Runs on Coffee and Cream

Recently I had an extensive conversation with some of the IGGPPC staff about pie and our love for pie. Ontario doesn't really have pie restaurants or shops. Some restaurants serve different types of pie as part of their dessert selection but none are really known for pie. This makes me sad and makes me want to open up my own Pie Hole!

Of course after our conversation I had to make a pie. So I used what I had on hand... graham cracker crumbs, butter, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and leftover caramel sauce.

I made my graham cracker crust and let it cool. Once it cooled down a bit and hardened, I added caramel sauce and attempted to spread it over the crust (I say attempted since it was so thick!).



Next, I made my apple filling.... peeled and cut apples, water, sugar, and a bit of corn starch to thicken it up. Then I sprinkled some cinnamon and nutmeg in the apple mixture as it softened.



Once it was done, I poured the apple mixture into the pie crust and let it cool for a few hours.



It was SO good and definitely fulfilled my pie craving!

I also made up some cookies recently for Adam. Again, I used what I had on hand and tried to make them Christmas-y. I came up with White Chocolate-Cranberry-Oatmeal cookies (get it? red and white?!?). They turned out super soft and I may be addicted to them...



I have two days off starting tomorrow so I'm going to make up some more Christmas cookies. I have lots of ideas, but we'll see how much I actually get done!
xo Jen

I have been baking up a storm lately! We always have homemade cookies on hand and with Valentine's Day coming up, I tend to bake a bit more than usual because I know how much the Mr. likes homemade sweets.

For my grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary party I made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting. They turned out pretty yummy but I'm having a hard time finding a perfect chocolate cupcake recipe... they tend to be a bit dry. Either way, all the cupcakes were eaten up at the party.



There was a decent amount of frosting leftover so I made up a batch of gingerbread whoopie pies that I received as a gift for Christmas. I used the first mix from the box to make whoopie pies almost a month ago and I filled the whoopie pie pan (yes, I have a pan for them) too full. They were so fluffy!



Ridiculously tall, but yummy!



The second time around? Much better! I also preferred my vanilla buttercream over the mix they give you in the box. I think piping the frosting in the middle looks much nicer as well.



Last weekend I did make cookies which turned out to be so good. Too good. I cannot stop eating them. I have a recipe I use all the time. I just mix up the sweet stuff - raisins, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, etc. - to change them up. These are my favourite.

White Chocolate-Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter or margarine (I used 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
1 cup dried, sweetened cranberries
1 cup mini white chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats, dried cranberries and chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 7-8 minutes for chewy cookies. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes approx. 4 dozen cookies.



They are sooo good! I highly recommend trying this recipe. Using applesauce makes the cookies so much fluffier and lighter as well. The rest of this month will be another bakeathon for me! Between Valentine's Day and 2 birthdays for special ladies in my life, I have a lot to make.

xo Jen