Chocolate Chip Cookies

After how many years, I treated myself to a new mixer!  With company in the house, I decided to make some chocolate chip cookies and test out the mixer at the same time.  This recipe is an old favourite from a western Canadian cookbook first published in 1988.  Jean Pare has published more cookbooks than probably anyone else in Canada.  The recipes are simple, dependable and good.  I've been disappointed only a few times over many years.  Each book has its own focus.  This recipe is from her COOKIES book. The original version has nuts, but I don't include those.  Here's a picture of Jean...

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1  1/2   cups brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream the butter and brown sugar.  Beat in the eggs and vanilla.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate.)

Stir in the dry ingredients, then add the chocolate chips.  Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Ginger Beer

Wonderful day yesterday!  It truly felt like the first day of summer.  To celebrate Mother's Day, we had a great meal, gathered around the BBQ.  I'm not a beer drinker, but I really enjoyed trying Royal Jamaican Ginger Beer for the first time.  If you're expecting beer, you'll probably be disappointed, but if you enjoy tall, cold drinks that aren't too sweet, you might like this one.  It definitely has a strong ginger taste.  This one is 5% alcohol.

PS....At Superstore, you can get a non-alcoholic Jamaican ginger beer that is also quite good.

Mini Dessert Hunt

I love dessert, but not the calories, so I decided to cruise around and find some miniature dessert ideas this morning.  Here's an idea from Marilyn at 4 You With Love.  Shaker Lemon Mini Cheesecakes!  I've made mini cheesecakes with vanilla wafers in a muffin tin before.  Topped with cherry pie filling, they're tasty and popular at Christmas.  Marilyn's idea of paper thin lemon slices and sugar left over night and then boiled up into a delicious lemony topping was appealing.  With some fresh berries on the side, this would be a great summer dessert.  Check out Marilyn's recipe, complete with pictures, using the link below.

Shaker Lemon Mini Cheesecakes

Saskatoon Bread Pudding

Looking for some comfort food that's easy and quick to make? Try this recipe for bread pudding.  I've used Saskatoons, but other fruit could easily be substituted. 


Heat oven to 325 degrees; grease an 8x8 inch pan.


2  eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups milk
1 cup sugar


Beat eggs well.  Stir in melted butter, vanilla and milk.  Add sugar and beat well.


Fill pan with cubed bread.  I used 2/3 of a whole wheat baguette.  Pour egg mixture over bread and allow to soak for 30 minutes.  Add 1 cup of Saskatoons. Bake for 60 - 80 minutes, uncovered.


Cut into 9 pieces and serve with ice cream.


Excellent warm or cold.  Enjoy!

Tomorrow promises to be a beautiful spring day, a great one to spend outdoors.  This photo is from last year, but the garden definitely does not look like this right now. : ) 

And while the kids are in the kitchen...

...here's another recipe they can try. It's an "oldie"! My version dates back to a book from the mid-seventies. I dug it up to pass along to a friend who had to plan a vegan meal this weekend. With no eggs and no milk, this recipe fit the bill.

Before the kids whip up the recipe, let them experiment first by adding a liquid (vinegar) to a solid (baking soda). All those bubbles are what make this recipe turn into a cake!

1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. cocoa

Mix thoroughly in an 8 x 8 or a 7 x 11 cake pan.

1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Add and stir in well.

5 Tbsp. oil
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla

Make three holes in mixture. Pour oil in one, vinegar in another and vanilla in the third hole.

1 cup cold water

Pour over all ingredients in cake pan. Beat until smooth. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Kool Aid Playdough

It's a rainy "inside" day today. Here's a kid favourite...quick to make and lots of fun.

2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 Tbsp. oil
2 cups boiling water
1 package Kool Aid

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Mix oil and water. Add to flour. Mix well.

Playdough can be stored in the refrigerator for one month.