What's HapPINning Wednesday!

Oh my goodness we are less than a week away from Christmas! How has this happened!? For me this season has been flying by like it normally does but honestly I don't know how it is already less then a week until Christmas. I wanted to have a blog post up before now but I have been crazy busy the past few days and I was away in Halifax for the weekend spending some time with my cousin Callee.

This past weekend myself and Erica (sister for those who may not know) headed up to Halifax to spend the night at my cousin Callee's and to get the bulk of what was left of our Christmas shopping done. The malls and stores were packed but everything was great for us since we didn't have to be anywhere at any certain time we just browsed and waited in the cash lines when it was time to check out. I have to say for the lines that were long in a few shops we were in they went pretty quick which was nice. The one thing that does annoy me is when you have a super long time 6 tills that could be open but you only have 2 open but 100 employee just milling around the store asking if they can help you. We also had a lovely dinner at Moxie's before Callee took us on a Christmas lights drive which I hadn't really ever done before because I'm normally not in the city a lot in the evening/night during the holiday so this was a real treat, and she showed us the BEST lights! There are two brothers who live almost beside each other and they compete with each other and it is a sight to see. If you're from the Halifax area or are going to be in the Halifax check out Connaught Street! 

For the past two days I feel like I have spent most of my time in the kitchen baking for Christmas! I think this is latest I have done most of my baking but it is all getting done so I can't really say it is bad thing and maybe it is a good thing because that means I haven't been sneaking treats all month. I can say my feet and legs are quite pleased when the day is over and I get to relax. I have done sugar cookies, red velvet cookies, peppermint meltaways and prepped the peanut balls for chocolate which will be dipped on Thursday.

How is your Christmas prep coming? Baking Done? Shopping done? Tree up and decorated? I hope you're all having a great Christmas so far!

xo

Linking Up with Jessi
 

 

Make It Yourself Monday!

We are starting the week off on the right foot folks! Fingers crossed I can keep this up :) In case any of you are wondering I had a great first week back at school. We mainly were just getting back into the groove of things so this week will really be back to school. I know some you really want/like knowing about what I'm doing in school and how it is going so I plan to post updates about school mainly on Friday :)

Anyways, lets get into today's post which is a baking post! I won't lie to you but I made these cookies back in July thinking I would post about them before now but alas I haven't posted about them. They are probably one of my new favorite cookies! This is why I haven't made them since I first made them because they are so darn good! They are red velvet cookies and boy are they yummy! They are not that hard either it is just the waiting that makes them kind of annoying to bake. That being said they are totally worth it!

I found this recipe at Gonna Want Seconds (Pinterest to start). Check out Kathleen's site for more yummy recipes!

Ingredients

2 1/4 Cups - Flour
1/3 Cup - Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 Teaspoons - Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon - Salt
1/2 Cup - Unsalted Butter, Softened
2 Ounces - Cream Cheese, Softened
1 1/2 Cup - Sugar
2 - Eggs, Large
2 Teaspoons - Red Food Color
1 Teaspoon - Vanilla Extract
3/4 Cup - Powder Sugar


Directions

1.In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, mix butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. Add sugar and cream until light and fluffy; a couple of minutes. Add eggs, food color and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Gentle fold half the flour and cocoa mixture to the egg mixture until just incorporated, then fold in second half the same way. Place dough in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

3.Prehat oven to 350°F.

4. Form dough into 1 1/2 Tablespoon balls. Roll dough balls in powdered sugar and place on silpat lined cookie sheets.
5. Bake cookies in preheated oven for approximately 10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for approximately 15 minutes then transfer to wire racks and cool completely.

6. Try and not eat them all! So yummy!

Make It Monday!

Last week I was boring and looking through my Pinterest and I found a recipe for Lemon Curd Cookie bars! I had it pinned for awhile now but since I had been busy with school I didn't take the time to make them. Since I love me some lemon desserts and it was a gloomy day I decided to make them and I'm so glad I did! I had no idea how easy it was to make home made lemon curd! These cookies/tarts are amazing and super easy.

This recipe comes from Barbara Bakes and I'm totally going to be picking some more recipes from her site because if her other recipes are as good as this one everything I make will be amazing. I was a little bit worried about having to make the lemon curd myself but it is super easy. It is a little labour heavy but easy and in the end it is totally worth it. The cookie part is super easy too and totally melt  in your mouth fantastic. 

Lemon Bar Cookie Cups

Ingredients for Cookie Cups

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup lemon curd (recipe below)
• powdered sugar for decorating, optional

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Combine the flours, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar in a small bowl and set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the oil, egg and extracts. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture and stir until combined.
• Drop one tablespoon dough (I used a #50 scoop) into each cup of a greased mini muffin tin. Bake for 8 minutes.
• Remove from oven and using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make an indentation in the center of each cookie. Fill with a teaspoon of lemon curd. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 4 minutes, or until cookies are firm and lightly browned on the sides. Remove to wire racks to cool.
• Sprinkle the edges to the cookies with powdered sugar.

Lemon Curd

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Instructions

• In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add the eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat for about 1 minute. Mix in the lemon juice. The mixture will look curdled but I promise it will smooth out when it is cooked (the butter just needs to melt).
• In a medium, heavy-based saucepan, cook the mixture over low heat until it looks smooth. Up the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. Watch it because this part could go faster. It should leave a path on the back of a spoon and will read 170°F on a thermometer. Don't let the mixture boil.
• Remove the curd from the heat. Add in the lemon zest. Transfer the curd to a bowl. Press plastic wrap on the surface of the lemon curd to keep a skin from forming and chill the curd in the refrigerator. The lemon curd will thicken more as it cools in the fridge. 

Make and Enjoy!

I wish we still had some but they went over the weekend!

Also, happy long weekend to my American friends! Happy Memorial Day!

Taste of Tuesday with Ashley and Jessica!

If any of you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you know last week I spent much of it conquering a HUGE zucchini! I decided to bake and bake and bake with it! Pretty sure I love everything I tried! So, it was great idea! Now, of course I have to share it with you!

(Ashley & Jessica)

Today, I'm sharing the loaf recipes I made and they are both from A Pretty Life in the Suburbs. The first one is straight up zucchini bread and the second is chocolate zucchini loaf! Both, were amazing! I had made the chocolate loaf before so I knew that was going to be delish! The zucchini bread was just as good! So, yummy! I think adding raisins or nuts to the bread would be amazing too and I think I might try it next time I make this because I know I will be making it again!

Zucchini Bread - this recipe makes 2 loaves

Ingredients:
2 cups shredded zucchini (one medium sized zucchini)
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

Shred 2 cups zucchini and just set it aside for later.
In a mixer, combine eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.
Then gradually add the dry ingredients to wet. Mix gently.
Stir in the zucchini.
In a preheated 325 degree oven, bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake - this makes 2 loaves

Ingredients:

2¼ cups flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1¾ cups sugar
½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup buttermilk
2 cups grated, unpeeled zucchini (1 medium zucchini)
1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
Prepare 2 loaf pans. I use wax paper to line them.
Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a mixer, combine the sugar, butter and vegetable oil.
Then add the eggs, mixing well.
In a separate measuring cup combine the buttermilk and vanilla.
To the butter mixture, add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk.
Add the zucchini. Mix well.
Stir in the chocolate chips
Bake for 50 – 60 minutes. Or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake, comes out clean.

Check out these recipes and more at A Pretty Life in the Suburbs!

Yes that is my hand beside the MONSTER zucchini!

It's Okay Thursday

It's Okay....

-that I'm totally obsessed with Property Brothers! I love these men! I would marry Jonathan!

-that I'm going to watch a lot of curling  this weekend! Thankfully I still have my curling since the NHL is being a bunch of babies!

-that I haven't watched the new Criminal Mind's from this week yet!

-that I was going to decorate today but I was lazy instead.

-that I showered today and got back into sweatpants

-that I want to bake but I can't because we are having our cabinets painted and we don't have the oven hooked up!

-that I'm watching Property Brothers again! LOL

Happy Thursday! xo

Project Pinterest

Another Monday another Project Pinterest Post! This week I decided to show off some baking skills and once I saw the Cinnabon cake I knew I had to make it. Everyone in my house loves cinnamon buns so this seems like a perfect options and let me tell you it was the best baking decision I have made! This cake is AMAZING! It is really simple too! It will take you less than an hour to prep and bake it! I love quick and easy recipes! I only really needed it to be quick because I started baking later than I had hoped and I need the oven to make dinner! Got it all done before I had to start dinner so not only was this cake delish, it was quick and easy!

I promise you won't regret making this!

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Happy September Everyone! Today really felt like fall! Crisp air and a sunny sky is how I love my fall days and this was one. I still feel sad that it means summer is coming to an end but I guess that is how the seasons work.

Anyways today when I was out at the Farmer's Market (one of the best things about this time of year the produce!) I picked up some zucchinis because I saw a chocolate zucchini loaf on one of my favorite blogs (A Pretty Life in the Suburbs) and her recipes always turn out great and it just looked too good not to try it! This is another really easy recipe because we all know how much this girl loves her easy recipes! A few ingredients but really nothing you won't already have in your kitchen well expect for the zucchini unless you have been to the Farmer's Market already :) Prep time not long and then cook time is 50-60 minutes but really clean up will take you half that time! Then you have to wait and just smell the yummy loaf baking! This loaf is moist and just so delicious! You have to stop yourself from having too much! This is how mine turned out

Click here for the recipe

I'm thinking about trying the original zucchini loaf next week because this one turned out so good! Loved it as did the rest of the family :) 

See you tomorrow for Sunday Social!

xoxo

04.02.2012

Yummy Yummy I Got Love in my Tummy!

Yesterday I felt like baking so off to Pinterest I went and found a recipe for s’more cookies that I decided to make. I know I made s’more cookies before but these ones were different and I decided to make them without the graham cracker bottom because no one in the house seem to want them when I mentioned them until I said I would make them without the graham cracker bottom! So really I made marshmallow and chocolate chip cookies! But I’m sure they amazing with the graham cracker bottom.

These cookies are delightfully easy and super yummy! They light and chewy and just perfect with a cold glass of milk or hot cup of tea!  These cookies don’t even take long! Honestly start to finish I think it was like 45 minutes and that is with baking times! Super easy to whip up whenever you may need some yummy after school snack or quick dessert when family decides to show up J

Click here for recipe

28.03.2012

On Sunday night I found the next recipe I wanted to try mainly because it was only FOUR ingredients! As you have learned from reading this blog the easier the recipe is the better I like it! This recipe comes from Six in the Suburbs! The recipe I found is for Lemon Cloud Cookies! Don’t they just sound like Spring, which it was basically spring and summer here last week but we have returned to winter this week! I hate snow if you didn’t know and yes I know I live in Nova Scotia!

But back to the cookies! All you need is a box of lemon cake mix, cool whip, one egg and powdered sugar. Yup, I know easy! You combine everything expect the powered sugar and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours and up to over night because the dough is STICKY!! This is my only complaint about the recipe and you really can’t help it but lordy the dough is so sticky it makes me never want to make these cookies again even though they are delicious! Drove me crazy but in the end I guess it was worth it since the cookies are super light, chewy and delicious! I don’t overly like lemon flavor was there was just enough in these cookies for me J I’m glad I tried them! They were very tasty! Plus my family loves them J

Click on photo for recipe

Next cooking adventure goes back to cooking and not baking! I have a big meal planned and I’m not sure I can do it but I will try and let you know how it goes!

20.03.2012

I thought I should get back to some baking since I haven’t posted about my creations in the kitchen since like forever! So yesterday after running around town with my momma I settled in and made some amazing cookies! They are Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwiches with cream cheese frosting!! Yes they taste just as amazing as they sound!

These cookies are based on a cookie by Martha Stewart so I feel as if I have come up a level in baking because well Martha just doesn’t seem like something I should be trying yet! But I did and man I’m so happy I did! I have to say I like these cookies better without the frosting but that is not a weird thing for me! I prefer my cake without frosting/icing too. I guess I’m a simple kind of girl or other just say I’m weird and how could I not love the frosting! Anyways, lets get back to these cookies! They are amazing and the recipe makes a good amount! The only thing I don’t like is that you have to keep them in the fridge, which really isn’t a big deal I just don’t like my cookies cold. If you like carrot cake you will love these cookies, they are moist and just have enough carrot-y flavor you might even think they are good for you J

PS Took me forever to find pumpkin pie spice but it was well worth it!!

Enjoy! J

Click here for the recipe