For the Little Kid In Me!

Hello Sweets,

I hope everyone is enjoying their Friday, for all the working people you've earned it!  I am off back to Canadia tomorrow, normally I am completely distraught having to leave Nathan.  Not this time though, well maybe still a bit lol who am I kidding, only because I am getting ready to move :)  I still have a little packing to do (bedroom only), and I am doing my final walk through now that the apartment is completely finished.  I am one excited and happy girl, I've never lived in a brand new apartment so I am pumped!!

Since it's Friday and my last night with Nathan I figured a short post will be okay, don't worry there is still a sweet treat in store for y'all.  Today's delicious treat is brought to you on behalf of Kellogg's, and their delicious cereal Rice Crispies.  I bet y'all can figure out what we're making, but first let's go down memory lane for some history on my Rice Crispy story.  When I was small and even elementary school age, I ate almost all of my breakfasts with my grandparents.  Normally I would eat eggs and bacon, but some times I would eat a bowl of rice crispies.  However, when my grandmother had her back turned I would put a whole lot of sugar on top.  I mean a LOT, lol so when I'd scrape the bottom of the bowl I would get a spoonful of sugar :)  Of course my grandma would make rice crispy treats every once in a while, and I hadn't had them in years.  That is until a few months ago when Nathan asked me to make him some, and I am making them monthly now lol.  This is obviously not my recipe but I add a little more of some things.

Rice Crispy Treats

Ingredients

6C Rice Crispy Cereal

4Tbs Butter

42 Marshmallows

Love simple recipes

Directions:

1)  Melt the butter in a large pot over low heat.

 

2)  Once the butter is melted, add the marshmallows until completely melted.

3)  Remove from heat and add the rice crispies, mixing until blended.

4)  Grease a baking dish and pour the mixture in, pressing evenly flat with wax paper.

5)  Allow to cool completely before cutting.  Store in an air tight container.

yummy!!

See, wasn't that simple, easy, and delicious?  You can't beat cereal treats, they are your guide down memory lane to childhood.  The are many ways you can dress these bad boys up, from adding chocolate (chips or on top), nuts, food coloring, or even cutting them into fun shapes.  I'm sure you could even use those colored marshmallows for a cool little twist.  

Well that's all I've got in me for now :)  I am off to enjoy one last night in my loves arms, I hope y'all are enjoying your weekend with what ever makes you happy!  Until next time....

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo

Another Little Addition to the Pumpkin Patch!

Hello Sweets,

Fall is in full swing in Ontario, which means bright and beautiful colored leaves.  I should probably take a picture so y'all can really understand my favorite part of colder weather.  The other thing I love about fall is all the fruits and veggies that become a staple on our dinner table, and we all know I have a not so secret love affair with pumpkin!

Do you know how many batches of pumpkin cupcakes I've made in the last two months?  I've made three batches, which is 72 cupcakes!  Crazy right?  Needless to say I felt the need to go outside of the box when I was left with extra pumpkin purée.  Last year I experimented with pumpkin pancakes, and they are the epitome of a fall breakfast food.  They are full of flavor, heavier than traditional pancakes so they're filling, and the spiciness is warm and reflection of fall.  However, that is not what I wanted to do, I wanted to bring y'all something new :)  I've been seeing a lot of pumpkin cookies popping up all over Facebook and Pinterest, but I hadn't seen one that really peaked my interest.  That is until last night, thank you insomnia lol finally a plus side!!

Spiced Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

Cookie:

2C flour

1 1/3C rolled oats (not quick!)

1 1/4tsp baking powder

1 1/2tsp cinnamon

1tsp ginger

1tsp salt

1/2tsp nutmeg

1/2tsp allspice, heaping

1C butter, room temperature

1C packed dark brown sugar

1C sugar 

1 large egg, room temperature 

1tsp vanilla

1 3/4C pumpkin purée

 

Icing:

1 1/2C icing sugar

3Tbs + 1tsp milk

2Tbs maple syrup

 

Directions:

1)  Preheat oven to 350F, arrange oven racks so it's split into thirds.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside. 

2)  Whisk flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt, nutmeg, and allspice in a medium bowl to aerate and break up any lumps; set aside. 

 

3)  Place the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer, fit with a paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about five minutes. 

 

4)  Add the egg and vanilla, beating until fully incorporated about thirty seconds. 

 

5)  On low speed, add half of the flour mixture and mix well. Add 1/2 the pumpkin purée and mix until just incorporated.  Repeat with the remain in flour and pumpkin.

 

6)  Drop 8 dough rounds per baking sheet 2" apart on prepared sheets.  Put remaining dough in the refrigerator. 

 

7)  Bake for 12 minutes, rotate the pans from top to bottom and front to back until the cookies are golden brown on the bottom and sides, about 12 more minutes. 

8)  Cool on baking sheets for three minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool.  Let baking sheets cool to room temperature before repeating with remaining cookie dough. Set cookies on parchment paper once cooled.

9)  Place all the glaze ingredients into a medium bowl and whisk until evenly combined.

 

 

10)  Dip fork in glaze and drizzle over cookies in a zigzag pattern. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes to allow the glaze to set before storing. 

 

These cookies are so delicious, full body flavor, spiciness, and soft chewy goodness.  I think from now on I'll make cupcakes and cookies, that should be a nice balance.  Might I dare even say these may be my new favorite cookie ;)  Ah who am I kidding, I'm a shortbread girl all the way lol!

 

 

Over the next few days I will be making some of my favorite cookies, so my posts will be shorter and random while recreating tried and true recipes.  I'll even be making a must have snack for Nathan ;)

I forgot to mention Nathan is coming to Canada this weekend!!!!!!!!!!  Can you tell I'm excited lol, I cannot wait to see him and be in his arms.  We have a jam packed couple of days, typical dinner/lunch with the grandparents.  Then on Sunday I am being baptized :) and I am very excited for all the important people in my life to be sharing that day with me, after we will all be heading out to one of my favorite restaurants, The Bungalow.  Ooooohhhh I am going to do a foodie review =)  Then we're hoping to spend some time with my mom and her husband before we jet off Monday back to my home in Texas!  I am a happy girl right now and nothing will take that away from me ;)  Until next time....

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo

The Savory Scientist

Hello Sweets,

It's the end of the weekend, which means back to the grind tomorrow for all of you.  And me?  Well I'm off to the doctors because this cold has me in a stronghold, and I am over the fun fact of sounding like a jazz singer :(  I think four days of this is quite enough for me, so hopefully my doctor can take a look and make sure it's not strep throat or something else.

As I told you all yesterday, I'm working with Dave over at Impact's Views, to create a Canuckette Creations logo, and I wanted to show you guys the very rough sketch (he literally did this in 1 minute, his skill supersedes this) and the progress pic.  Now this is a one time sneak peek at the logo until it is completely finished, but I am just so excited about it, I had to share!

I make a pretty hot cartoon character lol

Left was the brainstorming sketch.  Right is a progress picture

See why I am so excited?  I wish I had even a sliver of his artistic talent, but I guess my creativity is best in the kitchen.  We all have a talent somewhere right?  While we were brainstorming what I wanted my logo to look like, Dave suggested something that I should give a try; savory cupcakes!  I wasn't sure what that would entail, so I have been researching since last night for ideas, and I have some pretty yummy contenders.  I bet you are all dying to know what I'm going to make, but that would ruin the surprise when I post it.  I will give you one hint.....bacon, that is all you get lol.

Needless to say, that one small suggestion from Dave sent my brain into scientist mode.  What different flavors can I bring together?  What unusual combinations can be brought to life?  What would someone never expect to see in the form of a dessert?  Right now my brain feels like a kid in a candy store, thinking of all different flavors, smells, tastes, pretty much anything and everything is flashing in that giant brain of mine.  If you guys have any suggestions, I would love to hear from you, clearly I am in creative kitchen mode and am really trying to think outside of the box.  

Now you're going to read tomorrows post and be all "Canuckette, I thought you were thinking outside of the box?", because tomorrow I am making tuna salad.  But I am going to do the tuna salad a little differently than I normally do.  I want a hearty and crunchy mix to it (don't ask me why lol because I don't know), so it may not seem so out of the box but it will be different than just a plain old tuna sandwich :)

I am also excited to announce that next month I will have my first guest blogger!  Dave, from Impact's Views, is going to make me some of his homemade gingerbread when I am in Texas next month for the holidays :)  He will show me this yummy recipe and write a little blurb to be included too, this will be my first guest blogger experience but I am sure it will be a great experience too!  Now I will be baking some of my savory treats that same day (or weekend), and will be sure to include the recipes in a post as well.  Since it is that time of the year, Christmas time, that means I am getting all my Christmas goody recipes together, and I am also looking for some new ones too.  So be prepared to be inundated with all your favorite treats.  Your taste buds are going to go into overdrive!  What are your favorite holiday treats?  Do you have a family member that makes something phenomenal each year?  My grandmother used to make a Christmas pudding with a brandy sauce, SO GOOD!!!  But sadly she has had to slow down a little with that.  I think I am going to surprise her this year and make it for her because I know she loves it just as much as the rest of us ;)

Well sweets, I am going to enjoy some hot green tea to soothe my throat and enjoy some zombies!

Yes, I watch The Walking Dead, I didn't think I would enjoy it, but Nathan has got me hooked (he always steers me towards great TV shows).  Please, as always, let me know what you guys think of the blog, or send me suggestions for recipes :)  I always love hearing from you guys :)  Until next time.............

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo

Coo Coo for Coconut!

Hello Sweets!

I hope everyone got through their manic Monday without a scrape :)  I got some wonderful news today, my grandfather who is from Malta (small country off the coast of Sicily, off the coast of Italy), told me that my grandmother has requested that he makes some of his famous pastizzis.  For those you who aren't aware of what they are, they are a savory appetizer type pastry filled with either ricotta cheese or meat with peas, and I LOVE them!!!  Now not only is he going to make them from scratch (dough included), but he is going to teach me how to also :D EEEKKK, which also means my grandfather is going to make his blog debut (he won't know what that is which makes it even cuter).

So as I told you all yesterday I had this fresh coconut and didn't know what to do with it, but alas my lovely roomie Tereza suggested that I make some yummy macaroons :)  This was my first attempt at them and I can confidently say that it was yet another success, I wasn't all to worried about them but with every new recipe you try there is that little voice that tells you to watch them diligently just in case, and this was no different.  Now let me tell you one thing about my crazy little coconut, shaving the meat off is no easy task, it probably took me about an hour and a half, but as we enjoy our little tastes of heaven macaroons it was well worth the effort.  Now lets get to the yummy recipe why don't we :)

Fresh Coconut Macaroons (via All Recipe)

Ingredients

1 1/2C fresh coconut

1/3C soft brown sugar

2Tbs whole wheat flour

1 pinch salt

2 egg whites

1/2Tsp vanilla

Directions:

1)  Mix the freshly grated coconut, sugar, flour, and salt.

2)  Mix the egg whites with the vanilla (no need to beat), then add to mix.

3)  Drop heaped teaspoons of the mix onto a non stick pan.  Bake at 325F for 22-24 minutes or until lightly browned.

Makes 9-12 macaroons, and don't forget to enjoy these yummy delights :)

Now for those of you who don't know how I got into the blogging world, it was the lovely Miss Sarah over at My (mostly) Healthy Life.  She blogs about fitness, health, paleo food, and fashion among other things.  She does these fun giveaways for different things, I won some yummy allergen free mixes recently from her and the lovies at Allergic Solutions, and now she has partnered up with Push Pump Progress to do a Frosty Fitness Challenge.  For the next five weeks there will be a different goal each week, with fabulous prizes for the winners and some other achievement acknowledgements.  This weeks goal is to run (or walk in my case) as close to 20kms as possible, now the important thing is to have proof pictures so they can see your progress and I am going to share my progress with all of you.  Now I have to listen to my body, which is why there are three pictures of distances, but none the less I am going to give it a try :)

I'm proud of my 2.63 miles

I encourage all of you to join in on the challenge, it's always easier to do a challenge with friends :)  Until next time.........

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxoxo

Canuckette's crazy bake off!!!

Hello Sweets,

Oh man oh man am I baking exhausted, lol.  After a double batch of my original pecan pie muffins, one batch of the new pecan pie muffins, and one batch of pecan dream (originally walnut, but my love likes pecans more), even an avid baker like myself can find that quite exhausting.  Let me paint you a little bit of a more fun picture of what I was doing.  Imagine if you would: me spinning around like a tornado from station to station, and to the oven for about 3 hours straight, lol, funny eh (see what I did there :p)?  The only downside was that during the prep of the pecan dreams, I forgot to take some of the in between photos :( bad bad Jennifer!

So the reason I tried a new pecan pie muffin recipe was because my go to recipe only had 5 ingredients, and this new one has much more, and a different approach all together.  Sometimes it's fun to try new recipes, whether they are just a different variation of one of your favorite recipes, or a completely new recipe, like the second one I will be sharing with you guys tonight; passed down to me via my auntie Peggy (shout out), whom it was given to by my grandma Oburni for Pecan Dreams :)

I know it seems a little crazy baking three different things in the same evening, but I am a little crazy, for anyone who knows me, knows it's true.  I'm pretty sure trying a new pecan pie muffin recipe when I already have a phenomenal one is a little crazy, but alas, I am venturing down this crazy road, won't you join me?

Pecan Pie Muffins (via Southern Living)

Ingredients

1C firmly packed light brown sugar

1C pecans, chopped

1/2C all-purpose flour

1/2Tsp baking powder

1/4Tsp salt

1/2C butter, melted

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1Tsp vanilla extract

vegetable cooking spray

1/2C pecans, finely chopped

Directions:

1)  Preheat oven to 425F.  Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of the mixture.  

2)  Stir together butter and next 2 ingredients; add to brown sugar mixture, and stir just until moistened.

3)  Coat 2 (12 cup) miniature muffin pans (I used a regular one and yielded 18) well with cooking spray.  Place 1Tsp of the finely chopped pecans in each muffin cup; spoon batter over pecans, filling almost to top.  Place muffin pans on an aluminum foil-lined jelly roll pan.

4)  Bake at 425F for 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool for 2 minutes.  Run a knife around edge of each cup to loosen muffins (I didn't need to do this as I used an ample amount of cooking spray), and remove from pans. 

They look, smell, and taste delicious of course, lol, I did make them after all!  But alas, during my tornado baking spree I don't have a final pic, but later in this post there will be a group shot of all the goodies!

So this next recipe was sent to me from my auntie Peggy, she is probably one of my biggest supporters of my blog, and was very excited to try it, since it was passed down through the family.  :)  Now as I said earlier, it did call for walnuts, but here in Texas, pecans are the way to go, so that is my only adjustment since they have the same texture and structure.  On to the dream!

Pecan Dreams (via my auntie)

Ingredients:

2Tbs butter

5Tbs all-purpose flour

1/8Tsp baking soda

1C pecans, coarsely chopped

2 eggs

3/4Tsp vanilla extract

1/4Tsp lemon extract

1C brown sugar, packed

forgot the eggs lol lame

Directions:

1)  Melt butter in an 8" square pan.

2)  Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together; stir in walnuts.

3)  Beat eggs and extracts; add brown sugar gradually, blend until thick.  Blend in dry ingredients.

4)  Turn into pan over the melted butter, do not stir.

finally a picture! pre oven

5)  Bake at 350F for 30 minutes, when finished a toothpick placed in the center will come out clean.

Yummy cookie like treats....I mean dreams :p

6)  Loosen around the edges immediately after cooking.  Then cut and enjoy!

mmmmm yummers!!

Ahh so yes this was a lot of work, and my shoulders and neck are currently in protest, but it's the one thing that can pick up my mood when having a bad day, so I trucked on through, and I even got a shoulder massage after from my man :)

Don't forget you can find the original pecan pie muffin recipe here!

Above is my conquest in the kitchen tonight, not a bad haul :)  I think I will be the favorite "foodie" at NASCAR race weekend starting tomorrow.  So please bare with me if my posts are spaced a little further apart as I will not be at my computer for large portions of the day, but I'll try to do some recap posts on what we did, ate, and saw.  I'll even snap a few pictures of our tailgating crew.  They are all super nice and friendly...actually pretty much all NASCAR attendees are.  I hope you enjoy the recipes I provided tonight. Let me know what you think of them.  Also, I would love to hear some of your family recipes that have been passed down, because they are to savory to pass up :)  Until then......

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo