Erin's Goodies

For my FV

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

It’s that time of year again… where the stores roll out everything pink and red and florists are overwhelmed by stunned boyfriends and husbands. That’s right ladies and gents, it’s Valentine’s Day – the most phoniest day of the year!

I don’t know if you noticed, but Valentine’s Day may not be my favourite “holiday”. *insert VD rant here*

Despite this fact, I do try to make a little something sweet for my sweetie.

This year, I made him mini Cherry Cheesecakes.

Side note: God bless the person that invented the mini muffin pan – you are my hero!

Happy Birthday Dad

The Big 5-0

It’s my Dad’s 50th birthday.

He didn’t want a party and he’d never tell you what to buy him, so I made him cookies.

Happy Birthday Dad! xoxo

She said Yes!

Engagement Cookies

I am thrilled to report that my little cousin is getting married!

She called me on New Years Day to tell me the happy news. He proposed on New Years Eve with “Marry Me” written in Christmas lights on their roof (insert the appropriate awww’s here)

In celebration of this very special occasion – she got cookies.

Cheers to Robyn & Tyler!

‘Tis the Season

This year I made a very ambitious baking list. I had no idea when I was going to find the time to make and decorate these goodies (or find the freezer space to keep them) but you can’t keep a good baker down!

Naturally, the sugar cookies were at the top of the list, because I need hours to properly decorate or else I end up hating everything and Jason is forced to eat the “rejects”. The Reindeer and Snowflakes were my absolute favourites this year, followed closely by the ABC (Already Been Chewed) men (see headless cookie in the center picture)

The Candy Cane Shortbread was a blast to make! Anytime you need something smashed with a  rolling pin, you just give me a call! They held together so well for my first attempt ever at shortbread and they melted in your mouth. Merry Christmas to me!

And it’s not Christmas without Rum Balls! I used a new recipe for these which involved crumbled wafer cookies, and I was quite impressed with the added texture. I did have some assistance with the rolling-in-chocolate-sprinkles part (thanks, Jason!)

The last thing I was able to make from my lengthy list was Bailey’s Truffles. I’m happy to report that they were delicious but not something that I can see myself making on an annual basis.

So apart from missing a few other cookies and some squares, I don’t think I did too terribly with conquering my Holiday Baking List.

Now, bring on the eggnog!

Reindeer

Christmas Confections

Snowflakes

Gobble, Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving

It’s that time of year again – where we all gather together to eat our weight in turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie (and somewhere in the midst of all that feasting, give thanks too.)

Of course I included my ever-popular (and increasingly demanded) sugar cookies – decorated as sparkling pumpkins, chocolately-topped acorns and these adorable little turkeys!

This year I also took a stab at Pumpkin-Swirl Brownies… picture a gooey combination of chocolate, pumpkin and hazelnuts!

I’m not sure which disappeared faster…

Giddy Up!

Get Along Little Doggies

I give you: Cowboy Cookies

This recipe hails from the October 2008 edition of Martha Stewart Living. [I am not a die-hard Martha fan, but I do thoroughly enjoy her craft and baking ideas.)

These cookies remind me of the kitchen-sink cookies my Gramma used to make, which involved any tidbits that happened to be in the kitchen when she was making cookies.

They’re comprised of:

• old-fashioned oats
• semi-sweet chocolate
• pecan pieces
• shredded coconut

I will admit that I made a blunder with this recipe – I forgot to add the brown sugar! *shakes her head in disbelief* How I managed to forget an ingredient, I will never know. Lucky for me though, the other ingredients are sweet enough to balance out the forgotten sugar.

Surprisingly still scrumptious!

Miss Erin, you Make Good Cookies

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

I’ve been buying chocolate chips like they’re going out of style – what girl can resist a chocolate sale?

So with a multitude of bags in the cupboard, I felt that it was finally time to make chocolate chip cookies. I got this recipe from one of my Mom’s cookbooks and it’s about as basic as a recipe gets (which makes it one of my favourites!)

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup margarine
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• dash salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 pkg milk chocolate chips [my mom makes them with white chips and they’re delicious too!]

Mix all ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake at 325F for 8 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.

[side note: I kept these cookies in the oven for closer to 15 minutes – because 8 minutes was hardly long enough]

I May Have a Problem…

Sprinkles, Sprinkles Everywhere

…with sprinkles. I admit it.

I was organizing the ‘baking cupboard’ the other day and decided that it was time to take an inventory of my supplies (including my decorating stash). I took all my lovely little sprinkle friends and put them neatly into these cute tupperwares.

They’re now in stacks of : coloured sugars and holiday sprinkles

Speaking of holiday sprinkles, I wonder if I can find some little turkey ones for Thanksgiving…

Nuts and Bolts

Salty Snacks

I do believe it’s Snack Time!

Cheerios, Crispix, peanuts and pretzels are perfectly good pickings on their own – but toss them with some lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings and you’ve got (ta da) Nuts and Bolts!

Mmm Apples

Perfectly Golden Apple Crisp

Hello fall!

I love this time of year; when the leaves start changing, there’s a nip in the air and I can finally turn the oven back on guilt-free!

The taste of fall definitely appeals to me too – cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves… yummy! And after a sunny Saturday of apple picking,  how could I not make apple crisp?!

I made this for Sunday night dessert at my parents’ house, and there wasn’t a crumb left!