Well, I didn't make my goal to bake everyday for 25 days. However, I did more baking in that time period than I ever have before, and I tried a bunch of new recipes.
I also made gingerbread a different day, (last Monday, a week ago) and baked a gingerbread house on Christmas Eve. I enjoyed most of the baking that I did, and it was a good challenge.
This Christmas has been a unique one, my friend Julie is staying with us, which is nice, and my grandparents are away in Ottawa to visit my aunt. We had a lovely Christmas day dinner complete with turkey, stockings, and presents. I was delighted to finish a sewing project that has been on the go since the summer, but I don't want to give away what it is until I'm actually wearing it. haha. I wore it Christmas day though, so you have a pretty good guess what sort of thing it is. Perhaps.
Now I'm working on a baby quilt with some soft flannel that has been cut into squares all set to sew for ages but I hadn't begun the sewing until yesterday. Work starts again tomorrow, so I suppose that is a different sort of adventure.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and thanks for following my first blogged adventure!
Monday, 26 December 2011
Saturday, 17 December 2011
25 Day Christmas Baking Adventure Days 15, 16, and 17
Well. I suppose I've lost the challenge, since I missed two days of baking. Friday after work I was really tired and decided not to try anything, and then yesterday I was busy cleaning my room etcetera on my day off, so I didn't feel like baking anything then either.
Today I got home and attempted to make caramel popcorn but I burnt the caramel, so I made buttery cinnamon popcorn instead. haha. It was delicious and spicy! That's all for now.
Happy Baking!
Today I got home and attempted to make caramel popcorn but I burnt the caramel, so I made buttery cinnamon popcorn instead. haha. It was delicious and spicy! That's all for now.
Happy Baking!
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
25 Day Christmas Baking Adventure Day #14
I made the ridiculous choice to walk home in my sister's boots after working 8 hours. Results: sore feet and blisters = not really in the mood to bake.
But I AM GOING TO WIN this challenge. So I made pancakes and ate one, putting the rest of the battter in the fridge for tomorrow. Breakfast made.
Happy Baking!
But I AM GOING TO WIN this challenge. So I made pancakes and ate one, putting the rest of the battter in the fridge for tomorrow. Breakfast made.
Happy Baking!
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
25 Day Christmas Baking Adventure Day #13
Today I tried "peanut butter" cookies. I say "peanut butter" because I actually used "Wowbutter" which is made from roasted soy beans. My sister is allergic to peanuts, and my friend introduced me to this alternative. It is pretty close in taste to peanut butter, but not exact. I'm not sure how it will turn out in cookies. The dough has a soybean aftertaste, so I'm not very optimistic about how they will taste.
The recipe I used is: http://www.grouprecipes.com/108062/1947-peanut-butter-cookies.html
I chose that one because it had the least about of nut butter in it, and I didn't want to use up all of my $5 jar.
Ten minutes was too long, some of my cookies were quite dark, so for the second batch I'm putting them on for 8. We'll see how that goes....
Okay. Results are in. The cookies are alright, but I wouldn't make them again. Passable, but not lovable.
It was worth a try!
Happy Baking!
The recipe I used is: http://www.grouprecipes.com/108062/1947-peanut-butter-cookies.html
I chose that one because it had the least about of nut butter in it, and I didn't want to use up all of my $5 jar.
Ten minutes was too long, some of my cookies were quite dark, so for the second batch I'm putting them on for 8. We'll see how that goes....
Okay. Results are in. The cookies are alright, but I wouldn't make them again. Passable, but not lovable.
It was worth a try!
Happy Baking!
Monday, 12 December 2011
25 Days of Christmas Baking Adventure Day #12
It's the 12th day of baking, my true love said to me...what are you baking today?
3 French toast?
2 Turtle cupcakes?
and a partridge berry pudding?!
Nope, just some shortbread. But they are good ones. oooou oh yeah yum-meeee!
Haha.
Seriously, making shortbread from Kim's family recipe. It was a good recipe since it's only Monday and we baked a double batch on Saturday! Even when we did have a party...and people over on Sunday. Still. Apparently it's really good. I liked it. But we can always put it in the freezer!
That's all for now, Happy Baking!
3 French toast?
2 Turtle cupcakes?
and a partridge berry pudding?!
Nope, just some shortbread. But they are good ones. oooou oh yeah yum-meeee!
Haha.
Seriously, making shortbread from Kim's family recipe. It was a good recipe since it's only Monday and we baked a double batch on Saturday! Even when we did have a party...and people over on Sunday. Still. Apparently it's really good. I liked it. But we can always put it in the freezer!
That's all for now, Happy Baking!
Sunday, 11 December 2011
25 Days of Christmas Baking Adventure #11
Two words:
Oatmeal Muffins.
That is all.
Actually, yes, I found an easy Oatmeal muffin recipe online tonight, and since I didn't particularly feel like baking after yesterday's all day event, I figured that was the quickest easiest thing. Now, since muffins taste better fresh, I decided I will bake them in the morning. But they are all mixed up and ready to go in the fridge.
Here's the recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-oatmeal-muffins/
I'll try to remember to let you know how they turned out tomorrow!
Happy Baking!
Oatmeal Muffins.
That is all.
Actually, yes, I found an easy Oatmeal muffin recipe online tonight, and since I didn't particularly feel like baking after yesterday's all day event, I figured that was the quickest easiest thing. Now, since muffins taste better fresh, I decided I will bake them in the morning. But they are all mixed up and ready to go in the fridge.
Here's the recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-oatmeal-muffins/
I'll try to remember to let you know how they turned out tomorrow!
Happy Baking!
Saturday, 10 December 2011
25 Day Christmas Baking Adventure #10
Today's baking was a complete success! Not much time to type about it now, as it's 12:30, but Kim and I baked almost all day!
We made shortbread and gingerbread and lemon lime cookies! They all went over pretty well, as everyone seemed to enjoy them, and both of us have cookies to put in the freezer, Christmas baking = COMPLETE!
The party was a success too. I didn't do a full head count but I'd guess around 15 people came. It was busy and full in here. Good time. Some dancing. Some talking. Lots of laughing.
Happy Baking, and goodnight!
We made shortbread and gingerbread and lemon lime cookies! They all went over pretty well, as everyone seemed to enjoy them, and both of us have cookies to put in the freezer, Christmas baking = COMPLETE!
The party was a success too. I didn't do a full head count but I'd guess around 15 people came. It was busy and full in here. Good time. Some dancing. Some talking. Lots of laughing.
Happy Baking, and goodnight!
Friday, 9 December 2011
25 Day Baking Adventure Day #9
Today I worked at cash for 8 hours on my feet and so I didn't particularly feel like standing up in the kitchen tonight. But I did! I made regular chocolate chip cookies, which are now in the oven. If they are as good as the dough, they'll be fine, as usual. Nothing special, but still good! They'll be at my Super Awesome Christmas Cookie Party tomorrow night, which will be fun (I hope!). About 12-20 people are coming so I think it should be a good time! :) Hopefully dancing too!
Anyhow, my timer has rung, so I better go get those cookies out!
Happy Baking!
Anyhow, my timer has rung, so I better go get those cookies out!
Happy Baking!
Thursday, 8 December 2011
25 Day Christmas Baking Adventure Day #9
Well, today was the first day of my new job! So I was a little worried that I wouldn't get any baking done. But of course my good friends Kim and Darren reminded me that we were supposed to get together tonight and bake banana bread! Saved by the ballroom people! haha.
Turned out well. Truth be told, it was Kim's recipe, and I didn't do a WHOLE lot. But I did help, and it was fun, and tasted good. We added milk chocolate chips to some of it, which made it yummier :) (Is that even a word? Oh yeah, I DON'T CARE! haha. As Darren says, food is way more important than grammar. haha.)
Good times, and Happy Baking!
Turned out well. Truth be told, it was Kim's recipe, and I didn't do a WHOLE lot. But I did help, and it was fun, and tasted good. We added milk chocolate chips to some of it, which made it yummier :) (Is that even a word? Oh yeah, I DON'T CARE! haha. As Darren says, food is way more important than grammar. haha.)
Good times, and Happy Baking!
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
25 Day Christmas Baking Adventure Day #8
Today I made Mint Chocolate Patties! Like the New York kind, soft in the middle...you know what I mean. They are even better than the ones in the store, which I didn't know was possible! Not too hard to make, just take a long time. I had to put the batter in the fridge overnight, partly because I started them late last night, so technically they are half made today, half yesterday. But I think it still counts, haha.
The recipe I used was this one:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/candy/PeppermintPatties.html
She says NOT to use peppermint extract, that you NEED peppermint oil...well, they might taste better with oil but they are pretty good with extract. I just used more. Like, 3/4 of a teaspoon approximately. And I didn't have any sweetened condensed milk, so I used cream. I needed a bit more than 2 tablespoons though. About three probably.
Anyhow they turned out nicely, if I do say so myself. Really rich, I can only eat one at a time! haha.
That's all for now, Happy Baking!
The recipe I used was this one:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/candy/PeppermintPatties.html
She says NOT to use peppermint extract, that you NEED peppermint oil...well, they might taste better with oil but they are pretty good with extract. I just used more. Like, 3/4 of a teaspoon approximately. And I didn't have any sweetened condensed milk, so I used cream. I needed a bit more than 2 tablespoons though. About three probably.
Anyhow they turned out nicely, if I do say so myself. Really rich, I can only eat one at a time! haha.
That's all for now, Happy Baking!
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
25 Day Christmas Baking Adventure Day #7
It's Day #7 already guys! Woo hoo!
Today I made supper, vegetarian style (woo Seana!) from my lovely $5 Vegetarian Cookbook, which is wonderful.
I made Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potato Medley.
It tastes amazing. Raisins, and spices, sweet potato (of course), onions, garlic, quinoa (supposed to be bulgar but I couldn't find it)...YUM!
So I think that was a pretty good choice for Day #7. Hopefully everyone else in my family does too :)
Happy Baking!
Today I made supper, vegetarian style (woo Seana!) from my lovely $5 Vegetarian Cookbook, which is wonderful.
I made Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potato Medley.
It tastes amazing. Raisins, and spices, sweet potato (of course), onions, garlic, quinoa (supposed to be bulgar but I couldn't find it)...YUM!
So I think that was a pretty good choice for Day #7. Hopefully everyone else in my family does too :)
Happy Baking!
Monday, 5 December 2011
25 Days of Christmas Baking Adventure Day #6
Today my friend Jenny came over and we made BREAD! Oh yes, lovely white homeade bread :)
It "felt yummy" and it tasted just as good, haha. Seriously though, we had a good time baking it and then ate supper, and then made toutons while the rest of it was rising. And then ate the toutons, which were especially good since I hadn't had any for a long time. :) All in all, a complete success. And the recipe we used was this one, so you can succeed too!! (Oh by the way, we doubled it, and it still worked.) http://breadbaking.about.com/od/yeastbreads/r/basicbread.htm
Very yummy!
Happy Baking!
It "felt yummy" and it tasted just as good, haha. Seriously though, we had a good time baking it and then ate supper, and then made toutons while the rest of it was rising. And then ate the toutons, which were especially good since I hadn't had any for a long time. :) All in all, a complete success. And the recipe we used was this one, so you can succeed too!! (Oh by the way, we doubled it, and it still worked.) http://breadbaking.about.com/od/yeastbreads/r/basicbread.htm
Very yummy!
Happy Baking!
Sunday, 4 December 2011
25 Day Christmas Baking Challenge Day #5
On to day #5! Today I made Minty Candy Cane Twist Cookies. They are YUMMY!
Turned out really well, pink and beige dough twisted into candy cane shapes. MMMhmm.
But, a word of caution:
You know those lovely magnetic measuring spoons, the ones that stick to each other so you don't have to worry about finding them in the drawer? Yeah...they stick to anything metal. So when they're laid on the counter, and then a cookie tray is laid on top of them, and then said cookie tray is put into the oven to bake cookies....
Yeah.
The oven is currently cooling down now, so I can stick my head in there with a metal knife or something and scrape the teaspoon off the bottom of it. It stinks, both literally and figuratively. Melted plastic is rather unpleasant.
But at least the cookies taste good!
Happy Baking!
Turned out really well, pink and beige dough twisted into candy cane shapes. MMMhmm.
But, a word of caution:
You know those lovely magnetic measuring spoons, the ones that stick to each other so you don't have to worry about finding them in the drawer? Yeah...they stick to anything metal. So when they're laid on the counter, and then a cookie tray is laid on top of them, and then said cookie tray is put into the oven to bake cookies....
Yeah.
The oven is currently cooling down now, so I can stick my head in there with a metal knife or something and scrape the teaspoon off the bottom of it. It stinks, both literally and figuratively. Melted plastic is rather unpleasant.
But at least the cookies taste good!
Happy Baking!
Saturday, 3 December 2011
25 Day Christmas Baking Adventure Days #3 and #4
Well, yesterday I succeeded with the Fortune Cookies. I didn't put any fortunes in them, but they turned out alright.
Today Darren and Kim and I got together at Darren's house and we tried to make taffy. It's very sticky: very colourful, and not bad tasting, but very sticky. And it was wayyyyyy too much work! That's the first and last time I'm making saltwater taffy! But it was fun, and nice to hang out with those two as I don't do that enough. We had some good laughs. Taffy is a good activity to try ONCE with your friends. I'd have been sick of it halfway through if it was by myself, haha. As it was, it took about 4 1/2 hours!!
Anyhow, that's all for now! Ta ta, and of course, Happy Baking!
Today Darren and Kim and I got together at Darren's house and we tried to make taffy. It's very sticky: very colourful, and not bad tasting, but very sticky. And it was wayyyyyy too much work! That's the first and last time I'm making saltwater taffy! But it was fun, and nice to hang out with those two as I don't do that enough. We had some good laughs. Taffy is a good activity to try ONCE with your friends. I'd have been sick of it halfway through if it was by myself, haha. As it was, it took about 4 1/2 hours!!
Anyhow, that's all for now! Ta ta, and of course, Happy Baking!
Thursday, 1 December 2011
25 Day Christmas Baking Challenge Adventure: Day #2
I know what you're thinking: ooh Alexa (or some other variant of my name) you are cutting it close this time, it's already 11 o'clock and you haven't posted yet! Well, do not worry, I am not losing at my own game yet. And, just to be clear, there is no rule that says I have to post everyday, just that I bake or cook everyday, and blog about it at some point. That being said, I do plan to blog as soon as I've tried something.
Which brings me to today's Adventure: my attempt at Fortune Cookies. Notice I said "attempt." This is because, as you may have guessed, they did not turn out as I would have liked. Neverfear, they still taste fine, but they are not thin, they are poofy, and I couldn't fold them. This is due to the fact that I missed a step in the instructions: spread out the dough dropped on the tray into 3 inch round circles. Duh. So they are poofy, but they taste alright. They would be embarrassing if I had people over, but since I just made them to try, they didn't take very long, and no-one will know except for you and my hundreds of loyal readers, (eyeroll) it is all very well.
So that was my adventure for today. The Fortune cookies don't take very many ingredients, nor very long to make, so I may try them again tomorrow. If I do, and if they work (a lot of ifs!) then I may (and a may, wow!) post the recipe online.
Happy Baking!
Which brings me to today's Adventure: my attempt at Fortune Cookies. Notice I said "attempt." This is because, as you may have guessed, they did not turn out as I would have liked. Neverfear, they still taste fine, but they are not thin, they are poofy, and I couldn't fold them. This is due to the fact that I missed a step in the instructions: spread out the dough dropped on the tray into 3 inch round circles. Duh. So they are poofy, but they taste alright. They would be embarrassing if I had people over, but since I just made them to try, they didn't take very long, and no-one will know except for you and my hundreds of loyal readers, (eyeroll) it is all very well.
So that was my adventure for today. The Fortune cookies don't take very many ingredients, nor very long to make, so I may try them again tomorrow. If I do, and if they work (a lot of ifs!) then I may (and a may, wow!) post the recipe online.
Happy Baking!
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