The Happy Baker Give-away Recipe #1

So while flipping through my new Happy Baker Cookbook...this recipe caught my eye Choca-Mocha Squares. This no-bake recipe had ingredients I have on hand...or so I thought. But when looking for graham crackers, I had none...no problem, I use Oreo Crumbs...oh but there aren't enough...SO...sub in some Animal Crackers (gosh you'd think I'm Old Mother Hubbard!)Now due to our 2 lactose intolerant children I had to sub-in margarine (the right kind) for the boys is vegan or lactose-free.
And my mixed up ingredients made this decadent looking (I don't know...) base? Yum! It was warm and sweet and just plain yummy! I could have eaten this by the spoonful alone.
But wait...there's more! Icing! I was a little sad about the colour...I wish I had darker cocoa powder. I use Fry's...any suggestions for a nicer, darker chocolate?
This is on page 60-61 of my new cookbook! You can win this cookbook! See here for contest details.

Enjoy!

Heather

The Happy Baker - Cookbook Giveaway!!!!

You know...when I entered the Redpath contest, I entered to win. And I fought hard and managed to hold my own thanks to all of you and some of your friends. I wanted to thank you all for being so supportive. You have no idea how much it means to me. To know you are all there (even if some of you mostly just lurk...I lurk quite a bit too, I understand.)

But I met someone on the Redpath Page, someone who I quite frankly expected to be the big winner of the Redpath contest. But she wasn't...I bet her recipe is awesome though...'cause well, she seems pretty cool. I recently got a package from her (I ordered it...and you can too!)

I was pretty freaking ecstatic coming home with my package...I almost ripped it open at the post office but I managed to contain myself.

There's a little treat inside both the books I got...I got 2 books. Yep...one for me and one for one of you...you heard me! And because she is just starting out she couldn't just give me the books so she autographed them as a treat!

She dedicated her book to her Mom...nice eh? I might have to do the same if I ever published a book...but, I don't see that in the cards for me so I will live vicariously through Erin for now!

The book has 4 delicious, I mean absolutely scrumptious chapters! And along with her wonderful sounding recipes are stories about love and love lost...it's fun to read...I just took a break from reality and read a bunch of them...I am dying to know what happens next but I am distracted by the recipes (trying to choose one to try you know!)
So, if you see a recipe there that you think I should try, let me know...and I just might! Over the next week, I will be trying out these recipes and giving you all time to enter to win, 1 autographed copy of Erin Bolger's book.

So, here's how you can win...

1. Leave a comment here and tell me what recipe you think I should try (maybe if you're local you'll get to try it too!)...I will make it a little easier and open up my comment restrictions for you.

2. Join Creative Bug's Facebook Page (if you haven't already) and let me know that you are a fan here by leaving a comment on this post.

3. Join The Happy Baker's Facebook Page (if you haven't already) and let me know that you are a fan here by leaving a comment on this post. -Let's give Erin some good Canadian Love (did I mention she's Canadian and her book is SELF published - my hero!)

Thank you Erin for letting us do this...I can't wait to try out some of the recipes in the book...I've got my eye on one I'd like to do today...does it seem like too much to bake 4 days running?

Tell all your friends! Contest closes Thursday September 16th at midnight. Good luck!!!

Enjoy!

Heather

PS. You must be over 18 years old to enter...

PSS. Go buy the book for all your friends at Chapters!

Upcycling and t-shirt dresses...

There is this artist/designer...she is fantastic! I have been watching her creations come out for sometime now...her company is called lil blue boo. Not only does she sell these fabulous dresses but she has a few patterns as well including the hoodie I made a while back! (which I see now are no photos of it on my blog...soon, I promise!) There are other patterns as well you should definitely check her out! I almost forgot to give credit to my friend at Stacy's Creations Photography for this first photo!Anyway, I love the idea and the fact that I can make Sarah a custom, inexpensive wardrobe by using old t-shirts and other scraps of knit fabrics (I got both the hounds tooth and blue striped fabric for $2/m!!! Crazy eh?)
I tested out a ruffling technique for all of my hemming I found here. It was easy but a little time consuming when it came to the bottom hem of the dress!
I used the hood part of my hoodie pattern...I promise, I will show it to you soon! But the rest was all mine.

I am particularly proud of the cap sleeve overlay on the long sleeves...it was a vision I had to try!I had a lot of fun making this dress...what made it particularly special is that Sarah helped me design it...she helped pick fabrics and choose where they went...I hope she loves it and wears it now!

Enjoy!

Heather