Christmas Movie Classics: Polar Express

This Christmas season we are sharing our favourite feel-good Christmas Movie Classics to help get us all in the festive spirit. We'll also share ideas for seasonal snacks and decorating.

Here is one of our all-time Christmas Faves...

The Polar Express ***** (G)

One of our all-time favourite Christmas movies. This has the feel-good factor, a sprinkle of magic and Tom Hanks. We watch this every Christmas - it's in our collection. It's brilliantly animated, and perfect for turning into a theme-night. We wear our PJ's and dressing gowns, make hot chocolate and Daddy dresses as the Conductor. There is lots of silliness and cuddles.

BASIC STORYLINE: On Christmas Eve a boy is doubting the existence of Santa Claus. He goes to sleep and is woken by the sound of the Polar Express pulling up outside his home to take him... "Why to the North Pole of course!" He goes on a fantastic beautifully animated journey... does he end up believing? I won't spoil it for you! 

FEEL-GOOD FACTOR: 5/5

CHRISTMAS RELEVANCE: 5/5

A Polar Express Night is a regular feature in our Christmas Calendar, and essential to a Polar Express night is Hot Hot Hot Chocolate...

Hot Hot Hot Chocolate (to Make Your Polar Express Movie Night even more Super-Cool-Fab)

This hot chocolate is rich and creamy, and you don't have to use all the milk you have in the house. You can even make this hot chocolate in the Crockpot.

Ingredients:
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt
6-1/2 cups water

• Whisk together sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat
• Whisk in water, about a cup at a time. Heat until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Note: Do not allow the hot chocolate to boil. It should just simmer until warmed through.

Crockpot Hot Chocolate: A great idea for your Polar Express night so you don't have to interrupt your movie-watching to make the hot chocolate. This will be ready ahead of time, so all you have to do is serve it up with marshmallows and whipped cream.

All you have to do is whisk together all the ingredients. Pour into slow cooker. Heat on low 1-3 hours.

[Hot Chocolate Popcorn on Pinterest]

Here are a couple of other Polar Express ideas from Pinterest, fun to make and yum to eat...

• Peppermint and Marshmallow Hot Chocolate Stirrers
• Meringue-topped Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
• Chocolate Cups 
• "Believe" Christmas Bells
• Nutella Hot Chocolate
• Christmas Macaroons
• Hot Chocolate Popcorn

What are your best Christmas Movie Night Ideas? Send me an email with your ideas
(include a picture or link to a blog post if you can) so I can feature it here.