Breakfast Cookies (Vegan)

A couple months ago I started a new job, although still with the same employer, it is a different role for a year.  It was one of those opportunities that land on your lap and you'd be crazy to turn it down.  The role I was in already was a satisfying one, so leaving it was a tough choice.  Colleagues I loved, work that challenged me, coupled the ability to go home everyday, leaving work behind me.  Leaving that comfort behind was scary at first, but I've quickly settled into my new role.

Black Bean Chocolate Chili Cookies

It's almost Valentine's Day and this might be our best one yet.  Don and I have never celebrated this silly holiday.  Perhaps because we were married a mere six days past the 14th, we have both passed on giving gifts or celebrating any sort of romantic notions.  Having kids changed this game plan a little, as the school system is quick to embrace the Valentine's culture.  For years we have made cards and chocolate dipped strawberries to share with classmates.  It's fun, but often a mad rush to have them completed in time.

Gluten Free Rocky Road Cookies

All this healthy January eating is coming to a slow grind as our schedule fills with many activities. Grabbing a quick meal on the road or snacks to get us through a hockey game has started to increase.  As someone who is usually far better prepared, it's cringe worthy when these stops happen.  I don't judge others who need or want to make those choices, it's a personal one for sure.   It's a quiet day at home today and I intend to spend it in the kitchen catching up on meals and snacks that need to be made and those that I've been wanting to make.  

Key Lime Cocoa Ice Cream Cupcakes~ Gluten Free

Not too often does life give us second chances.  So many nights I have spent replaying a conversation or interaction and wishing I could go back in time to change the outcome.  It drives Don nuts, listening to me process what could have been done differently or how to make those changes now.  In February 2012 I auditioned for the tv show Recipe to Riches.  Not long after that experience I started this blog.  It ignited a desire to communicate about my love of food and desire to share it with others.  Writing and maintaining this space is both fun and satisfying for me.  I am grateful to Recipe to Riches for sparking this journey and prompting me to explore my creativity both in writing and cooking.  My one regret since that audition?  Not being myself.  The hand pie I took was tasty, there is no doubt about that.  The problem was it never represented me or how I cook.  It was designed solely to be made into food in a box and to win a contest. It came dangerously close to being on supermarket shelves. I think I would have been apologizing for the rest of my life if that had happened.  That's not really how I cook.. read my blog for some great side salads to go with that...

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Clusters

Simplicity is so often desired and yet so difficult to achieve.  A quick peak at our calendar and you will see far too many days with events scribbled in.  Worse yet, are the days with multiple entries.  While I profess the importance of downtime with our family, I struggle to live by those words. 

Lemon Speculoos Ice Cream

Being in the kitchen with Josilin has become one of my favourite activities.  When both kids were young we baked a lot of cookies, muffins and scones together.  Inevitably they would start licking spoons, bowls and beaters.  Every bit of me struggled with this behaviour and I regret to say, we stopped baking for awhile because of it.  Most times we were baking for other people and I couldn't in good conscience give away food that had my kids' goobers in it.  It quit being fun when I spent most of the time being "mean mommy." 

Banana Date Oatmeal Cookies

The kids had a snow day this week.  It was the first time schools have been closed for a very long time.  Luke says it has never happened, but I think perhaps five years ago there was another winter storm that blew through.  The night before both kids slept with their pj's inside out and a spoon under your pillow.  Rumour has it this will bring on a snow day.  Luke is now convinced it worked.  I don't have the heart to tell him that every weather station was predicting this storm.  Why not let him believe in a little magic?

Nut and Seed Biscotti

 

Giving food away to people is a favourite activity of mine.  If you know me personally, you have likely received some unsolicited jam, cookies or pies in our time together.  Once I've established you like to receive food, I'm even more likely to bring you something tasty.  The first time I show up with an edible gift is always a little awkward for me.  Reactions range from elation to surprise to panic (oh no!  you made me food, now I have to make you food).  Hockey teams, neighbours, friends and family - they all know sharing food is a habit I just can't break.

Carrot Cake Cookies

 

When I was growing up we ate a lot of processed food. That might come as a surprise, given the amount of whole food and obsession with healthy eating on this site.  As a true eighties kid, my mom served us sugary cereal, cookies from a box, cheese slices and frozen dinners.  As someone who grew up on a farm she ate what they produced throughout her childhood.  As a young adult, I'm sure she found all these new foods exciting and quite simply, easier.  The one exception to all the store bought food, was cakes.  She decorated cakes as a part time job and carrot cake was (and still is) her speciality.  I still remember the first time I finally tried carrot cake.  I was certain I would hate it (it had vegetables in it!) and much to my surprise, it was delicious.  Sometimes moms do know best!

Popcorn Chocolate Chip Cookies

When I was 17, I left home and moved away to attend university.  I moved into a dorm eager to leave home and small town living behind me.  My roommate was a friend from high school who I didn't know very well, but hoped would be a good match.  We all know how this story ends.  She of course become my best friend, was maid of honour at my wedding and remains a faithful friend some twenty years later.  Dorm life was fun, classes were interesting but the food was terrible. 

Raw Oatmeal Cookies and Aug Foodie Penpals

It's my second month of participating in Foodie Pen Pals.  Not sure what this is?  Take a look here  After my first go around, I felt like a real pro.  I knew what I wanted to send this time (much lighter items!) and what I would request be sent to me if asked (local and healthy).  Well, I may have failed on both accounts.  I did request my items to be local, but I chuckled when the package arrived from a town not 30min away.  No wonder she didn't want to send local: we live in the same community!  Signing up for this program, I had fantasies of receiving products from coast to coast that one could not procure in my hometown.  Once I got over that disappointment, I was delighted to take a closer look at just what had been sent.  Firstly, I had never tried any of the products before, so that was pretty cool since I love trying new things.  Secondly, it was all very healthy and thoughtful with everything tasting great.  Most of the products were gluten free, which meant I could share them with my GF mom too.  I made these cookies with the GF granola she sent and the kids were thrilled that once again they received something just for them! I couldn't have asked for a better package and felt a little silly that I had ever felt let down that it was not coming from an exotic location.

Gluten Free Granola Cookie

We often joke that Luke was born with a ball and glove in his hands.  You name a sport and very likely Luke either plays it, has played it or dreams of playing it someday.  He’s been asking to try golf for sometime now.  He loves watching the Masters and British Open on tv and will pretend he is golfing around the house.  The tricky thing about golf is that unless you play already, it’s a pretty big commitment to give a kid a try.  Neither Don or I play, so it wasn’t like we could just bring him along sometime to play with us.  I'm not aware of any course that let's you drop your kids off to learn the sport either.

Key Lime Cookies

 It's been a tough week in our community.  When tragedy strikes, it can impact each of us in a different way.  Feelings of helplessness, anger, fear, sadness and hope abound.  As our family tries to make sense of all that has happened, I have found myself finding more joy in the small things.  I no longer take for granted that my two beautiful blessings: Josilin and Luke will be here, as they are, each day.  I'm hugging them a whole lot more and annoyed a whole lot less, because today is the only guarantee we have.  Moments like these cause me to pause and remember what is important and to worry a whole lot less.  Perspective.

Almost famous

It was only a matter of time I suppose.  All these years of blog reading would eventually lead to me writing my own.  I love going back to the very first post of my favourite blogs.  It's always awkward and not the least like their current writings.  So I suppose, that is how it will begin.  Clunky and awkward and perhaps move forward to something different.