TWD Savory Corn and Pepper Muffins

Now, I baked these fabulous muffins on Monday but then a few things got in my way of posting...

1. I was too tired on Monday...
   
2. I fell not once but twice while I was out on Monday and it just hurt too much to sit.
3. I picked up the mail and found my new Stampin' Up! Catalogue waiting for me (how could I not sit down with that?)
4. There was packing snow so it was an absolute necessity to make a snowman with Sean...

So, without further adieu...here is my post for Savory Corn and Pepper Muffins. Thank you to Rebecca of Ezra Pound Cake for choosing Savory Corn and Pepper Muffins on page 6. I don't know why but I loved the colours of the dry ingredients...ohhh, and I used HOT chili powder so they were all for my DH!


Aren't they lovely? I have made the other corn muffins by in Dorie's Baking book and we thoroughly enjoyed the real corn in them...
Fabulous! And I do apologize to the TWD Goddesses...I really do love you!

Enjoy!
Heather

Give a plate, get a plate...

My girlfriend told me about a plate that she had picked up at Hallmark to share with a couple of her colleagues and well, I couldn't help myself...I just HAD to have one...so, I went to Hallmark and bought the last one they had...
I loaded it up with goodies and packaged it all up nicely (sorry forgot to take photos of my fine wrapping job!)

Meanwhile I have had my eye on this plate for sometime...it has been calling me from the window of a local florist. So, I bought it for Amy for Christmas (any excuse right?)

Well, it would seem that sometimes they do listen because my husband (not knowing that I had bought the plate for Amy) bought one for me for Christmas. In the last week, this plate has met Dorie's Sticky Buns, Hot Appetizers on New Year's Eve and a whole lot of love!!!

Sweet!

Enjoy!
Heather

Who doesn't love snail mail???

Every year I hand make and send out 60+ Christmas Cards and I can honestly say I don't get anywhere near that back but I don't do it for returns I do it for love...but when the chance to do a card exchange came up with our Tuesday's with Dorie group I was ALL OVER THAT!!!

It quickly escalated into more than just a card exchange and goodies have been sent to Dorie lovers everywhere!!! I was so excited to receive my parcel on New Year's Eve Day...and so was Simon!!! Look at him loving this little Gingerbread Man!!! The next one will have to run faster!!!Here are all of the goodies I received (along with a beautiful card) from Kayte of Grandma’s Kitchen Table. I am especially excited about the sieve that she sent...can you believe she took the time to read my blog and see that I don't have a cool little handy tool like that??? WOW!

Thank you Kayte!!!
Wondering what I sent? Well, since I bought this cool candy thermometer to make marshmallows...I have been looking for other ways to use it so...
I made more English Toffee (yummy)!! I found this recipe somewhere in my blog surfing and have made it several times now but I can't seem to find the original source (shame on me!)

Anyway, I packaged up the toffee along with some other homemade goodies and a Christmas Card and sent them off to another hard working Dorie lover...she should be receiving this any day now...I hope it all arrives in good order!
It was great fun to do the exchange...I hope that everyone had fun!

Enjoy!
Heather

Tuesday with the Habgoods

Well, Donna of Spatulas, Corkscrews & Suitcases chose Real Butterscotch Pudding and while that does sound fabulous we are down to crunch time on the Christmas Countdown and the kids and I had some things to finish...

So, we got out the mini ice cream cones, some chocolate and sprinkles and started eating, I mean decorating...
Now, I have to say aren't they charming??? They loved today's activity (one of a few, we also made rice krispy squares and did lots of colouring!) Here they are showing off...

And here is our forest with Sarah's Sugar Cookie Tree that we made last week (Sean's has been consumed already) this one will be travelling to an undisclosed location in a few days!
If you have time...you should make a holiday forest! It was great fun to watch the kids get covered...eerrrr, cover the cones in chocolate!!!

Enjoy!
Heather

TWD Buttery Jam Cookies

I would like to thank Heather of Randomosity and the Girl for chosing Buttery Jam Cookies on page 80. It was nice to have nut free treats for a change! Don't get me wrong, I am a nutty girl but I do need a selection of nut-free goodies for the holidays.

I didn't get to take any photos while I was making them but here are a few of them ready to go be enjoyed as I deliver them along with a poinsettia and a Christmas Card to an elderly couple that are no longer able to attend our church.

Next week's recipe is Real Butterscotch Pudding as chosen by Donna of Spatulas, Corkscrews & Suitcases. Not sure if I will have time with the holidays so quickly approaching but we shall see!

Enjoy!
Heather

TWD Grandma's All-Occaision Sugar Cookies

Well, I am quite pleased with myself in that I have managed to complete this one on time in full! Things have been so crazy lately that I have been slacking a bit and when I do create a Dorie recipe it's not necessarily the recipe of the week.

I would like to thank Ulrike of Küchenlatein for chosing Grandma’s All-Occasion Sugar Cookies on pages 146-147. These were the perfect excuse to get my Christmas Trees made and to spend some time with my kids!!!

So, here I am getting everything organized for them...well, here is all the stuff organized at least!

Now here is Sean hard at work...just look at that icing. Wouldn't Grandma be proud?

And here is Sarah...they each chose their colour...
Here is Sarah with her completed tree...we will fill the tray with cookies when it's time to host some events...
Sean's tree is dedicated to a Christmas Party we will be attending next weekend...he is very much looking forward to consuming it!

I am really looking forward to next week's choice made by Heather of Randomosity and the Girls she chose Buttery Jam Cookies on page 80.

Enjoy!
Heather

TWD Linzer Sables

So, it would seem that it is Wednesday but for all of you staunch TWD'ers out there...I did have these done yesterday...I swear! Somewhere under the laundry and dishes of being a stay at home mom with a 5 month old, 4 year old and a 6 year old...I have been overwhelmed the last month! So, there have been a LOT of rewinds that were not part of the game but fun none-the-less! In fact, I have to admit to just finishing the twofer pie but never taking any pictures. The family LOVED it though!!!

Here they are...my little babies. These were quite simple to make and very enjoyable, I would like to thank Noskos of Living the Life for choosing this recipe! Although, I do not understand Dorie's fascination with refridgeration. I found that an hour in the freezer made this dough hard to handle...or maybe just too cold to hold!


Now, since it says to put the powered sugar on just before serving I did it at 6am so my DH could take them to work...sadly I couldn't find my sifter and really wasn't going to bend my mind looking for it...so my sugar is a little clumpy.I was sad to pack them up without actually trying one but lucky me my DH had one left over at the end of the day...and it was fabulous!!!
Well, baby is calling!

Enjoy!
Heather

Happy, Happy Birthday My Love!

It seems to me that I can turn almost any occaision into a Dorie occaision...we celebrated my husband's birthday with yet another TWD Rewind. Here we have Gooey Chocolate Cake with raspberry sauce...yummy!!!

It was totally fab but who would have thought that molten lava cake would actually melt a candle???? Oops! Don't eat that piece of cake honey!!! I believe this recipe was chosen back in July shortly after Simon was born and all I have to say is thank you! This simple cake was lovely!!!

We actually celebrated my husband's birthday a few weeks ago with this cake however, how can you not celebrate on the actual day of too? So, the kids and I set to work after school. We got presents in order, they made crowns for all of us and we had ourselves a partea!!!


Aren't they all stunning? Here is Martin with Simon (I know, he doesn't get enough airtime so here he is with his very own crown!!

When we were out buying supplies and gifts we stopped into the florists here in town and they gave us these lovely roses! Thank you to Willy's Flowers in Beamsville!


Willy's would also be where Sean chose this gift for Martin...can't quite explain it but this was THE gift!

Sarah on the other hand was quite intent on giving Martin an ornament (poor guy is going to be Christmas'd out in no time!) Anyway, I figured we should create him an ornament from one of his favourite shops in town...Home Hardware of course!!! So, we scoured the aisles looking for just the right bits...

Not only did Martin get this lovely wreath that Sarah made but he also got all of the leftover bits to add to his toolbox. A win, win if you ask me!!!

Here is Martin's turtle signing out...

Enjoy!
Heather

TWD Rewind - Mmmmarshmallows

Well, I joined TWD after they did the Marshmallows and I have to tell you...it was one of the recipes that inspired me to join the group!!! I mean who doesn't LOVE marshmallows???

So, when Creative Bug was asked to host a Winter Themed Birthday Party for 6 year old Bryar (you saw her picture on Sunday), I thought...what better thing to make than marshmallows???

So here are some very cornstarchy girls...



After we finished tossing the marshmallows we put them into bags and boxed them up with hot chocolate and chocolate covered spoons...
Yummy! I forgot to mention...the first batch I made of these I made a small error...well, maybe a big error...instead of using 2 packets of 1/4 ounces of gelatin, I put in 2 1/4 ounces of gelatin...I do not recommend trying them that way!!! My husband suggested they were much like India Rubber!!!

Enjoy!
Heather

TWD Rewind - Chocolate Chocolate Cupcakes

I feel like my blog note about Simon's Baptism was a little weak on Sunday so I just wanted to add another photo...it was a wonderful service. One of the great parts was that Sarah & Sean were invited to help out during various parts. Here you can see Sarah, Sean and Monique (Simon's Godparents' daughter) pouring the water for the baptism.

The kids all really enjoyed being involved...
Now, here is a better shot of the actual cupcakes I made for the baptism. Martin's colleagues should be enjoying them today...the chocolate ones are the Chocolate Chocolate Cupcakes from TWD a few weeks ago. I would have to agree with many of the posts that I read...they are a bit dry. I baked them for less than the suggested time and still found them on the dry side.
Be sure to check out the other TWD'ers who made Isabelle of Les gourmandises d’Isa's selection of Arborio Rice Pudding, White, Black (Or Both) on pages 412 and 413. Maybe I can get next week's selection of Thanksgiving Twofer Pie* made but we'll have to wait and see as things are looking pretty crazy over the next week! I will definitely have a rewind for you again next week though!

Enjoy!
Heather

TWD Kugelhopf

Well, I debated participating in this week's selection because it had mixed reviews and it seemed a little time-consuming but then again...with the agony I am in due to poison ivy a little distraction is always appreciated!!!

So here I am with Yolanda's choice of Kugelhopf it can be found on pages 61-63. Just look at all that ooey gooey butter!!!

Now, I let mine rise while I was out at the doctor's yesterday...Sarah has strep, Simon is good (just a cold) and my poison ivy is the worst case they had ever seen...so, we got home at about 5pm and I was meant to be leaving the house again around 6:30pm....hmmmm....

So, I baked the bread/cake anyway and didn't read the part about putting the butter and sugar on it while it was still hot out of the oven. Ooops! I just did that this morning since I couldn't sleep anyway...the latest prescription I am on I am supposed to take with food so I figure a couple of pieces of kugelhopf couldn't hurt...

Then I put the rest in a container for my husband to take to work with him...now that I have been up for well over an hour...the burning/itching agonizing pain seems to be subsiding thanks to the benedryl. I am looking forward to picking up the latest cream that has been prescribed this morning at the pharmacy to see if this one actually works...

So, I am going get my itchy self out of here and I am looking forward to making next week's arborio rice pudding as selected by Isabelle of Les gourmandises d’Isa.

I hope my husband's colleagues enjoy the bread because it is going, going, going...

Enjoy!
Heather

TWD Rugelach

Alright so I took my first week off since Simon was born...it has been a bit overwhelming keeping up with all my Tuesday with Dorie friends and trying to work from home with the kiddies underfoot! I also wanted to make sure that my blog was not so heavily weighted with lovely Dorie treats!!!

This week's treat is brought to us Piggy of Piggy’s Cooking Journal she chose Rugelach (any guesses on how to pronounce that???

There was a lot of excitement around this recipe...first you make the dough...then let it rest over night (or 4 nights in my case!) Then you roll it, put in the filling (destroy the dough with marmelaide that is too hot, oops!), press the filling down (I kind of liked that part). Cut and roll then put it back in the fridge for 30mins (uuuhhhh, when are the cookies going to be ready?) Go to school, do errands, come home with screaming baby...brush egg and water mixture on them and throw them in the oven...FINALLY! Then we are late to pick up Sean because the cookies were still baking!!! AcK!

So here they are...they don't look as beautiful as Dorie's but what can I say...I got them done!

Now here are my little buttery friends all packed up and ready to go to work with DH. His colleagues have been asking when the next batch of treats are coming (I think they should start a slush fund to pay for my cooking adventures they get to enjoy!)


Goodbye and good luck my little friends...my waistline will appreciate this departure!
Be sure to join us next week when we continue our adventures on TWD with Yolanda, The All-Purpose Girl who selected Kugelhopf.

Enjoy!
Heather

TWD Pumpkin Muffins

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection was made by Kelly of Sounding My Barbaric Gulp. She chose Pumpkin Muffins on page 13.

This was a lovely recipe and at just the right time of year too. Sarah and Sean just loved putting the Pumpkin Seeds on the Muffins (I couldn't find raw sunflower seeds so we went with raw pumpkin seeds instead!)

Muuuum! Do you have to take my picture AGAIN??? My kids have been helping me out with quite a few of Dorie's recipes. Since they have gone back to school I miss my time with them and this is one of the things we do when we are together...this and crafts of course!

A little happier now...
And Sarah enjoying her muffin...
The kids made sure that I didn't give these ones away as I have been working on losing the baby fat, a lot of our Dorie treats have been shipped of to DH's work. I am hoping to get him a promotion with all the treats! He always saves some for the boss... ;)

Don't forget to join us next week when we make Chocolate-Chocolate Cupcakes* on pages 215-217 as chosen by Clara of I Heart Food4Thought! Yummy!

Enjoy!
Heather

TWD Lennox Almond Biscotti

It always seems to escape me to take photos before I put my treats in the oven! Honestly...sometimes I feel like there isn't a lot left now that I have 3 kids!!! Ah well, this week's delight is Lenox Almond Biscotti on page 141-143 as chosen by Gretchen of Canela & Comino.My what big loaves you have Mummy! They are a little lumpy and uneven...this has been put on the request for a repeat list so I will have to try to make them a little more even next time!

I sliced my loaves, and lined them up like soldiers for baking and let me tell you...biscotti is a treat for all ages. I have to admit...I have packed it all up save 2 peices for the kids to avoid eating it myself. They will be off to the office with my husband first thing tomorrow morning. What a delightful surprise his colleagues will be having with their coffee tomorrow!

It was Thanksgiving today and the best thing about it (as with most long weekends) we got a bunch of things off of our to do lists but spent some time together as a family as well...here we are at the Ball's Falls Festival. This is the first photo of the 5 of us together! Hooray! I made Martin ask an innocent bystander to take this photo so we could finally have one of all of us...

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving to my all my Canadian readers!
Heather