Shamrock Shakes with Gram

When I was little, I would visit my Grandmother for sleepovers. My Gram lived in a smaller city, where I didn't have any friends, and I was too little to venture out on my own, so there wasn't a whole lot to do. It was boring and I told her that all the time. So much so that Gram bought me a Garfield button that said 'Boring', and Gram set the rule that I could wear it but I couldn't say it anymore. Fair enough.
Somehow, through all the bordom, my grandmother was creative enough to still give me some very fond memories of our visits. One is watching the Young and the Restless. I believe I was 9 when I started paying attention to that and almost 30 years later, I still watch the show. Victor hasn't aged much and I think the timeline has only really advanced 5 years. Another memory would be the reliable trip to McDonalds. She had my order memorized: chicken mcnuggets, sweet and sour sauce, fries, and that orange drink. The orange drink was good and would be a fine beverage UNLESS we were lucky enough to be there for Shamrock Shake season! There was no better treat than going to McDonalds with my Gram for the minty smooth, super thick, cheek hurtin', brain freezin' milkshake! Gram and I would sit at our table forever, chatting and sipping on our shakes. It was wonderful.
They don't seem to bring the Shamrock Shake around much anymore, but this year they did (I was so excited!). Yesterday, I had to introduce it to my kids and share the stories of my visits with Gram. It was nice to carry on her tradition with them. Gram passed away before they were old enough to really remember her, which is too bad because she was a fabulous lady.

In honour of my Gram and the memories of the Shamrock Shake, I made the Shamrock Cupcake:

Shamrock Cupcakes

Chocolate cake, with a minty green buttercream icing, topped with a peppermint patty.  

Yum!

Music for Children by Children

I love music! Nothing can mark time, place, and memories like it can. Not only is it the cheapest therapy I have ever known, but who can resist belting out a good tune while alone in your car to shake the bad mood you might be in. I'm not known as a good singer, I don't even sing 'Happy Birthday' out loud. I will begin with a 'Haaaa' when suddenly everybody else in the rooms starts in, and I stop, undetected. However, in the car, I sing like I wrote the song. With my invisible cow bell up on the dashboard, and the funky choreography I create in the driver's seat, I might as well plan for my upcoming tour.
I've noticed a trend with my music purchases lately, which I am slightly embarrassed about - the artists have all been teenagers. I am hoping that the only reason I have become a fan of these kids, is because I hear them all the time from the TV channel my daughter watches. However, having typed that last sentence, I am aware that hearing it does not mean I have to like it.
I was not all that big on Justin Bieber, he had a cute song here and there, plus he is a local boy, so I felt obligated to like him a little. My daughter wanted to see his movie, so I took her hoping to make a good memory for her. The number of screaming little girls in that theater was no surprise to me, I expected that. Tearing up watching Justin Bieber's family talk about him, was not planned. Listening to his story made me so proud of him. I caught the 'Bieber fever' that night, even bought a couple CD's for my daughter to sing to in her room. I have no idea how they go missing only to be found in the CD player of my car. Really.
Another youngster that I have downloaded recently is Emily Osment. You might know her as Hannah Montana's friend, Lilly. Her character on the show, annoying. Her new song called 'Lovesick', great. It will be used in a workout somewhere soon, though I am sure somebody must have already picked up on this. Great 80's feel. If you get the chance, watch the video.
Tomorrow morning as we scramble into the car for school and work, I know a couple kids that will think their mom is kinda cool when the newly downloaded song comes on the speakers. Then once they get out of the car, I will turn the music up a little and preform my own version of the song on my way to work. I'll know every word and have my dance routine memorized by the end of the day.

Happy Valentines Day!

My daughter and I thought it would be fun to bake sugar cookies and decorate them for Valentine's Day. Though I type with completely pink dyed hands, and am currently soaking the counter tops in cleaner so the pink spots go away, I have to admit it was fun to do.

The sugar cookies turned out beautifully! The recipe I used was simple:

Sugar Cookies:
3/4 cup salted butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour

Cream butter and sugar in mixer. Add salt, vanilla and egg. Mix in flour. Chill the dough in the fridge while you clean up, they are easier to cut and less sticky. Preheat oven at 325c. Lightly flour area that you will be rolling the dough on, flour the rolling pin too.

I like to roll out sugar cookies on parchment paper. This way I use less flour, and they are easier to lift off their surface without distorting the shape. Roll dough out to be about 1/4 inch. I will put the baking sheet back in the fridge for about 10 minutes so they go right into the oven cold. Bake for 12 - 14 minutes. You don't want these cookies to brown, just very slightly on the bottom.

Next, prepare the icing. I found a great recipe at Bake at 350 (she does great cookies!)http://bakeat350.blogspot.com/2010/01/royal-icing-102-or-201-or-whatever.html
Be very careful with the amount of water you use - at one point I had it a little thick, then too thin. Add very small amounts to adjust your icing!

I brought any valentine like sprinkle I had out of the cupboard and put the icing into decorating bottles.

And the fun began. We tried all sorts of different things to see what we liked the best. Some helpful tips: use toothpicks to spread icing around or pop air bubbles, shake the cookie back and forth (keeping it flat on the surface) to spread the icing evenly over the cookie, always draw your border first, and most important.....always do this with someone you like to talk to.

In the end, there was pink everywhere but we had a fun afternoon chatting about school, Justin Beiber, and iPhones. Plus, we had some fabulous looking cookies to share!

Hot Cocoa with Cinnamon

It is COLD out there! So cold that I will not be going out at lunch, walking the dog, or getting into a car that has not warmed up for at least ten minutes. So cold that just thinking about it is making my hands and feet freeze. Where's my sweater? Could someone turn the heat up? 

One thing I love on days like today, is a cup of hot cocoa with cinnamon. I could put cinnamon in all my hot beverages. Did you know that consuming cinnamon generates warmth in the system and is useful for people who have cold feet and  hands? I think I need some.


Here is a quick recipe: 

Cocoa with Cinnamon

1 tablespoon of cocoa powder

1 - 2 tablespoons of sugar (depending on desired sweetness)

1 cup and 1 tablespoon cold milk

1 cinnamon stick

In a mug, mix cocoa powder with sugar, and about 1 tbsp of cold milk until it is like a paste. Set aside. In a saucepan, pour in remainder of the milk and add the cinnamon stick then bring to a boil (or until hot for those that have kids). Pour into mug and mix well. Top with whip cream and a sprinkle of shaved chocolate on top. 


* My kids love to stir it with a candy cane if we have some. Tastes great!

Quotes

I love quotes. I keep a few posted up at my desk for those days I need a little reminder about what life is all about. One of my all time favourite is a quote from Randy Pausch, a college professor who chronicled his battle with pancreatic cancer. He prepared a 'Last Lecture' which he gave to friends and colleagues, it was filmed and went viral, and eventually was made into a book. I saw him on 20/20 in 2008, and though I had no idea who he was, I couldn't look away from the TV screen.  I am pretty sure I cried watching that show, and I am not known to be much of a 'crier'. His quote: “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” These words have helped me make the best of some very hard times.

So, in honour of the 'quote' I have found a few fun ones regarding desserts. Enjoy!

I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert. ~Jason Love

Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos. ~Don Kardong

Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone. ~Jim Fiebig

Cookies are made of butter and love. ~Norwegian Proverb

Ice cream is happiness condensed. ~Jessi Lane Adams

Man cannot live on chocolate alone, but woman sure can. ~Author Unknown

Never trust a skinny ice cream man. ~Ben Cohen

I'd give up chocolate, but I'm no quitter! ~Author Unknown

Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate. ~Author Unknown

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt! ~Charles Schulz

Oh baby!

A lady in my office had ordered a dozen cupcakes for her daughter-in-laws birthday. A day before the cupcake delivery, she had found out that she was going to be a grandma, so she asked if I could make one baby cupcake for the baby. This is what I came up with:

It was so fun to do! The soother was made with a button punch out and the rest was free hand. My favourite thing on this cupcake is the cute little ears. This little baby is almost too sweet to eat!

Pink Lemonade

These ones are so good! I LOVE the fresh taste of lemon cake and to top it off, I iced with a raspberry buttercream. I don't usually eat what I bake, maybe a taste to make sure it's up to par, but not an actual serving. I ate two of these! It was nice to make these summer like cupcakes in the middle of another snow blast.

Cake Therapy

I haven't baked for a little while and I can feel the need to do so sneaking up on me. For me, it is all about the presentation. The oooo's and awww's and the smile on their faces. Baked goods, mainly cakes and cupcakes, are all about the celebration. I can find a reason to celebrate anything - the first Monday of the month, the new paint colour in the living room, not having laundry to do, and so on. Life should be celebrated - not just the big things - the everyday little things too.

I am a bit of a perfectionist when I decorate - but I am so proud of myself when it all works out. Here is an Elmo cake for a first birthday that turned out beautifully! I traced out the parts of Elmo separately then pieced them together, like a puzzle.

 I find it to be incredibly peaceful when I decorate a cake. It seems to be a good time to be alone with my thoughts, sort things out, even have a 'light bulb' moment now and then. I can spend hours decorating and thinking.

There are a few things on my mind lately, and perhaps that is part of my attraction to baking. I didn't see that before writing this entry. It's therapeutic..... and so yummy!

The Snowcial Network

With all the tweets, facebook status updates, and e-mails about this snowstorm, we have become the 'Snowcial Network'. It was extremely windy last night - even woke us up with the noise. The wind however, blew all the snow off of the cars so there was nothing to clean off this morning. Nice!

I did get a snow day after all. All schools are closed, but not the office. This gives me a slight feeling of guilt for not being there. If I was sick and felt horrible, laying in bed with a fever, I would not feel guilty, but because I feel fine and could actually drive today - there is guilt. I will try to get over it.

Today, I have decided, will be productive. I will clean and organize the basement like a crazy woman. I am starting my second latte, and have enough caffeine in me to be done by noon. I will have to see what to put on the schedule for the afternoon portion of this snow day. I'll think of it while I'm cleaning, change my mind a few times and perhaps just watch a movie.

TC

A Snow Storm Is Coming!

I love snow days! More so when they close down the office and I have less guilt about staying home with the kids due to school closures.
There seems to be a variety of things to keep busy with on such a day. I could bake, I could clean and organize to perfection, I could get cozy on the couch and pick a movie we can all watch as it blows and snows outside. Changing out of your pajamas - purley optional.
They are calling for one heck of a storm tonight - at first I thought they were being a little dramatic with the schedule changes and the warnings, but now, I think there just might be one good one on its way. I can't wait to see what I'll wake up to in the morning!
Here's hoping to a day of staying at home - I'll keep you posted on this one.
TC