I hate being sick!

So I was on pinterest the other day (if you dont have it get it! its free and will change your world) and this was a remedy for colds! check it out and tell me what youthink!

You just eat 1tsp. honey mixed with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon twice a day for three days, beginning at the earliest sign of a cold.  The honey and cinnamon are both said to have antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties.

Goodbye 2011

The last few days I have been sitting back and thinking about 2011. I have been thinking what a year so much has happened to me personally and professionally that I cant comprehend all that has gone on. But it was an amazing year. I learned alot and I grew alot. I can say I am the happiest I have been in a very long time.

I am learning to stand on my own and find out who I am. But I am also learning to stand with someone beside me and make decisions together. Which isnt as easy as it looks. you would think someone elses opinion would be a good thing lol.  but its wonderful having someone to lean on.

I said good bye to my dearest friend of 15 years as I made the heart breaking decision to send her to doggie heaven. But shes in a much better place and showing the doggie heaven God that shes the princess. Then I welcomed the most wonderful, amazing, funny puppy into our lives. Miss Marley. Shes one of a kind but shes very much mommies dog. but she loves her brothers so very much. I have never met a dog who had so much love to give. She does things i dont understand but I still love her. its defently a growing experience for both jonathan and I.

Jonathan and I bought a house. I moved out from my mom (even though I have said I was never leaving lol) and now we are renovating it and making it our own. I love every minute of it. i get stressed out about it. but its all coming together. I moved to a little village called Doaktown. A place I would never imagine I would be. But I love this little community. Its quite and I am happy.

I am learning to restart my business in photography. to go back to the basics. I am in a new place and people have no idea who I am or what my business offers. But because I have to go back to the basics I am learning to fix the mistakes I had last time. I am getting a second chance. and again learning to stand on my own.

I am learning to be a "step" hockey mom. I spend my saturday mornings at the very cold hockey rink. And in the summer the very hot soccer field. But I love those boys. I love watching them grow and change over the year. And have their personalities shine on and off the ice.  I never thought in a million years I would want to be a step mom. But these boys bring more joy in my life that I could ever imagine. as sad as it sounds I am turning into my mother. I had a great step father whom I call DAD. Who was always there for me through thick and thin and as I learn from the best I know he is proud.

I have always loved to bake. but was always afraid to take a big step and try different recipes. this blog allows me to do that. I have had so much fun showing you different recipes and have lots more to show this year. I loved going to town and people stopping me saying oh i made this and it turned out great. and it was soooo easy!! thats my plan to make everything as easy as i can.

I have learned to have a little more Faith in my God. I have been tested and tested but I know that I have an awesome God who will never leave me nor forsake me. And will always walk with me and carry me when I need Him too.
This last few days I have heard whispers from some people wondering why I do what I do and questioning the things I have. its been really bothering me. I have worked very hard this year. and I have am proud to say I have alot to show for it. I have come so far and I have never been more happier in my life. But as I trust in God I know that its just Satan being very jealous.  As I look back at  a year full of events I cherish and love each one of them. God has blessed me with so much and I am thankful every day.

2011 was out of this world. I can only imagine what 2012 holds for me. I cant wait to see.But I am in such a good place I know that it can only get better!

Goodbye 2011. What a year.. I cant wait to see what 2012 brings!!

so 2012 what are my plans? to bake more, try and become a fulltime photographer, take more time for me, be proud of what i have done, and renovate some more. and take more time for fun! see you in 2012! I have also to try not to care what others think. I may say things or do things that people may snicker and or dislike me but its ok.

No fail chocolate peanut butter fudge

you will need:
1 cup butter
1 1/4 cup peanut butter
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups icing sugar

directions
melt in large sauce pan butter then add peanut butter
remove from hear
stir in cocoa, vanilla, and icing sugar
then place in a square pan
place in fridge

Enjoy!

Breton Brittle

You will need:
25 (or more) breton crackers (original, big ones)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions
preheat oven at 350
linen cookie sheet with tin foil
place crackers on sheet
combine sugar and butter in a sauce pan and bring to boil for about 3 mins
poor over crackers and bake for 10-15 mins
when they come out place chocoalte chips on top and spread around once they are melted

for decoration you can put sprinkles or whatever you want on top

Candy Cane Blossoms

These are super easy and super good!
a few little things i learned while making these: make sure your balls are small. they expand really easy.
also most pics i have seen of these the sprinkles are red and green separated i put mine together

you will need:
1 bag hersheys candy cane kisses
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups of flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tblsp milk
red and green sprinkles (sugar)

preheat oven at 350
mix all together
then roll into small balls
then roll into sugar
then flatten a little
place on cookie sheet and bake for 8 mins
when they come out place hershey kiss on top!

Enjoy!

My favorite things in my Kitchen

I have been recieving emails about what to get their baker in their life. well here are somethings that I have in my kitchen that I cant live without!

1. Spoonula
This is from Racheal Ray and I LOVE them. Sooo love them. I dont know what I would do without them! when you are making soups or sauces you can just set it on the pot how awesome!

2. My Wooden Spoon ~ you always need a wooden spoon!!

3. Bench Scrap ~ at first i didnt think this would be good. but as i got to using it. i noticed i was using it more and more

4. Rubbermaid Containers ~ I have the best mother inlaw. Well I have the best mother in law either away! but she gave me these containers and when i went to the US I bought a ton of them cause they were on sale. they take up very little space and i love it!!

5. My Wilton Pans ~ these are made for baking. I only have 2 but I am so buying more!

Gingerbread Snowflakes

I make these every year. and every year I complain about how much I hate decorating them. My back gets sore and I get tired. But I still do it every year! lol but they are just so pretty!

You will need:
6 cups of flour
1 tblsp baking powder
1 tablsp ginger
1 tblsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup butter
1 cup molasses
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

Directions:
mix all the dry ingrediants together. then mix all the wet ones then add them to the dry.
You may have to kneed it a little
roll out and cut into your favorite shapes

Bake at 350 for 9-12 moins ( my oven took 11 mins)

Homemade Mac and Cheese

Jonathans special request this week was mac and cheese. I made it once before and well it didnt turn out. so i was really scared. Thankfully the amazing Paula Dean didnt let me down! and this recipe is pretty easy!

you will need:
4 cups of Macaroni
3 cups of cheese ( of your choice)
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
4 tblsp of butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup of milk

Directions:
cook macaroni and drain. then add cheese until melted. In another bowl mix the eggs, sour cream, salt and milk together. then mix into macaroni. put in a baking dish.
bake for 30 -45 mins at 350 degrees

I added bread crumbs and cheese to the top of mine.

Cinnamon Rolls

I love cinnamon rolls but have been afraid to make them. mymom makes amazing cinnamon rolls. I had been thinking how hard can they be? like really...

well the other night I had Chef Michaels Smiths recipe. its was 6pm and I wanted cinnamon rolls. So i read through the ingrediants and knew I had all the stuff. But what I should have done was read the WHOLE recipe. 2hrs later... the cinnamon buns went in the oven... 45 mins later I had cinnamon rolls... 20 mins later I had cinnamon ROCKS!!

So while I was hanging out with my bff Vanessa she said remember those cinnamon rolls from high school cullinary class? I was like yeah those where awesome... well she said I have the recipe! she was heaven sent!!!

So this morning I got up and made the grade 12 cinnamon rolls... and they were just like I remember!

You will need:
4 cups of flour
1/2 cup white sugar
6 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 pound shortening
1 cup of half n half (1/2cup canned milk and 1/2 cup water)
1 egg

filling:
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
2tblsp cinnamon

Directions:
In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
then add shortening and mix together
then in another bowl add half and half and egg. then add to dry mix. and mix it. then knead dough gently

then flour work surface and roll out into a rectangle. the spread margarine (melted) and then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon. roll up and cut into pieces and place into greased muffin cups.

bake 15 mins at 400 degrees

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Sandwiches

I love oatmeal anything... and then you add choclate chips and then you add icing.. cant get any better right?

You will need:
cookies:
¾ cup all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter, softened
1/3 cup light brown sugar
¼ cup  sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ¾ cups rolled oats
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

filling:
¼ cup salted butter, softened
¼ cup vegetable shortening
2 ¼ cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into a mixing bowl. Set aside.
3. Place the butter and both sugars into the bowl of a stand mixer, fixed with a paddle attachment, and cream together (about 3 minutes).
4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the egg and vanilla and continue to beat for another minute.
5. With the motor running on low, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined.
6. Fold the oats and chocolate chips into the cookie dough until fully combined.
7. Chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
8. While the cookie dough chills, make the cream filling: Place the butter and shortening in the bowl of a stand mixer and cream together.
9. With the motor running, add the powdered sugar to the butter mixture, 2 tablespoons at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
10. Add the cream and vanilla and continue to beat until smooth. Set aside until ready to use.
11. With clean hands, roll out 48 (nickel sized) balls and place onto two parchment lined sheet pans.
12. Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
13. Allow the cookies to cool for a couple of minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

so i have started my christmas baking. kinda excited about that. these are a new recipe for me. but they taste sooo good!!

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup finely chopped unsweetened chocolate (2 oz/60 g)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup Rogers All Purpose Flour

1/4 cup cocoa

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup white chocolate chunks

3 candy canes, crushed

1. In a microwaveable bowl, combine butter and unsweetened chocolate. Microwave on 50% power for 1 minute, stir, then microwave again in 30 second intervals until chocolate is mostly melted. Stir to melt the remaining chunks. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and stir in sugar, eggs and vanilla extract.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Sprinkle flour mixture over chocolate mixture and stir until well combined. Stir in white chocolate chunks. Refrigerate at least 2 hours, or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 to 3 inches apart. Bake 7 minutes, remove from oven and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Return to oven 2-4 minutes longer, until edges are crackled and centres are just set. Remove and cool 5 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Rootbeer Cookies

I seen this recipe and thought I love rootbeer so its gotta be good. i thought you had to use a can of rootbeer. not so much. you need rootbeer flavoring. which i dont know if you canget around here. I checked the bulk barn its not there but I am sure you can get them to order it in. I got mine in the states when I was there.
These are so good. you eat them and its like your shocked that they are rootbeer!

Recipe for Root Beer Cookies:
Makes about 4 dozen

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups dark brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. root beer extract
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup water (optional–only use if dough is too dry)
• Root Beer frosting (recipe below)

Cream butter and dark brown sugar until very light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the root beer extract. Whisk dry ingredients together. Add a little at a time to the creamed mixture. The dough should be slightly sticky
Chill for at least an hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease several baking sheets, or line them with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Roll into small balls (about 1″ diameter). I like to use a mini-ice cream scoop so that the cookies end up evenly sized.

Place them on the pan, leaving a bit of space between the cookies. Gently press the tops of the dough. (If you leave out the water, sometimes the cookies don’t spread very much.) Bake for 6-8 minutes, rotating cookie sheet halfway through.
Let cookies cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet before placing them on a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting Recipe:

• 1 cup butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp. root beer extract
• a few tablespoons hot water

Beat butter on high with an electric mixer until it is fluffy. Add a little powdered sugar and the root beer extract. Beat until smooth. Add remaining powdered sugar alternately with a little hot water until a nice spreading consistency has been reached.
Frost the cooled cookies and let stand for a few minutes to let the frosting set up. (It should dry a bit on the top.) You can leave out the root beer extract and you’ll have a tasty, soft brown sugar cookie. I have substituted maple extract, added pecans, and even made chocolate chip cookies out of this recipe. It’s a keeper.

christmas cookie tips

Making cookies at Christmas used to overwhelm me a bit.  There are so many people I want to make cookies for....and so little time.  I still don't get them made for everyone on my list BUT I've learned how to de-stress the whole process and just have fun with it.

1. Take a look at what you need or want. also what ever you need get it NOW or else it wont be there next time you go back. especially if you live in the miramichi!
2. Start early.  Cookie decorating is really more fun if you break it up into chunks.   

Do one of the following to make life easier

• make the dough ahead and freeze (thaw in the fridge overnight)
• bake the cookies and freeze (thaw at room temperature for a few hours)
• bake the cookies the day before decorating
• make the icing a day (or so) before decorating (if you are doing fine detail work, you'll want to make this the same day you are using)

3.If you are making hundreds of cookies, you might want to make and decorate a few dozen at a time, THEN freeze...yes, cookies decorated with royal icing can be frozen.  I individually bag the cookies, then place in freezer baggies, then place those in plastic containers to prevent crushing.  Thaw at room temperature in the packaging for several hours.

hope these few little tips help!

Happy Baking!

Christmas Baking...

The last year or so I have made the trip crazy november trip to the US. I love it.. every minute of it. I also love when I go to the grocery stores and find products that we dont have here that I can bake with. or stuff I do bake with I can get really cheap.
This year I had 3 finds that I cant wait to start baking with Rootbeer Flavoring and 92 cent packs of Margarine (its about 1/2 the size of the box of margarine squares we have here that we pay $5 for) and a mitten cookie cutter.

This year my list includes:
Candy Cane Cupcakes
Rootbeer Cookies
Scotch Cookies
Sugar Cookies
and much more... I cant wait!! and I have a few little crafts and decorating ideas to show along the way. Welcome to the most wonderful time of year!!

Also if you have any baking questions that I can help you with dont hestiate to email me at paigehambrook@hotmail.com or find me on facebook!