Spreading the Holiday Cheer!

As the cool winter weather rushes in I have the sudden urge to listen to rather folksy music, slap on the uggs and replace the rest of the items in my wardrobe with knitted versions of themselves. Perhaps it's the deep-seeded canuck in me that craves this cold (or as some would call 'bleak') winter weather. But there is something really magical about the winter season: the air is brisk, the kindness of humanity is at an all time high, and did I mention the FOOD?

This is the time of year that I tend to shine, or as some say (ie. my husband) go a bit looney-tunes in the 'spreading the holiday cheer' department. Fortunately he loves the season just as much as I do, so in a way it kind of compensates.

But let's get serious for a moment, that special feeling of sparkly rainbows dancing in your tummy is often a result of people adding that extra something (ie fat and sugar) to every holiday recipe. Some of my earliest and happiest childhood memories are baking shortbread cookies with my grandma: secretly eating little bits of raw cookie dough when the adults 'weren't looking,' the smell of maraschino cherries lingering in the air and the excitement that came with seeing those beauties come out of the oven all golden. So if you find yourself craving that spine-tingling, heart stopping pleasure center that is holiday food: look no further my friends, you have arrived. :)

So here's the pitch, I am going to do a series of recipes leading up to the holidays that are some of my absolute favorites: traditional recipes with a modern twist! Think for a moment, of butter tarts (a traditional favourite in my household); now imagine replacing the raisin-y bit with a pink sugar plum version of itself. o_0 Yes, I think this will be a wonderful holiday. These are definitely not your Granny's recipes so stay tuned for the festivities!

This will be known hence as the Twelve days of Christmas Bake-athon!!! I really want to hear what y`all have to think about all these as well, so please comment away! Feel free to send along requests or to share your favourite holiday recipes!

Until next time folks I will leave you with this:
What was your fondest memory of holiday baking when you were young?
Leave your answer in the comments!

xo Jenn

Apple Pie Latte

It's a rainy mid-July day in England and for a Canadian who is used to the hot dry summers on the prairies, I'm beginning to think that it is Autumn again! With that seasonal mind set in mind, all I want is wintry foods chalked full of sugar and spice resulting in blissful cinnamon-induced comas.

While baking is a good option, I find that I am baking nearly every second day at the moment and as delicious as it is, it's not very forgiving on the waist-line! Solution: put the yummy-ness in not-so-bad-for-you drink form!

Enter the apple pie latte.

Complicated, no. Delicious, crave-curbing, apple-y heaven...yes. This drink is super easy to make too! So simple, in fact, that you may just replace your everyday, hum-drum coffee with this little dandy! It's one of those drinks that warms you up from the inside out, so if you're fortunate enough to have warmer weather, go ahead and serve it over ice for a real treat! Hot or cold, it's a delicious way to start or end any day!


Apple Pie Latte
serves 2 

Indgredients:
1 cup milk (or cream for extra richness)
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/2 tsp cinnamon
a pinch of nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup hot brewed coffee
sugar or maple syrup to taste (I used a hearty 1 1/4 tbsp helping for mine!)

Method:
1. Pour milk, apple sauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and sugar into a liquid measuring cup and whisk with a fork until combined. Place in microwave and cook until mixture is just bubbling. It should smell like apple pie when you take it out of the microwave!

2. Brew coffee of your choice. Combine coffee and milk mixture and pour into mugs of choice.

Enjoy!
xoxo Jenn