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Pecan & Cranberry Biscotti

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I’m bringing Biscotti Back…..

My mom introduced me to Biscotti over 20 years ago. And I liked it. I admittedly have not made Biscotti for a couple years now… but figured this year was the time to bring it back into our Christmas Baking Rotation as part of my 12 Days of Holiday Baking.

I had all the ingredients to make the original recipe which called for almonds, but did not have any almonds on hand. So I went ahead and used toasted pecans instead also adding in cranberries and cinnamon.

It’s a lovely crunchy cookie to have either as is or dipped in coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

 

Nanaimo Bars

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I grew up in British Columbia (Canada) and one of the most enjoyable treats we had at Christmas time was my mom’s home made Nanaimo Bars.  She always made the icing green and so to me a Nanaimo Bar is not a Nanaimo Bar unless it’s green!

I do not know where my mom got the recipe from and what if any modifications may have been made (she is not around to ask) so I post this recipe as it was written down over 30 years ago.

I make these bars every year at Christmas for my family as they are my husbands favourite holiday treat.

 

Candy Cane Cookies

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One our favourite things to do during the holidays is to make some cookies for Santa! Kind of like these Candy Cane Cookies!

Candy Cane Cookies
Candy Cane Cookies

As kids we didn’t bake a lot but I will always remember my mom making Whipped Shortbread Cookies.

Every year for quite some time now, a group of us moms get together and have an Annual Holiday Cookie Exchange Night. It has become a much anticipated event every year and grown to include wine, food and usually some sort of other element.

Candy Cane Cookies
Candy Cane Cookies

For our cookie exchange this year I wanted to make something new and adventurous and I think I found the right recipe – Candy Cane Cookies. This cookie does take a little work since you have to refrigerate the dough, take out small amounts at a time and work fast. But look at them! The extra work is worth it – aren’t they stunning?!

Candy Cane Cookies
Candy Cane Cookies

This sugar like cookie with a peppermint twist is my cookie contribution for this year’s cookie exchange.

What is your favourite cookie to make or eat during the holidays?!

Holiday Bake Sale to benefit Meals On Wheels, Calgary

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The holiday season is a time of giving.  And a time of eating baked goodness in all its forms……

You can do both on Saturday, December 8th at the Calgary Food Blogger Bake Sale – Holiday Edition.   The Bake Sale will be at Casel Marché (Calgary, Alberta) with proceeds from this bake sale benefiting Calgary’s Meals on Wheels.

Come and check it out….you will not be disappointed!

Participating Calgary Food Bloggers to date are:

A Pretty Life in the Suburbs (www.aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com)
Anna’s Appetite (http://annasappetite.wordpress.com/)
Bakersbeans (www.bakersbeans.ca)
Ceci n’est pas un food blog (www.cecinestpasunfoodblog.com)
Calgary is Awesome (www.calgaryisawesome.com)
Chocolate & Ginger (www.chocolateandginger.com)
Clockwork Lemon (www.clockworklemon.com)
Club Club (http://club-club.tumblr.com/)
Dan’s Good Side (www.dansgoodside.com)
Dining Room Empire (http://naptimequilter.blogspot.com/)
Eat Chu (http://eatchufoods.tumblr.com/)
Food Mamma (www.foodmamma.com)
For the Love of… (http://dc-fortheloveof.blogspot.com/)
foodthreeways (www.foodthreeways.com)
Global Dish (www.globaldish.ca)
Heather’s EATS (http://heatherseats.wordpress.com/)
Leah Van Loon (www.leahvanloon.com)
Miss Foodie’s Gourmet Adventures (http://missfoodiesgourmetadventures.wordpress.com/)
Prairie Summers (http://prairiesummers.wordpress.com/)
Scrumptiously Fit Food (http://scrumptiouslyfitfood.blogspot.com/)
The Vegan Cookbook Aficionado
(http://cookbookaficionado.wordpress.com/)
yumyumyummers (http://yumyumyummers.wordpress.com/)

 

 

 

Swedish Dainties

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These Swedish Dainties are another recipe I tasted for the first time during my Vancouver days working in a head office with a whack of fabulous people.  There was so much good food shared between us (amongst other things) it’s no wonder I love food so much.

I’ve made these cookies a few times over the years changing them up a bit.  The initial recipe comes from Corinne (one of the fabulous people).  I even had the pleasure of attending my first ever 12 Course Peking Duck Dinner with Corinne…good times & good memories.

These cookies go by a variety of names…Bird’s Nest, Thimble Cookies, Thumbprint Cookies and of course Swedish Dainties.  I still have the recipe Corinne gave me all those years ago.  She called them Swedish Dainties and I will to.

 

 

 

White Chocolate Cranberry Kiss Cookies

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Christmas is everywhere.  Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars are back.  My kids won’t stop singing Christmas Carols.  Neighbours have their Christmas lights up. We are 10 days away from Advent Calendars & Christmas decorations.  Bliss is in the air & Life is Good.

These White Chocolate Cranberry Kiss Cookies were created for a couple of reasons.  First I absolutely adore cranberry bliss bars and could spend way too much money treating myself this season…so I needed to create my own version. Second I wanted to challenge myself again to see if I could create another cookie made with canola oil. And finally I wanted to create a holiday cookie that becomes a family tradition.

For those that didn’t catch my Pumpkin Cookie post, I am trying to win a trip to a food blogging conference next spring hosted by the Food Bloggers of Canada.  I found making the pumpkin cookies with canola oil fairly simple and as such have been inspired to bake some more goodies using canola oil.

I even went as far as adding bacon to this recipe, just because I’m crazy like that!

In this process I came up against a mental block while trying to create a name for this cookie.  So I shouted out for help on Facebook and I’m grateful to those who shouted back (Laurie) with ideas & suggestions & eventually a name for the new cookie.

Pumpkin Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

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These are my Blood, Sweat & Tears Cookies…..but I’ll call them Pumpkin Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies cause that sounds better!   Why Blood, Sweat & Tears?  Well….while I was experimenting and making these cookies somehow my baby finger ended up slamming into the top of the opened pumpkin can = deep cut.  I won’t get into too much detail since we are talking about food…but there was blood, sweat & tears that ensued!

I’m so proud of these cookies I am entering them into the Food Bloggers of Canada and Eat In Eat Out’s Christmas in July Cookie Contest 2013. Wish me luck!

The first time I ever tried a pumpkin cookie was at one of the Mom’s Wine Tasting Nights I organize here in Calgary. Each evening consists of a theme and we all bring a bottle of wine and some bits & bites to share. On this particular night pumpkin cookies were on display and after tasting them I was in love. So in love I knew I wanted to make my own pumpkin cookies.

The results of my cookie experiment?  Outstanding. Every one in the family adores these cookies as well as several of the cookie taste testers I have given cookies to.  They are our new family Fall Cookie favourite!

These cookies are moist and melt in your mouth.  The cinnamon spiced glaze added later pairs nicely with the pumpkin, orange and chocolate flavours in this cookie.  If you like pumpkin and chocolate you must try these!

 

Spooky Halloween Cookies

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Halloween is such a fun time for the year. Fun for kids and fun for grown ups! I fondly remember dressing up, filling up our pillow cases with all kinds of candies, coming home so mom could check our candy bags and enjoying sugar highs for days on end. We never baked a lot of Halloween treats while I was younger…but I loved to when I got older and moved away. Office potlucks, dinner parties…always a reason to create in the kitchen.

And then came a husband and kids. Funny how that happens. The kids started going to school and I wanted to send treats for Halloween. They have a Halloween evening dance every year since they don’t celebrate during the day and we are asked to provide treats for sale during the dance. Enter Spooky Halloween Cookies. We use coloured Royal Icing for these cookies and the kids do the decorating. Too much fun.

This recipe makes 3-4 dozen cookies, depending on the size of your cookie cutters. I need a minimum of 25 cookies for class or to bring to the dance, so I kept the recipe as is knowing some would go to work….some to school…some to friends….well you get it!

 

Creepy Crispy Rice Treats

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Rice Krispy Treats are just the best and easiest treat to make especially when last minute. I had a friend say to me at 3pm the other day, I forgot to make a snack for the kids Halloween Dance tonight, do you have any quick suggestions? So I said Rice Krispy Treat made up all Halloweenish. She rocked it and they sold out.

Typically everyone leans towards cupcakes but I like to pull the “be different” card and play with rice krispy treats. At a recent dance these Creepy Crispy Rice Treats were one of the first items to sell out. You can use Halloween cookie cutters to make fun shapes or keep them square/rectangle. Use any Halloween Candy you have or can find and change it up every time. Making monster heads is equally entertaining.

Let the kids get involved and decorate. Fun for everyone!

 

Chips & Bits Cookies

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Well I must say I earned my namesake in September since I did a ton of baking and averaged a big batch of home made cookies (such as these Chips & Bits Cookies) weekly.   It’s fun to try and create new cookies and make existing cookie recipes.

It was a beautiful September here in Calgary, averaging almost 24 daily with only 1 Rain Day.  Kind of made it hard to put the oven on since none of us want to let go of Summer but Fall is definitely in the air as it cools off nicely in the evenings.

This week they are forecasting snow and I cringe knowing this will take out the last of the late summer flowers and be the final sign Summer is officially over.

These cookies come out of the oven puffy and then they drop to a flatter state.  You could substitute an actual skor bar (broken up) for the plain toffee bits.  The addition of the butterscotch chips adds an extra sweetness to the cookie.  And the chocolate chips, well doesn’t everyone need a little chocolate sometimes?

 

Chewy Chipsters (Cookies)

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Several cookie monsters in our house and so these Chewy Chipsters (Cookies) hardly last a couple of days.

We’ve made so many cookies that incorporate the basic ingredients (sugar, butter, flour, baking soda/powder) that it’s easy to start with the basics and spin variations from there.

My daughter wanted to make cookies (I wanted some baking for school lunches) so we started with a basic recipe and added chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Unfortunately I forgot she is not allowed to bring peanut butter and/or variations and as such the cookies didn’t get to go to school that week but ended up as an afternoon and evening snack.

Here are our Chewy Chipster Cookies (as named by my daughter).

 

Double Cherry Chocolate Cookies

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Summer reminds me of Cherries and fresh Cherries remind me of home.  This was the inspiration for a new cookie recipe I created today..Double Cherry Chocolate Cookies.

My folks used to have all kinds of fruit trees, berries, a garden and a green house….it was endless and always fresh food from Garden to Table…organic and delish.  They kept busy and we grew up indulging in everything from fresh fruit/berry jams, crisps, pies, fruit perogies to homemade fruit & berry wine (when we were old enough lol).

Since we are leaving for vacay in a couple days (my hometown in B.C.) I had some fresh cherries to use up and found myself lost in a memory from long ago.  So I decided to cut them up, combine them with dried cherries and some chocolate to create a new cookie.  I also added a new secret ingredient to add more chocolatey goodness (instand pudding powder). The end result is a chocoholic’s dream pairing chocolate with fresh & dried cherries made into a lovely bite that satisfies the soul.

The addition of fresh Cherries makes this a summer cookie.  In the winter months when fresh cherries are unavailable use extra dried cherries instead.

Bacon Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

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I’m thrilled to share with you these cookies took 3rd place in a Canada Wide contest sponsored by the Food Bloggers of Canada and Eat In Eat Out digital magazine! The contest was the Christmas in July Cookie Contest 2012.

A couple years ago I started buying hubs Vosges Bacon Candy Chocolate Bars for his stocking at Christmas. He is hard to buy for and I was getting desperate when I heard about these chocolate bars. Well elated does not even describe how we felt after tasting bacon & chocolate together. This is a match made in heaven.

And so calling all Bacon Lovers and Chocolate Lovers. I’ve been inspired by Vosges and wanted to create a chocolate chip cookie with bacon. I decided to take it a step further and add peanut butter to my bacon, chocolate chip cookie creation…booya!

What I came up with was a lovely tasting cookie that is not too sweet. Of all the flavour profiles in this cookie none are over powering…..instead you get a little bit of everything in each bite. Bacon lovers stand united and chocolate reigns supreme in the delightful bacon infused chocolate chip cookie.

Chocolate Cupcakes

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My daughter’s birthday falls on the August long weekend.  Every year friends are away on summer holidays during this weekend and typically so are we.  On the suggestion from a friend we decided to start having her “friends” only birthday party in June.  And so it began last year and is once again upon us.

Last week she asked me if she could bring cupcakes to school (since other kids did) to share with the class in honour of her birthday celebration.  So we discussed particulars and came up with a plan.  As life has been insanely busy and I was feeling slightly overwhelmed…I seriously considered some of the speciality cupcake shops around town and even called them for pricing.  But at almost $18 per dozen mini cupcakes, I decided I would find the time to make mini cupcakes for my lil girl to take to school.

Growing up I remember my mom making this chocolate cake recipe…always in an 8×8 or 9×9 square baking pan, always with the same vanilla icing.  Every time I make this recipe I am brought back to a special memory involving this chocolate cake.  Funny how food does that.  I made this cake for my son’s first birthday, it was his smash cake.  This time we turned the recipe into cupcakes.  It’s easy and very yummy.  We used a Vanilla Frosting this time to ice the cupcakes. When I make them at Easter I use a buttercream frosting. Sinfully delicious.

Cast Iron Pan Apple Pie

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Growing up we had apple trees, but yet my mom did not make apple pies. She deferred to crisps and other things so admittedly I do not make a lot of pies either now that I’m married. My husband loves pies so it’s something I’m working on more and more.

Recently I came across a recipe to make an apple pie in a cast iron pan. Brilliant. Both husband and I brought into our relationship cast iron pans from our parents. We’ve since purchased a few more for our collection. This pie enticed me even more with the caramelized goodness underneath the actual pie at the bottom of the pan. It was a combination meant to be.

Due to my son’s obsession with scrambled eggs every morning I ran out of eggs, and was not able to make the egg white wash for the top. Fortunately this did not affect anything other than browning on top of pie.

Also the original recipe called for 4 lbs mixed apples. I used approximately 10 cups mixed apples (green, Macintosh, and a wrinkled gala thrown in for good luck). You could use a little more if you have them, but either way this amount worked out perfectly.

Another confession – I used a store bought double pie crust to ensure success was mine. Sometimes simple steps help when life is busy.

 

Simple Pancakes

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Pancakes really are that easy to make.  The next time you want some, instead of using a bisquick (or other) pancake mix…try this recipe. It’s so quick/easy you will wonder why you didn’t make them from scratch before.

This is my go to pancake recipe.  I typically double the batch and once they are on the skillet sprinkle on my add-ins (allowing everyone to get involved and make their own or have options).  Leftover pancakes get separated by parchment paper and frozen in ziplock bags. To reheat let them sit out for a few minutes and then drop them into the toaster.

Chocolate Easter Egg Cookies

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Up your chocolate chip cookie game by adding candy coated mini chocolate eggs to create Chocolate Easter Egg Cookies and become the new favourite parent on the block.

Chocolate Easter Egg Cookies
Chocolate Easter Egg Cookies

Some days you end up with way too much leftover chocolate or candy from Halloween, even Easter and you need a plan to determine what to do with all the leftovers.

Or you just eat it all no matter how hard you to try to hide it. That’s what happened here where chocolate chip cookie met leftover mini chocolate candy coated eggs and became one.

Chocolate Easter Egg Cookies
Chocolate Easter Egg Cookies

Get the kids involved in making these cookies. They are easy and delicious.

Here’s a fun fact about these cookies, they are on Food Network Canada’s website. You can check out the link by clicking Chocolate Easter Egg Cookies.

PRO TIPS:

  • Swap chocolate chips for white chocolate chips
  • If your mini eggs crack while baking, add them to cookies as soon as they come out of the oven instead of before baking
  • Essentially you need 48 mini chocolate eggs plus extras for the cook to sample because quality control

 

 

Orange & Pecan Scones

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Back when I was single and living on the coast (Vancouver) I used to follow the Greens Restaurant (in San Fransisco), even bought their cookbook “Field of Greens” by Annie Somerville. It’s a vegetarian cook book with fabulous recipes, tastes and flavours.  I tried out a few back in the day and loved every one of them.  I am ready to get back to some vegetarian cooking and happily still have the cook book for inspiration.  This is one recipe I have made many times and adore.

Carrot Cupcakes

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Last year I hosted one of many mom/daughter playdates. The mom brought Carrot Cupcakes. Without a doubt these were the best carrot cupcakes I had ever tasted. So I asked for and received the recipe. Finally I am making these delectable cupcakes (but with some changes)!

I do not do well with vegetable oils in muffins, and baking. I can taste it in the food, and sometimes it just doesn’t agree with me. I started using canola oil & apple sauce to replace veggie oil, and everything tastes better.

These cupcakes are so moist, and flavourful you will be surprised to learn they are made using store bought pureed baby carrot food. I’ve never bought carrot baby food, and so this was a first. I can’t say exactly what it is that makes this cupcake taste so darn good, but if it’s the baby food then I’m sold. These cupcakes are not too sweet, and melt in your mouth. In fact I have to hide them from my husband as he loves them.

Cupcakes are frosted with a Cream Cheese Frosting.

Blueberry, Cinnamon & Strawberry Yogurt Muffins

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The original title was Banana, Blueberry, Cinnamon & Strawberry Yogurt Muffins, a mouthful by any means.  So I shortened the title a little to make it fit better!

My kids have been participating in the President’s Choice Cooking School (Superstore/Loblaws) since they were both 3 years old.  Inexpensive and fun with food.  Sometimes they find new foods they enjoy, other times not so much.  In the end it’s always about the FUN.  This recipe comes from one of those cooking classes (another paper recipe now officially recycled).

When it comes to muffins I like to make the mini muffin version…easier for little hands to hold and eat.  I found there was too much oil in the original version of the recipe so I’ve cut it back to 1/2 cup.  It’s still too much in my opinion and so next time I may substitute apple sauce for some of the oil.

The photo below is my “Leaning Tower of Muffins”! I chose the flat ones for this shot. Taking food photos is fun, let’s just hope I get better at it!

 

Oatmeal Cranberry Double Chocolate Cookies

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These were the second batch of cookies we made on Sunday.  I’ve had my eye on a cranberry/chocolate combo cookie for a while.  After scouring the internet in search of the perfect cookie…I ended up utilizing a couple different recipes for the basics and adding/making changes to suit my needs.  So here it is, our version of an Oatmeal Cranberry Double Chocolate Cookie. Not too sweet, but enough chocolate to keep you happy!

Tip: You can use both kinds of chocolate as we did or use straight semi-sweet chocolate chips or just chopped white chocolate chunks. Choice is yours!

 

Cinnamon Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

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Nothing screams family time like spending an afternoon making cookies and memories in the kitchen with the kids or loved ones. Technology is limited in our house. Social interactions of all kinds are what’s encouraged. Sometimes impromptu cooking making sessions are just what the doctor ordered if someone is feeling blue or under the weather. Baking really does bring people together.

Keep simple ingredients in the pantry and you will be able to whip up a basic batch of cookies any time. Add-in’s to a basic recipe allow the baker to put their own spin on the cookies. Like adding m&m’s, nuts or leftover cut up holiday chocolate.

The first time we made these cookies the kids asked if they could dump in some cinnamon. Always up for a little experimenting I said why not. This idea worked and we changed up the recipe to include cinnamon. Having fun cooking in the kitchen, talking about life, laughing and creating lasting memories is what baking is all about.

Note: since originally posting this recipe, Bakers Chocolate Squares has changed their individual chocolate bar sizing. Where as 1 Bakers chocolate bar used to = 1 ounce, now it’s 4 bars = 1 ounce.

We hope you enjoy these cookies as much as we do.

cinnamon chocolate thumbprint cookies

 

 

Whipped Shortbread

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Childhood memories of Whipped Shortbread always dance in my head around the holidays.

Whipped Shortbread
Whipped Shortbread

This year for my Christmas Cookie Exchange I am doing a Trio of Shortbread (Whipped Shortbread, Orange Nutmeg Shortbread Cookies and Cherry Walnut Shortbread Cookies) in an attempt to try to find cookies to please everyone!

Growing up my mom always made Whipped Shortbread every year at Christmas time. I always waited with eager anticipation to put the cherries on the cookies, because that was my job. I’ve tweaked it along the way and here is the recipe I use. My family loves these melt in your mouth annual cookie tradition.

The key to this recipe is turning it from dough into whipped dough. This takes time so put on some music and have fun while making these cookies!

Orange Nutmeg Shortbread Cookies

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Can you tell I’m preparing for a Christmas Cookie Exchange?!!  These Orange Nutmeg Shortbread Cookies have become another regular Christmas time family favourite in our house.  It’s a little bit of a process having to constantly refrigerate these cookies (as per the original recipe) and admittedly I don’t do it as much as the recipes calls for because seriously who has all day to make cookies?!

And so I did it my way and they turn out just fine.   The orange & nutmeg lends a delicious flavour to these buttery shortbread cookies.