Mom's Whipped Shortbread with a Chocolate Twist!!

The other day my mom had baked the most delicious cookies. Shortbread with chocolate chips. See the thing is - I don't normally like shortbread, but I couldn't stop eating them - they were that good!! So I asked for the recipe and tonight I made them... So good!

Try them for yourself!

Mom's Whipped Shortbread with a Chocolate Twist!!

3 cups flour
1/2 cup corn starch
1 cup icing sugar
1 lb. butter
vanilla

Cream butter with mixer. Add all dry ingredients gradually. Then add vanilla.
THen add chocolate chips - the amount is YOUR choice
Roll into balls, or scoop onto sheet with small scoop.
Flatten with your fingers.
Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes or till light brown.
Take off the sheet, let cool and enjoy!!

day 17: in my fridge

These days I'm trying to fill my fridge with healthy foods, trying to feed my baby the right things, but hey.. it's autumn and autumn means pumpkin, so... if you look into my fridge you will see the tastiest treat - pumpkin spice latte cupcakes. want one? come on over!!

day 7: natural

todays picture is "natural"
and what is natural for me? well, a few things come to mind!

I have always been a natural baker. I find it relaxing and fun to create in the kitchen (both baking and cooking, but baking it always tastier in my opinion). The mess doesn't bother me, and I love seeing all these random ingredients turn into a warm & delicious product.
another thing that is natural for me - being an auntie!! I love being an auntie to 3 sweet boys - jay, everett & roger. I love hanging out with the boys and hearing ev say things like, "oh auntie, you want to cuddle?" and i love watching rogie laugh and learning new skills.
so, what else could be the perfect picture today than these two -
spending some time with one of my favorite nephews - everett, while the two of us bake up some tasty concoction.

This is natural!

cupcakes!

So I have been spending the afternoon baking fleisch perishky and browsing recipe blogs to pin to my recipe board, and I found a link to this:

http://www.hartfordholidays.com/cupcakecruise/Home.html

A CUPCAKE CRUISE!

Can you even imagine how great that would be??? travelling, being warm, and learning to bake better & more unique cupcakes from some of the experts. ahhh-mazing if you ask me.

Plus, bonus - the cruise starts from a port in New Jersey which is my next travel destination on my list...

Who wants to join me?

recipe extraordinaire!

not sure if any of you read my recipe blog BUT i wanted to alert your attention to this deliciously wonderful new recipe i stole from becky

whole wheat cinnamon buns

go ahead, read the recipe and make them.. i dare you!

newer & tastier

i have a new blog
not to replace this one
but to go along side it

you can visit it and read my rather lengthy first post
but i'll give you the readers digest version to help you decide if you want to check it out

i love to experiment in the kitchen
i learned from the best (my mom & grandma)
my new blog will keep track of recipes
good and bad
hopefully with pictures & stories

to check it out go here: trying | tasting | experimenting & enjoying

the rest of my life will continue to be shared here

today i wish i knew how to make applesauce
that's how i would like to spend the afternoon
but alas i will work on printing hundreds of church annual reports instead :)

a refresher

i needed some refreshing
so i decided to refresh the room that i spend a lot of time in
the kitchen

i like to bake
and cook
and do dishes
organize cupboards
find new recipes
experiment

aka - i spend a lot of time in my kitchen
so, it got a much needed new look

on tuesday i decided to paint
on wednesday i drove to rona, chose 3 paint chips that i liked
the nice lady behind the counter showed me a can of paint that matched one of the paint chips that i had
it was a mistint, and therefore it was 50% off!

so, 15 dollars of paint, and two evenings and VOILA
new kitchen.
and i love it.

also, i decided to allow my inner 5 year old to play outside
and i made michael & i as snow people
and a snow cat to sit on my front step because i'm crazy like that

here are some pictures. enjoy.
i am off to spend the day at the spa with 2 of my favorite women in my life
mom & leah
can't wait!!

the before shot - a non exciting mossy green

the thiessen's - snowman style

i'm the one on the right with the blue bottlecap eyes :)

my snow cat

the after! a beautiful refreshing blue

my kitchen art that i love