking, and traveling. You'll find a mix of everything here and lots of seasonal content. I moved from Jersey City leaving behind my family & friends to beautiful Southern California for love. I'm adjusting to the laid-back SoCal lifestyle and learning a lot about myself along the way. Come join me on a soul searching journey and I'll tell YOU "what's cooking" through my love for food, fashion, and travel.

Birthday celebration at Bestia with my bestie 🥰 Birthday celebration at Bestia with my bestie 🥰. Made my own reservations a month ago and dragged Sanjiv all the way to LA. Anyone else?

Had a wonderful birthday celebrating with Krish, Sanjiv, and my MIL (swipe👈🏽). Thank you all for the bday wishes over DM. 🙏🏼 So grateful for all the love in my life. Cheers to health, happiness, and another year around the sun! 🧿

📍@bestiadtla in DTLA. 4.75 / 5 ⭐️ 
👏🏽 Outstanding service!
✨ Favorites: wine / burrata pizza / ricotta tortelli / torpedo onion & potato agnolotti / panna cotta

.
.
#birthdaycelebration #bestiadtla #loveofmylife #happybirthday #birthdaymemories #expressyou #madisonreed
Heaven in a bowl. I can’t tell you how easy it i Heaven in a bowl. I can’t tell you how easy it is to make TOFU THAI RED CURRY - even if you can’t find kaffir lime leaves. There is no ginger and garlic in this recipe, and there is no need to sauté the veggies. Simply add raw veggies to a simmering coconut gravy and cook the veggies for a few minutes. Flavor the sauce and garnish. Tofu Thai Red Curry is a classic and is the perfect combo of sweet, spicy, and salty flavors. ⁠
⁠
✔️ dairy-free / gluten-free / vegan option / quick & easy meal⁠
✔️ healthier than Thai takeout / tips on making Thai red curry⁠
⁠
✅ Recipe on the blog. Link in bio. [recipe & photos updated]⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#tofuthaicurry #thairedcurry #whatveganseat #thaifood #easydinner #tofurecipes
No Cooking SUMMER QUESADILLAS (aka Black Bean Corn No Cooking SUMMER QUESADILLAS (aka Black Bean Corn Quesadillas). Aside from grilling up your quesadillas, the mix involves zero cooking. These quesadillas are mouthwatering and packed with so much flavor. They're perfect for meal prepping and so versatile - add other veggies/protein of your choice. Serve them up with your favorite salsa or in my case - mango salsa.⁠
⁠
✔️ 27g protein / 10 ingredients / quick & easy / vegetarian / mealprep ideas / whole wheat tortillas⁠
⁠
✅ Recipe on the blog. Link in bio!⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#quesadillas #vegetarianquesadilla #mexicanfood #mealprepideas #10ingredientrecipes #easydinner
Who needs beef when you can make a juicy Veggie Bu Who needs beef when you can make a juicy Veggie Burger with my special sauce? #HeinzPartner Here’s a Veggie Burger Masterpiece using @Heinz Ketchup. It’s thick and rich with the perfect amount of sweetness. This appetizing burger is made with the most simple ingredients - lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, avocado, veggie burger, and my special sauce. Click my link in bio to add these Heinz products to your @Walmart cart and create your own burger masterpiece.⁠
⁠
#HEINZARTBURGER #Walmart⁠
⁠
➡️ Special Sauce Recipe:⁠
1/4 cup Heinz Ketchup⁠
2 tbsp Greek yogurt⁠
2 tbsp cilantro⁠
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper⁠
1 tsp garlic powder⁠
1/8 tsp black pepper⁠
1 tbsp water⁠
⁠
Top sauce over a burger and enjoy! 🍔⁠
Hello, 50K!!!! 🎉 Hit a milestone and celebrated Hello, 50K!!!! 🎉 Hit a milestone and celebrated with a donut… gotta celebrate those milestones no matter how big or small. My journey on Instagram has been slow and steady, but this is exactly where I’m meant to be at this very moment.

To every single person who has ever made a recipe of mine, thank you for your tags/mentions/feedback. You inspire me to create more and more content every single day and give me a purpose. To every person who has left me a blog comment, thank you so much. To you it may not seem like a big deal, but for me your comments have made my day. And to each of you who has liked, commented, saved, and shared my content, thank you from the bottom of my heart! Your support has enabled me to grow! I am so grateful to all of you and this IG community! ❤️

#50k #50000followers #milestone #instagramjourney
Follow Me On Instagram
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy

Subscribe for free recipes & monthly newsletter!

Don't miss a single post!

Recent Posts

  • Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Arugula
  • Rava Uttapam (vegetarian)
  • Baked Falafel (healthy, dairy free)
  • Bombay Grilled Sandwich (vegetarian, gf option)
  • Tofu Thai Red Curry (gluten-free, vegan option)
  • Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas (vegetarian)

© 2022 Honey, What's Cooking.