Candy Cane Frosting

1    cupunsalted butter  (2 sticks)

4    cupspowdered sugar

1/4 cupmilk

1/8 teaspoonall natural peppermint extract 

Prepare:

1. Beat butter until creamy, scrape bowl.

2. Add sugar, milk, and peppermint extract, beat until combined.

3. Add more powdered sugar as needed to get piping consistency (stiff).

Here are some cupcakes that I made last Sunday! Yippee, I stuck to my plan of baking on Sundays!! I used a mini cupcake pan that I bought last week instead of a big one. These were super easy to decorate because they are so little (and super easy to consume more than just one). The candy cane added a nice Christmas flare. I just had a little laugh over that fact that I used the word "flare"... Moving on. :) I recently discovered this amazing culinary store right across the street from my apartment. I checked it out last week and have been in a few times. I bought some cupcake boxes to help with transporting the cupcakes and to jazz them up a bit (you can also buy them at Michaels). I feel like every time I look out my window down onto Bayview I find a new store! Recently I was given a pair of binoculars (the ultimate creeping tool in my opinion). Ohhh binoculars, helping people creep since who knows when! I assure you I only creep in times of interest - how busy is the nail salon across the street? Well, maybe once I tried to see if I could see into the apartment directly across the street (curiosity got the best of me hehe). Rest assure, I was unsuccessful. Here is my recipe for the butter cream - the "Christmas Flare" version! You can use this frosting on cakes, cupcakes, or just lick it right of the old wooden spoon its so good! 

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! -JJ

Christmas Flare at its finest

The Boy in the kitchen... look out!

The cookie swap was a hit! Not only do you get to bake something, but you get to bring home even more baking than you brought, sweet deal (literally!) Thanks again to the Fab Hostess Nicole!! Time for me to conquer some must-do's before Christmas Eve - finish my shopping (tisk tisk), wrap presents, fill out my Christmas cards, do laundry, pack for home, oh... and lets not forget get a mani/pedi, throw on a Christmas movie, sit back and relax with a warm cup of white hot chocolate. :) Ahhhh I love days off!

Merry Christmas!

Amy and Laura love gingers!

Buy a kit, leaves more time for decorating!

Can you believe there are only 5 more days until the big man arrives!? Oh Christmas,  the most wonderful (busy, somewhat-stressful, crazy, expensive) time of the year! Its funny to think that Christmas shopping now seems to start up around Black Friday, you know... that time of the year where someone gets trampled, stabbed, or shot. We then end Christmas with children singing songs of peace and joy. (Its an interesting place we live in). Lets not forget about Christmas eve, the only day men finally force themselves into the hordes and hustle bustle of the mall (sorry guys, but its true). Although, Christmas is an exciting time for me, mostly because it means I can belt out all my favourite Christmas songs while commuting and watch Home Alone and Elf over and over... and over again.  I can't think of a more fun way to get into the Christmas spirit than by having a cookie swap. Food, baking, and catching up with friends... I'm in! Check out our gingerbread men, really fun and easy, and you can even buy it all pre-made! Amy and Laura totally nailed these hahah!

Roll fondant and buy sparkling icing

Mission Complete

One of my new favourite cookie recipes! The best part is you don't have to cook them all at once, you can store the dough and cook some up for a special occasions, or when you have a craving :) Super easy to do!

Prep 25 min   |  Total 1 hour


1 cup     all-purpose flour
1/2 cup  cornstarch
1/4 tsp   salt
3/4 cup  unsalted butter
1/2 cup  icing sugar
             zest from one lemon
3/4 cup chopped candied cherries (maraschino cherries work)
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
1/4 cup coarse white sugar


STIR flour with cornstarch and salt in a medium bowl. Using a wooden spoon, stir butter with icing sugar and *lemon zest in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in flour mixture, then cherries and nuts. Pour coarse sugar into a large, flat baking dish. Set aside.

DIVIDE dough into 2 portions. Place each on a piece of waxed paper. Form a roll into a log about 7 in. long and 1 1/2 inch wide. Roll each log in coarse sugar, pressing lightly so sugar adheres to dough. Roll log in wax paper and twist ends. Chill until firm, about 1 hr or overnight.


PREHEAT oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (not to be confused with wax paper!). Slice log into 1/4-in-thick-cookies. Arrange on prepared sheet 2 in. apart. Cookies will spread as they bake. Bake in center of oven until lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Remove and let cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough. Store in a airtight container up to one week or keep dough refrigerated up to one month.


*first time zester? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2phFht2JMA (you can also use a cheese grater)


Makes 55 cookies   |   58 calories per cookie
Find more awesome cookie recipes at chatelaine.com

Yes, this chick knits! My usual Thursday night for the past six weeks - grab my Starbucks (tall cafe misto, mild, with 2 pumps of sugar free vanilla = heaven), hop on the crowded street car and engage in some casual people watching until I hit my stop,The Knit Cafe. The one large window is filled with knitted owls sitting on a wood tree. Inside smells of coffee and baked goods and thousands of colours line the walls. Different textures, colours, patterns. In the middle of the store there are six chairs seated around a medium sized table wedged up to a big bay window that faces Queen Street. I gander though the different wool, already planning projects in my head. About six of us, all girls in their mid 20's, sit around the table - sipping cafe lattes and chatting... stitching and bitching to be exact. Each week we meet up - I check my cell phone at the door. Two hours spent in my own little world; knitting, chatting, sipping my latte. At the end of my 6 weeks, I have 2 scarves and a matching hat. I'm working on wrist warmers, and from high demand, will be making a chunky cowl neck scarf next! Thinking maybe selling some items - open for suggestions! Hat and scarf below - email me for patterns.

Welcome to Cupcake Sundaes, and the first of many postings! I'm finally all settled into my new apartment in the big city. A peak into my pantry involves climbing 3 sets of stairs (that's right, no elevators). Having to move everything I own up these stairs has proved to be a real pain in the... arse! Literally. Everyone who pitched in probably has some serious buns of steel by now! The best news, my kitchen is finally up and running. I like to think my kitchen went from blah, to new and improved! Grey walls, white cupboards, stainless steel appliances and red accents... Martha would be so proud. Cupboard space is another issue, but low and behold, I had enough room for all my cake pans :)

This is looking to be a busy weekend of baking. With Christmas coming, the creative juices are flowing! Some things you should expect to see this week include;  pecan icebox cookies with cherries, gingerbread men, my first attempt at cake pops, and eggnog cupcakes! 

Something to brighten your day... and make you feel guilt free for all your Christmas indulgences!