When I Was Young

Hello Sweets,

Well today has been a bad health day for me :(, every part of my body is achy and this migraine seems to be never ending.  So needless to say I didn't create anything new in the kitchen.  Actually I spent the day relaxing and watching cute animal shows lol (really did).

Having a sick day made me remissness back to when I was small and had sick days at home with grandma.  So for today's post I'm going to talk about the things that make me feel a little better, both then and now!  Actually you would be surprised how many of the tricks my grandma used are still applicable, funny how things from your past make you both feel small again but still work.  Now there are my typical staples such as ginger ale, crackers, toast, and chicken noodle soup, but there are some that you wouldn't think would do the trick at all.  Now I am sure you are wondering what they could be and I'll tell you :)  French fries, especially when I am nauseous (weird right?), cookies lol really, and probably the silliest ice cream.  There are only three flavors that I can have when I'm not feeling well, the obvious is vanilla, but then we have a couple of unusual suspects.  The first one Nathan and I came across at PF Changs restaurant, it's the perfect blend of mellow flavors;  pineapple coconut (sooo yummy).  Then the final flavor that takes me back to when I was a child that combines my favorite fruit with the deliciousness that is ice cream; black cherry!  So when Nathan and I were at the grocery store and he noticed they had some, I couldn't pass it up.

This has actually helped on more then one occasion, and needless to say since I don't feel well now I am going to enjoy some right now!  Until next time............


Stay sweet




Jennifer xoxoxo

p.s. I'll have a regular length post tomorrow, I promise to rest up tonight :)

Celebratory Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hello Sweets!


I hope everyone had a good day today.  I saw the doctor today, and the good news is I don't have strep throat, bad news is my glands are swollen so I am on antibiotics in hopes we can clear it up.  I have some very exciting news to announce.......I have over 1000 views on my blog!!!!  I know to some that may seem quite small but I only started writing a month and a half ago, and only for my own piece of mind, not thinking so many would be reading it.  I want to say thank you to all my amazing readers.  :)  You really know how to make a girl feel loved, and I truly appreciate all the support.  Since you guys keep reading, I'm going to keep on blogging, I must be doing something right because you keep coming back for more.  I really am on cloud nine right now, this is a great feeling, and as I sit here typing I have a HUGH smile on my face, lol I'm such a nerd :D

So last night I could not sleep (same old same old), so I started thinking about the savory cupcakes again and Christmas baking, which means research, research, research!  I have found some more interesting savory "cupcakes", and then I kicked over to my holiday goodies research mode, and man oh man, have I found some goodies.  There are some traditional, and some not so much, some that I have made and some that will be brand spanking new!  I do know one thing though, Nathan is going to be one happy camper next month when he has so many goodies to choose from :)

Since I surpassed 1000 views today I thought I would make myself a treat that will make anyone reminisce to their childhood.  The good old, tried, and true chocolate chip cookies, with a canuckette twist of course lol now let us get to the good stuff shall we?

Chocolate Chip Cookies (adapted from Pikky Lady)

Ingredients

1C butter, softened

3/4C granulated sugar

3/4C packed light brown sugar

1Tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 1/4C all-purpose flour

1Tsp baking soda

1/2Tsp salt

2C semi sweet chocolate chips

1C chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

1)  Preheat oven to 375F.  In a large bowl, cream butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy.

2)  Add eggs, beat well.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.  Beat well.

 egg mixture/flour mixture

almost ready :)

3)  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (optional).  This is where I put a little Canuckette twist, I added both pecans and walnuts (next time I'll season them lightly), you can add whatever suits your fancy in addition to the chocolate chips.

mmmm cookie dough

4)  Drop by teaspoon full onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375F for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

now the house smells delish!!

5)  Let cool slightly on the cookie sheet.  Remove from cookie sheet; cool completely on wire rack and enjoy!

My yummy haul

Needless to say, they are super yummy.  Even John (my roommate's son) loves them.  Definitely the perfect celebratory cookie!  A perfect way to end the day that put a smile on my face, in a very simple way too!

Tomorrow is the day I make pastizzis with my grandfather, :) and I am so excited.  These are something I have enjoyed eating my entire life, but have never helped make them.  There are many members of my family that are looking forward to this post because they are just that good. lol  So either tomorrows post will be the entire recipe, or the dough only.  It all depends on the consistency of the dough.  Either way, yummy family recipe + quality time with my little grandpa (he's really short lol) = a fantastic way to spend an afternoon!  Well sweets, I am going to sit back, relax, and watch Chopped (The Food Network), yea I love watching foodie shows lol obviously ;)  Until next time.......

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo 

  

Parisian Paradise

Hello Sweets,

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend, do you have anything exciting planned?  Or maybe you've already done something fun, I would love to hear all about it :)  I thought I was through the worst of this cold last night, then at 3am it decided to regroup and hit me all over again, c'est la vie!

So since I slept most of the afternoon away, and when I awoke my throat wasn't scratchy I thought I would make myself a special steak sandwich that I haven't had in a long time.  This is something I learnt how to make years ago as an alternative lunch sandwich, for when you want to have a fulfilling lunch and just a small dinner later on, or whenever it is just that great of a sandwich.  Plus it is versatile, you can add what ever your heart desires, and a side that suits your fancy at the time :)  Now let us get to our Parisian paradise.

Parisian Steak Sandwich

Ingredients

any cut of steak you prefer

3Tbs soy spread (or butter)

1/2 Parisian loaf

salt

pepper

chili flakes

garlic

2Tsp olive oil

4Tbs white cheddar cheese

1/2" sliced off an onion

Directions:

1)  Preheat your oven to broil.  Marinade your steak with the spices of your choosing in a container with a lid, at the end add the olive oil, close the lid and shake to coat the steak.  Set aside.

2)  Slice your half loaf, then cut in half.  Place open face up on a baking sheet, apply soy spread, then coat with garlic to your liking.  Set aside.

you can buy garlic loaves if you'd like, I just like to control the amount of garlic :)

3)  Chop up your onions, add them and the steak to a frying pan on low-medium heat (normally I would add mushrooms as well but I forgot to pick some up, boo).  Cook until there is pink inside (the steak will finish cooking in the oven with the bread).  Remove from heat and slice into strips.  Leave the onions in the pan to caramelize before adding to the bread.

4)  Place the garlic bread into the oven to toast prior to adding the meat (if you don't you'll have soggy bread).  Remove once toasted.

5)  Add the strips of steak and caramelized onions, then top with the cheese.  Place back into the oven (turn to low heat), just long enough for the cheese to melt.  Remove from the oven and enjoy!

I was originally was going to enjoy a nice side salad with my sandwich but ran out of lettuce, so I chose to have some yummy brussel sprouts (my fav).  Needless to say it was a very enjoyable dinner, and I now have a great lunch already made for tomorrow!

So where are you guys with your Frosty Fitness Challenge?  I have been giving it my best but this dang cold has really put the breaks on it :( , but none the less here is my little itty bitty proof for today :)

1/2 mile today, 7.38m for the week = 11.87kms, not 20km but I tried

I am very excited to share a little bit of news with you, a friend of Nathan and I's, Dave over at Impact Views, who is an AMAZING artist, is going to draw me a logo for my blog!!!!  I'm super excited because I really want to keep doing this, and I am becoming more serious about the whole idea of making a brand for myself :)  I know right now it's just something to help keep my spirits up and to share with others, but as I've stated in other post, I hope one day to make myself a little business out of my passion.  And if you're going to create a brand, you've got to have a way for people to recognize you, and when you guys see what we have designed you'll be blown away, I promise!

In the meantime, go check out Dave's blog, he writes about music, life, and what ever else comes to mind :)  Nathan and him used to have radio show together (which was awesome), so I can say with confidence that he writes well and it is always entertaining.  So what are you waiting for??  Check out his blog already lol.

I would love to hear what your guys favorite sandwich is, and what you like to put on it.  I always enjoy hearing from you guys :)  Until next time..........

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo 

  

What is Canuckette Creations?

Me!

Hey Sweets!! 

My name is Jennifer and I have a passion for baking and cooking, well maybe it's better to describe it as an obsession :p.  My goal one day is to do this as a career, working for myself either with a cute little shop or a catering business with the same title.  Now this will really be pursued once I am living in the great state of Texas with my love Nathan.  Until then I'll keep spoiling my family, friends, and co-workers, oh I should probably add I work for Canada's largest fitness company GoodLife fitness and yes I bring goodies both healthy and traditional to the office and you'll never hear a complaint!

My goal for this blog is to share my adventures as I explore my love of food and the prep that goes into it.  For as long as I can remember I have always been in the kitchen, whether helping my grandma with baking cookies, cakes, and everything in between to helping my mom prepare dinners.  I was fortunate enough to be gifted in both baking and cooking, my mom and grandma were not so fortunate lol it was only one for each.

Growing up in a single parent home and with a little sister, gave me that extra push to really step up my "kitchen game" early on.  Being mom's little helper went a long way back then, and now when it's Christmas baking season I'm the first she'll call.  Since my grandparents are getting older I will go over a few times a week to have a meal with them, and maybe even spice things up a bit with new seasonings.

Living with my friend and her son gives me the ultimate test kitchen, with two great taste pallets; 1) the picky eater and 2) the kid test.  I feel that these are the two hardest hurdles to pass when in the kitchen, and if you can get the green light from them you know you have an instant success.

So why did I decide to start a foodie blog you ask, well my good friend Sarah inspired me with her http://www.mymostlyhealthylife.com/.   She writes about healthy food choices (great paleo ideas), her love of fitness, and even a little fashion and fun now and then.  Definitely check it out she has a fun way of blogging and informing, plus she is awesome lol.  Why is my blog called Canuckette Creations? Well I was born and raised in Canada but most of my family is from the USA. Four years ago I met the love of my life, and ever since his family met me I was to be forever known as Canuckette (thanks to his dad). So in a homage to his father I thought of the clever name, plus I secretly love it haha but shhhh don't let him know.

Since it's Thanksgiving here in Canadia, I baked some yummy desserts for my grandparents dinner, but that was the same night I decided to start my foodie blog so sadly there is only one picture and no step by step pictures :(  But don't worry I will be baking my now newly famous Pumpkin Spice cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Icing with graham crumble very soon, as in within weeks for my boyfriends family :) (they have seen and heard about them so there is no getting out of this haha).

Here's my homemade Eggnog and a delicious Pumpkin cupcake

For now I will wish my Canadian's a happy Thanksgiving and everyone else happy baking!  I promise my next post will include step by step pictures and a recipe of my next endeavour :)

Stay sweet!

Jennifer xoxoxo