Candy Corn Cookies

I'm always on the lookout for new things to put in cookies, partially because I now work in a candy store 3 days a week, and partially because whenever I buy chocolate chips they all get eaten before I get the chance to make cookies.. This time around I decided I wanted to use candy corn, so I bought some and came home to search the web assuming someone out there already did it.

What I found were pumpkin candy cookies, where the wrapped the dough around a candy pumpkin and then pushed another into the top when they were cooked. Now I didn't use their recipe, but I did use the same general idea with a generic cookie recipe. They turned out great and suddenly they're all gone..

I may or may not have placed too many on the tray at once..

Sorry for the extremely instagram'ed photos, I only quickly snapped a picture with my phone and I had to tack on the filters to make the pictures legible.

Chilled Treats

There's no denying my love for frozen treats, I'm surprised freezie wasn't my first word. Now with the weather continuously hot I have a strong urge to break out my popcicle molds that I bought last year on a whim. If you're like me, you'll appreciate this ice cold post.

Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Strawberry Shortcake Pops

Coffee Pops

Nutella

Rootbeer Float

Coconut Cream

Maple Mocha

Peaches and Cream. The same blog also has an amazing looking peaches frozen yogurt recipe that I need to make.

Banana cream pie

Cinnamon Chips and Apple Strawberry Dip

Today I wanted to share recipe with you that I used to make a bunch back in the day during Katimavik. I don't remember if it was originally from a book, or something created between members in our group so if you know who to credit for this, let me know. 

Delicious, delicious cinnamon chips with an apple strawberry purée. 

Ingredients:

Tortilla chips

Brown sugar

Cinnamon

Apple sauce/apples

Strawberries (or any other berries you want)

How to:

Lay out your tortilla, and add a little bit of water to the top, using the back of the spoon to equally cover it. You want it damp, but not dripping. You could also use oil and a pastry brush, but this works wonderfully and is healthier.

Make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar (to taste) and sprinkle/spread it over the top of the tortilla.

Cut the tortilla into sixes. Bonus points for a shark pizza cutter (a gag gift for the Mr that turned out to be more useful than I ever expected)! Knives work too but a pizza cutter is way easier if you have it.

Lay the pieces out on a cookie sheet without overlap, and put them in the oven on the top shelf under broil. STAY ON YOUR TOES! It doesn't take much time at all for these to be done, and they go from delicious to burnt almost instantly. Best to watch them with the oven light on and wait for the perfect moment. And turn off your fire alarm.. Haha!

Perfect! The sugar has carmelized and bubbled a little, the tortilla is crisp and has just started to brown on the edges. This is what they should be like.

Make an apple/strawberry purée. I blend strawberries with apple sauce, you could also finely chop all the fruits and make it more like a salsa, or make any combination of fruits/berries that tickles your fancy.

Serve the chips fresh with a dipping dish of sauce and enjoy!! A relatively healthy, super delicious dessert. Mmmmm.

Don't make a peep. (Make several!)

Easter was more fun as a kid. I'd give up eating candy for lent, any time candy came along I remember saving it, and then on easter day I would wake to a giant basket filled with even more candy. Cue me trying to make koolaid like juice out of pixi stix once (gross) and being a very hyper kid for the following days.

One thing I loved was peeps. I remember mom bought them one year and hid them on me so I wouldn't find them before easter.. And we never actually found them. Turns out she must have just thought she bought them because when we moved we cleaned out the whole house and never came across any (though we did find a wrapped campino candy behind the stove and both dove for it.. Whatever. I'm not ashamed.. Okay.. Maybe I am a little...)

Anyway! My point is, man I love peeps. How could you not? Covered in pretty colors, you eat the whole package of them at once then make yourself sick.. Yum. Since easter is coming up I'm seeing more and more amazing ideas sprouting up online for things to do with them and I had to share my favourites with you.

Birds egg nests from candies and pretzels. Om nom nom!!!

Peep smores! The only thing I don't understand is 'leftover peeps'. Left.. over?

Vegetarian peeps recipe for all those who can't and won't eat the originals. 

Recipe here, should be fairly straight forward.

Peep pops.

Peep wreath. This wouldn't last. I'd have to glue the peeps on with molasses or something. 

Stuffed peep pattern. How adorable are these?

Valentines Day Crafts

Honestly, I'm not too big on Valentines Day. I find it far too full of consumerism, and the pressure to go out and spend lots of money on your significant other (didn't we just do that last month during the holidays?) and the worst part, to act all romantic for one day because we're -supposed to-. I personally would rather romantic little gestures on a day that I wouldn't expect them, since they would mean more that way.

Regardless, Valentine's exists, complete with delicious candies and fun and adorable crafts for decorating, giving and eating. Here's a few that I've seen that I quite like.

Strawberries and toasted marshmallow cream..

A step up (or 20) from the moreo. Oreos, cookie AND brownies.

Rainbow roses tutorial. Gorgeous!

A '52 reasons' book, where you write 1 thing you love about someone on each of a playing card. There's a million tutorials for this online, but I figured I would link the one where I originally saw the idea, when I made one last year :P.

Don't forget adorable and punny cards (lost source, sorry!)

New sew heart garland.

And lastly..

If you're tempted to pop the question, why not do so in the nerdiest way ever?

Easy Sweet and Sour Meatball Recipe

Since the Mr and I decided to make a new recipe every week, for my first turn I decided to pick something quick and easy.

Queue looking at my recipe list from pinterest. Sweet and tangy meatballs with only 3 ingredients, served over rice.

Photo and recipe from Six Sister's Stuff.

How good does that look?! Tastes just as good. :)

I've never used store bought meatballs before, but they weren't bad (guaranteed to be a better recipe if you make your own). Put them in a crockpot with a jar of chili sauce and some grape jelly (the recipe asked for a whole jar, I used about 1/4) and let them stew away. Delish!

I'm honestly surprised at how great these tasted. Super tangy, without tasting like they're made with jam. Try it, I guarantee it won't disappoint.

Holiday Gift Ideas: Good Eats

I've always loved the idea of making foods for presents. I've made cookies and cakes for birthdays, but the holidays are something of their own. Here's a few recipes that you can package up or take with you to a family potluck that will for sure please a crowd. Enjoy!

Hot Chocolate on a stick! Recipe here.

Perfect for a potluck. Cinnamon chips with apple pie dip.

One of my favourite recipes. Spinach dip just like from the restaurant Kelseys. 

Cherry fudge. Mmm. 

Who would argue with getting one of these with a bow around it?

Or some of these in a stocking??

Super Chewy Cinnamon 'Roll' Cookies (Recipe)

All day today I had the urge to make something sweet. And I really wanted cinnamon rolls, but I also really wanted cookies. And I don't have a rolling pin.

So this is what I came up with! Cinnamon 'roll' cookies.

Cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Nummy dough!

Using a standard cookie recipe, I rolled the dough into balls then cut a tiny slit.

Inserted a mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon and becel (no butter in the house for baking, boo!) and smooshed the sides back together. Then I put them in the oven.

They came out oh so tasty, and because the mixture in the middle, they're oh so gooey and chewy. And amazing. Now to try and not eat them all tonight..

On a side not, has anyone seen the thing on pinterest where they say you can grow green onions in a cup of water? Works surprisingly well, and surprisingly fast. They grew about a foot in a week and a half!! And that's while sitting next to a window half the time with frost/snow on the other side. Though I must say this. They were softer than traditional 'fresh' green onions, didn't have as strong of a smell or taste. I'm guessing they'll only grow for so long before there is absolutely no nutrition left to them since they're not getting anything from soil. Still, it was an interesting experiment. (It also became the home for a spider for a little while.. Little guy probably thought he was outside, right by the window and all..)

Look at those beasts! I only added water up to where it turns from white to green, and topped it up once. See those tiny little dead sprouts near the top of the glass? That's how high they were when I put them in there. 

Peppermint Heaven

I have a confession.. I have an unhealthy obsession with mint in all its forms. I want everything in a mint alternative.

Then one day I stumbled across a website called 'foodgawker' and their peppermint section. Oh. My. God. Go to this link for the full (and ever updating list), or check out my favourites below.

Peppermint Patties

Icecream.. Oh my gosh yes.

Peppermint simple syrup and cocktail recipes.

Mint. Freakin'. Oreos.

Brownies with peppermint bark topping

Flavoured sugar

Xmas tree shaped bark. Great as a gift don't you think? 

The picture isn't pretty like the others but don't forget my mint hot chocolate!

Super cute rice crispy balls. 

Is it possible to overdose on mint? I hope not but I think I'll find out.