Weekend Goodies

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To all of you south of us, happy Memorial Day,

and to everyone else, Happy Weekend!

Hope your weekend is warm enough for some of these -

follow the links for recipes - x

Fresh Fruit Juice Pops 

Yogurt Pops loving those sprinkles...and the clever pretzel handle!

2 3 4

for instant gratification (who has time to wait?!)

Williams Sonoma carries the ingenious wee Zoku maker -

Zoku Pops in seven minutes!

If you have more patience you really don't have to buy fancy machines...

anything can suffice as a mold -

Loaf Pops and those "watermelon" lime pops are too cool!

For the adults.....

Strawberry and mint cubes add a zing to your table with these adorable Hors Dourves Pops.

  Frozen Fruit Cubes  are easy to keep in the freezer to drop  into drinks..

Cocktail Popsicles are a lux treat on a hot day.

Crate and Barrel is riding the popsicle train...

Doesn't get much simpler than cup pops - 

cup + popsicle sticks and whatever is hanging around..

 1 2 3 4

I love colorful food, what can I say ;)

We're helping my sister-in-law prepare her house for sale this weekend -

 starting with an enormous garage sale tomorrow...

how much do you want to bet I'll be her no.1 customer!

Pop by monday for a new Crushing on Color guest post -

one of my all-time favourite bloggers is going to dazzle you!

Happy weekend!

Whew! What a weekend!

How was yours?

Did you find yourself making goodies for Valentines day?

The darlings are allowed to take treats to school to share with their classmates,

and we always bake up a version of these sugar cookies.

They are really easy to make,

and taste fantastic!

Soft but slightly crisp on the outside,

sweet but with a little zing...

They are drop cookies,

but this weekend we decided to roll them in colored sugar 

and add conversation hearts.

Sugar Cookies

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 3/4 cups white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 cup butter

2 eggs

1/4 tsp salt (optional, I skip it)

Mix flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.

blend sugar and butter in mixer for 1 minute.

Add eggs, lemon juice, blend.

Gradually add flour mixture until combined.

Scoop onto (parchment paper lined) cookie sheets,

flatten slightly, bake for 15 minutes.

Usually I press a candy on top before baking :)

For our Valentine cookies, 

I rolled the dough into small balls (1-2"),

  rolled them in colored sugar

(food coloring mixed into white sugar),

then popped a conversation heart on top.

This makes them smooth, round and sparkly..

We made a double recipe and ended up with about 150 cookies,

which were then packed up in cellophane bags 

and the kids added homemade valentines to each.

I do the cookies, they are on their own for the valentines.

Tash made hers on the computer this year :

Coco's involved lots of sparkles and glue,

and Cam's were "from Cam" written on a piece of red paper :)

By the end I am always asking myself why I do this -

but the next day when they are proudly carrying them off to school...

I remember.

Cam's party was a blast,

thanks so much for all your notes,

I showed him the comments and he was amazed!

thought you may like to see the mud cupcakes :)

Sour gummy worms, crushed oreo's and colored sugar

 atop tinted vanilla icing and vanilla cupcakes.

(asked Cam what color he wanted and he said "vanilla")

They were a hit!

Going to run and do a quick Valentines Day post -

Hope you don't mind these recipe bits, 

someone always asks how to make the goodies so just thought I'd share -  x

Girls Night Out - The Ultimate Refreshment

I don't know if you have ever ventured over to Project Gadabout..

but you should - you're missing out!

A witty blog full that makes every day feel like a girls night out,

I adore Poppy's fresh style and charm.

and she has the best drink recipes...

Tonite I am having a real girls night, with some lovely ladies who I do not see enough.

As the former bartender, I'm usually in charge of refreshments :)

We are making these.. thanks Poppy - x

Even found passionfruit!   May have to add a little spiced rum..

Hope you are having a good weekend, all -

The Joy of Baking... and Giving Away

Don't know about you, but around here Christmas feels like Christmas 

when the aprons come out and the kitchen is covered in a fine layer of flour,

the Nutcracker playing in the backgound.

We bake for our teachers, neighbours, friends and family,

and dropping off those baskets brings a happiness that opening no present could.

Monday I made peppermint meringues, these are an annual tradition -

 the other recipes may vary, but one year I skipped the meringues, and it wasn't pretty!

Tuesday was our fourth snow day - 

so we all made ginger sparklers (the easiest version of gingerbread)

 and sugar cookies with lemon glaze, my personal favourite.

I only ate one, okay - maybe two, or seven, can't remember..

Tuesday night we packed the meringues into jars (after felting the lids)..

wrapped the cookies with paper and tied them with strings.

(and forgot to take a photo :)

They did look something like this, we used bits of wrapping paper to dress up the kraft paper.

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Then we packed those goodies, a few chocolates, some specialty teas, mandarin oranges and candy canes into baskets and sent them off to school today for the kids teachers.. all 10 of them!!

Next week we repeat for friends, family and neighbours...

With two large families, and no one needing ANYTHING, 

we only buy for the kids, and the adults exchange homemade goodies.

I have given out these recipes loads of times, and if any of you would like them, 

just let me know - I'll send you a copy.

Time spent baking beats time spent at the mall.

til next time...

Saying Thanks..

My Mum always made us stand around the table, holding hands, at Thanksgiving dinner.

The food was served but no one could eat until we'd gone around the circle,

 each of us saying in turn what we were thankful for.

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I thought it was ridiculous then.

Now, as a Mum, I repeat the tradition

because we don't always stop to appreciate what we have..

and we have a lot.

On the menu - aside from my secret-recipe-butternut-squash-soup,

all the veggies, and ham/roast beef/turkey madness (my husbands family were butchers!)

I have an incredible appetizer to serve..

**warning** this dip is addictive :)

A friend wowed us with this dip a few weeks ago, and I have made a complete bother of myself  since, asking her for the recipe!

Not sure she wanted to share, but she caved out of sheer self-preservation!!

Thanks, Heather - maybe I'll give you the secret ingredients in my squash soup :)

Now I can share it with you...

delicious served with blanched asparagus, and shrimp if you like

Wasabi Mayo Dip

1 cup mayo (hellmans recommended)

1 tsp sugar

2 tsp soy sauce

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp wasabi (from tube)

mix and let sit in refrigerator for an hour if possible, so the sugar dissolves

SO GOOD! we had to make a "trial" today, just to be sure we could do it correctly ;)

Have a great weekend all..

til next time..

Bento Box Fabulousness!

So quiet here today... all the kids back in school..

in the spirit of things, a post on lunchbox ideas.

A while back I met Chantale on twitter.

One day I noticed her tweet about a bento box, and clicked.. to find this!

Is that not the cutest thing ever?!

As a Mum of three, I have to tell you, lunches get packed up quickly in the morning - 

the kids choose what they would like, get out all the supplies and containers required, 

and I whip them together while they eat breakfast.

I have never, ever made them something like this!

We do have a sandwich cutter which de-crusts and creates two heart shaped halves -

 that is as fancy as it gets!

I have been exploring Chantale's creations over the summer.. and feeling just a teensy bit guilty :)

Although I have not let the kids see these, 

I am planning to try and make them each monday this year - start the week off with a smile :)

Chantale has loads of inspiration on her blog, and provides links to some great sites..

Anyone game to try these with me?

I'd love to see what you come up with!

til next time..

Pie.

I remember, as a child, helping my Mum to make apple pie.

rolling the dough, slicing up the apples..

she always let me seal the top and bottom crusts together, working the dough like clay.

smelling the pie as it baked, and then waiting as it cooled - "I think it's ready NOW, Mum!"

She had learned to make pastry from her own Mum,

 who often made apple pie when she came to visit, 

always served with a slice or two of cheese

 ("Apple pie with out the cheese is like a hug without the squeeze!"

As an adult, although not always keen on cooking meals, I love to bake.

Cookies, muffins, tarts, squares, you name it - but never pie.

Something about making crust intimidates me!

Today we are headed over to friends home for an-end-of-summer BBQ.

 I am bringing dessert. Pie.

 It is about time I share these memories with MY daughters -

who always appear into the kitchen, gleefully grabbing their aprons,

when the flour tin hits the counter.

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After raiding Martha's site for the most reliable crust recipe,

and her classic apple pie, we gave it a whirl.

It was actually not that difficult - except I would not try to roll out the crust between layers of parchment again, my arms ached!! The top crust was rolled out the traditional way, with a little flour...

Not the prettiest pie,
but it smells fantastic, if i do say so myself!
We added a couple of pears into the mix because I had some that were quite ripe.
Hope it tastes as good as it smells ..

Now that I have done it once, I think I may start experimenting a tad..
If I find any outstanding recipes I'll share.
Is there any pies you would recommend?
I'd love some suggestions!

Three very jittery kiddies here as school starts tomorrow..
all hoping they get a certain teacher at school,
wishing their best friend will be in the same class,
wondering if there will be any new faces..
The shopping binge has paused, thank goodness!
3 backpacks - bulging with supplies, 3 lunchbags, 10 pairs of jeans, countless t-shirts,
6 new hoodies, 6 pairs of sneaks, and two new dresses, for Coco, of course.
We even found boots and some ski gear already - mayhem!

I have some really outstanding bento box lunches to show you this week,
 done by a really clever Mum I've met on twitter.

What are you all up to today?

til next time..

Summer Sweets: Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

We went to a housewarming BBQ yesterday..

this was, of course, a perfect excuse for the kids to make cupcakes!

I should say for the girls to make cupcakes, 

Cam really only get involved during the eating process :)

Natasha and Chloe chose a new recipe, Pink Lemonade Cupcakes - perfect for summer.

They were scrumptious, and really easy - so thought we'd share the recipe with you all..

who doesn't love a good cupcake splurge now and then?!

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

• 1 package white cake mix (without pudding in the mix)
• 3 egg whites
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed and divided
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (we used olive and it was fine)
• 5 to 8 drops red food coloring
• 4 cups sifted powdered sugar (we skipped the sifting and it was fine!)
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• candy, straws for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line standard muffin tins with paper cupcake liners
2. Beat cake mix, egg whites, water, 1/3 cup lemonade concentrate, oil and 4-6 drops of food coloring at medium speed for 2 minutes. Place in muffin cups.
3. Bake 18-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool for five minutes, place on wire racks to cool completely before icing.
4. Beat powdered sugar, butter, remaining food coloring and remaining 1/4 cup of lemonade concentrate at medium speed until well blended - I thought this was going to be way too much icing so made half, and then ended up making the other half!
5. Frost cupcakes, being sure to taste test cupcakes, icing and garnishes on the way :)

     This makes 24 cupcakes, if no one snitches any during the process.. we had 22!

These are so cute, and were the hit of the party..

which ended badly -

my little Chloe was bitten on the face by their Doberman Pinscher

which was terribly frightening.

Luckily, she only got a few small punctures and lacerations, no stitches required

it could have been much worse.

Growing up around docile, loving, and ever-patient Chocolate labs

 means that my children don't have much of a fear of large dogs, 

and Coco patted their dog absentmindedly while walking by, which prompted the attack.

I can't for the life of me understand having a dog like that as a family pet,

needless to say it will never have the opportunity to harm one of my children again,

because we will never allow it in the same house as them.

Sorry for being a bit of a downer, but just needed to get that off my chest - hope you don't mind!

Off to make a slipcover for Coco's "snuggle chair" in her room..

hope you are enjoying this beautiful weekend.

til next time..

I Need Cake.

I don't know if any of you have been to the fabulous blog 

Mary Mary Culinary

but you must stop by sometime.

Just don't go when you 're hungry!

Mary is an old friend.

She studied cooking, then travelled the world for years teaching.

The whole world. 

She's lived in places that I don't know how to spell :)

When I found out she had a blog, I started reading, 

and am so inspired by her creations.

Mary makes preparing these delectable goodies seem quite effortless, 

although I imagine it may be more trying for someone whose

recipe prerequisites are fast and easy!

I make about 10 things really well, and the rest are passing grade.

Occasionally I endeaver to try new things, with mixed results. 

D. knows that every once in a while I may go on strike,

and we will have a couple days of eating out - LOL.

But Mary's really done it this time.

This Raspberry Cream Cake has pushed me over the edge.

I need it.

Off to the market for a few supplies, and we're going to give this one a go..

Are you crazy for cake, whipped cream and fruit concoctions like me?

What makes you break out the apron?

Mothers Day Brunch: Pretty Tables and Scrumptious Eats

A dreamy table.. or two..

A simple way to dress up a place setting..

On the menu...

Partake in pretty pastel perfection...

The best present...

Hope you have the happiest of Mother's Days..

til next time..