In the Kitchen

If I came to one conclusion this weekend

it is that I enjoy cooking more than baking

with cooking you have variables

you can omit this and add this

it's all about your taste

with baking I have to follow the recipe step by step

I guess I am more of a free spirit than I thought I was!

As you know I started my cooking challenge on the 1st

and I ate take out on the 1st

yeah ~ I know!

the thing is to cook 28 recipes that are new to you

ones that you have never cooked before

expanding your horizons ~ and your taste buds too

you can do one recipe a day or mash 5 into a weekend

like I did.

Saturday morning I hit the ground running

I will tell you that this cake is in my top 10 now of favourite cakes ever

even after all the grief it gave me

after I mixed it up and plopped it in the oven

my cake runneth over

oh yes it did

so picture this ~ the cake is still not cooked

but every time I open the oven to check on it

smoke pours out ~ the smoke detector went off

the dog is howling from the pain in her ears

and we have the windows open on this balmy -20 C

that's -4 F to my friends south of me

Trevor says to me ~ so we are not going to make this one ever again.....right?

yeah right ~ after we tasted it ~ it was worth the cold

and the smoke

the recipe can be found here

and the cooking time is not correct ~ it took about another 20 minutes or so.

Next up was a recipe I had pinned but never tried

slow cooker rolls ~ recipe here

2 thumbs up!

which went great with this soup

the best part I likes about this recipe is that I used it as a base

and made it my own by adding a few of my own things to it.

It was game night on Saturday

and this dip was a big hit

picture and recipe found here

since it is a bacon double cheeseburger dip

I added a couple of tablespoons of relish

which added a little something extra

and we all loved it.

After all the cooking on Saturday ~ I was ready to just relax today

but before I did that I made these

it's chocolate and peanut butter so basically it is a no brainer

a little more work than your normal everyday cookie

as you make the chocolate balls

then the peanut butter balls

flatten the choc into a disc and mold around the pb

well hello there ~ they are worth the extra time 

all in all my weekend was a success

every recipe that I tried ~ I would make again

so that's the glory about trying something new

this little man celebrated 6 candles yesterday

my Cooper cat

in his Playcat pose ~ just for you

he is going for a haircut tomorrow morning

shhh ~ don't tell him ~ it's a surprise!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend

I am now headed around to catch up on some blog reading

see you soon!

Cars, Cookies & Memories Made...

Although we have not been to

too many dealerships

test driving cars ~ listening to the "spiel"

being ignored completely by one salesman

hello ~ hello ~ I am IN on this decision

stop pretending I am not here

ok ~ you just fell off my list 

I will never ever ever ever buy a car from you

channelling my inner Taylor Swift there for a minute

so after all that we have

a new car

you really have to say that it your best

Price is Right announcer voice

picking it up in the morning

and I am very happy

Sunday I spent the day with Mom

and my girls

we goofed around and hopefully

made some new memories

I came home and made cookies

and they were so so good

I can't tell you how many I ate

but it was sinful

it really was

lots of change as I also got a new phone

and I have been having fun on Instagram

so happy to keep up with everyone in pictures!

Hope you are having a great week...

Just Call me Cookie

Good morning sweets

hope everyone had a great week-end

I got lots done but also did not go full tilt 

like I usually do as I knew I had more time to get 

some things accomplished

so the halls are decked ~ the cards are written

and the parcels are ready to go out in the mail

today is baking day and on the menu is 

cookies

I tend to make family favourites ~ ones that I know

that everyone loves and some that I only make

this time of year

peanut butter blossoms are my go to recipe

if I am going to a cookie exchange

they are always on my list

I started making my grandmother's oatmeal gumdrop cookies

a couple of years ago and now I want them every year

they are quick and easy and good!

birdnests are another cookie that I remember from my childhood

every woman on my Dad's side of the family made them

and they are a Christmastime staple

and they have to be filled with raspberry jam

any other kind of jam just wouldn't be right

I found this chocolate chip shortbread recipe last year

but never got a chance to make them ~ so this year

they are on the list again

I am thinking of starting out with them today 

so I can ensure they will get completed!

via

via

 there are so many other great recipes out there

especially since we now have virtual recipe boxes

on Pinterest and the other great cooking websites 

and blogs out there

via

via

 my mother in law is making shortbread cookies, 

peanut butter balls and cherry surprises along with a 

couple of other yummy things ~ so we trade off with each 

other ~ it works for us and gives us both a great

variety for the holiday season.

Are you baking this year?

What are your favourites or must haves

to celebrate the Christmas season?

I don't think it would be Christmas here without 

peanut butter balls and shortbread cookies

just sayin....

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!

While out driving yesterday

I was disappointed to see

the trees are almost totally bare ~ naked

ready for old man winter

although I am not

the weather has been incredible

so warm that we are just bracing ourselves

for that first blast of cold air

which we all know is coming

game night was a success

good friends ~ good food and fun

what a great way to spend a Saturday night

Sunday afternoon was coffee with my cousin

planning ~ what cookies to make for Christmas this year

we came up with 3 kinds ~ shortbread, almond fingers and birdsnests

yummy yummy yummy!

I will also make gumdrop and date cookies

I need those!

this week is going to be a busy one

although I have no big holiday meal to plan

I am meeting with my book club girls tonight

then with my forever girlfriends on Thursday night

figure I will call them that since we have been together

since we were 5 years old

so it's almost forever....

I have Friday off ~ my last vacation day of the year

and I have plans ~ I do have plans for that.

Hope you all had the kind of week-end

that put a spring in your step

and a smile on your face.

Happy Monday!

Cookie!!

Hello Cookies

Happy Wednesday!

Now I usually do a wordless version

but this morning I figured I would talk

yeah ~ there is a lot going on in this little brain

and I do not even have turkey on my mind like most of you!

I have pulled out my recipes

and started my Christmas baking list

now I don't bake chocolate chip for Christmas

but these pictures spoke to me

kind of like 

"get off your butt if you want some of this"

not really ~ but I could hear that in my mind....

are these not just the cutest ~ you could make those anytime of the year also

in the new Canadian Living magazine

there is a recipe for these

and I just may take the plunge 

and attempt to make them!

Now for my list ~ here are the babies I will be making

to enjoy over the holidays

 Almond Fingers

this is a recipe that has passed down through the generations

Trevor is not a fan but I love them!

 Birdsnests

another family tradition

best with raspberry jam  in the center

Peanut Butter Blossoms

I started making these a few years ago

and they are great to make for a cookie exchange

they are my "go to" recipe

these are coconut/oatmeal cookies

with dates and either cherries or dried cranberries

 Shortbread

it would not be Christmas without my grandmother's 

shortbread recipe.  I usually put them through the 

cookie press but the dough can be rolled and cut too

Thumbprint

 

another fun little addition to add to the sweet tray

Oatmeal Gumdrop

I make these all year round for a change of pace

it is the same recipe as the ones above but you add

gumdrops instead of the fruit

so these are just the cookies on my list

betcha want one now!

What are your favorites?

Do you bake for Christmas?

Are there special recipes that have passed down

that you love?

do tell.....

Cookie Exchange

I am not a great baker

I tend to buy them rather than make them
although lately I have been baking a bit more

this time of year
I like to carry on traditions
make things you tend to only have
once a year


I have my tried and true
recipes passed down
family favorites
so I tend to make
~almond fingers
~birds nests
~peanut butter balls
~hello dolly squares
~stuffed dates
~gumdrop cookies
and
~scotch cakes.

when I am asked to participate
in a cookie exchange
I always take
Peanut Butter Blossoms


they are scrumptious
I got the recipe a few years ago
in a magazine

the girls at work call them
"boobie cookies"
they make me laugh!


unfortunately this year
I have no longer been able to find
the mini kisses in my
neck of the woods

thankfully I had some left in the freezer
so I was able to make some little ones
but some will have to be a little bigger
to accommodate a regular size kiss

so today I baked 10 dozen cookies
plus some extras for giving...

Ingredients:

• 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
• 1/2 cup shortening (or butter)
  
• 3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Granulated sugar

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.

2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
Cool completely. About 4 dozen cookies.

recipe found here.