Oreo Truffles

Total Time:

Prep Time:

Cook Time:

1 hr

1 hr

0 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Oreo cookies (3 sleeves)
• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (using different extracts allows for subtle flavour changes...I've used mint extract, upped to 1 tsp) (optional)
• 1 lb milk chocolate
• 1/2 lb white chocolate

Directions:

1. 1
   Using a food processor, grind cookies to a fine powder. With a mixer, blend cookie powder, cream cheese and vanilla extract until thoroughly mixed (there should be no white traces of cream cheese).
2. 2
   Roll into small balls and place on wax-lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate for 45 minutes.
3. 3
   Line two cookie sheets with wax paper. In double-boiler, melt milk chocolate. Dip balls and coat thoroughly. With slotted spoon, lift balls out of chocolate and let excess chocolate drip off. Place on wax-paper-lined cookie sheet.
4. 4
   In separate double boiler, melt white chocolate. Using a fork, drizzle white chocolate over balls. Let cool.
5. 5
   Store in airtight container, in refrigerator.
6. 6
   Note: When I am exceedingly lazy (most often the case these days), I forego the chocolate 'dip' and merely roll my truffles into various mixtures - chopped nuts, chocolate sprinkles, vari-coloured candy sprinkles, cocoa powder, chocolate shavings, coloured sugars -- still pretty -- less work.

Shortbread Cookies

Total Time:

Prep Time:

Cook Time:

32 mins

15 mins

17 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup icing sugar or 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 1/4 cup red maraschino cherry
• 1/4 cup green maraschino cherry

Directions:

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. 2
   In a mixing bowl and using an electric mixer, combine butter, flour, icing sugar and vanilla extract; mix until mixture is a smooth consistency.
3. 3
   Prepare cookie sheets with parchment paper.
4. 4
   Spoon out dough onto parchment lined cookie sheets by teaspoonfuls or by tablespoons for larger cookies, spacing about 2 inches apart.
5. 5
   Cut maraschino cherries into quarters and place one piece in the middle of each cookie, alternating with red and green cherries.
6. 6
   Bake in preheated 350 F oven for 13 to 15 minutes or until bottom of cookies are lightly browned, DO NOT OVERBAKE.
7. 7
   Remove from oven and let cool on cookie sheet for about 5 minutes.
8. 8
   Transfer onto wire racks to finish cooling.
9. 9
   Store in a container with a lid and separate each layer with wax paper.
10. 10
    NOTE: If you wish to add some flavor to the cookies, add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract or almond extract.
11. 11
    Use sprinkles, half an almond or half a cashew or chocolate to the top of the cookies before baking.
12. 12
    A thumbprint in the cookie, filled with your choice of jam is very tasty.
13. 13
    It has been suggested that the cookies be refrigerated for at least 1/2 hour before baking for a different texture.

• 
  

Carrot Cake

Total Time:

Prep Time:

Cook Time:

1 hr 5 mins

20 mins

45 mins

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 3/4 cups white sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained

FROSTING

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups icing sugar

Directions:

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
2. 2
   Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; make a well in the center and add sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. Mix with wooden spoon until smooth.
3. 3
   Stir in carrots, coconut, walnuts and pineapple. Pour into 9x13 inch pan and bake for about 45 minutes. Don't panic, the centre will sink a little.
4. 4
   Allow to cool; when cool, ice the cake. You can certainly use your favourite cream cheese frosting to ice this cake, but the one I've included is highly recommended (I usually leave the cake in the 13x9 pan and just ice the top).
5. 5
   To make the frosting: Cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth; add the icing sugar and beat until creamy

• 
  

Chewy Oatmeal Maple Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup real maple syrup
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk or cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour (for extra chewy cookies, use bread flour)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups rolled oats

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. In a mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, maple syrup, and melted butter, stirring until mixture is fully combined and caramel in color. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk and vanilla before adding into the sugar/butter mixture. In a separate bowl, sift the dry ingredients together (flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg). Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, followed by the oats. Once combined, allow dough to rest for 5-10 minutes before spooning 1/4 cup mounds onto a prepared baking sheet, six cookies per sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.

Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Cider

8 cups apple cider
1/2 cup caramel sundae syrup
juice of 1 lemon
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon whole allspice
whipped cream (for garnish)

Directions
Combine all ingredients except for whipped cream in a medium-sized slow cooker. Stir well until syrup dissolves into the mixture then cook on low heat for at least one hour before serving with fresh whipped cream on top. If the allspice pods bother you, pour the cider through a strainer before serving.

Molasses Spice Cookies
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup molasses
3/4 cup shortening
1 egg
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 cup sugar for coating

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix sugar, molasses, shortening, and egg until smooth and well combined. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients together before adding to the sugar mixture. Stir until well combined and stiff. Roll the dough into one-inch balls and then roll each ball in the sugar coating twice. (This gives your chewy cookie a nice, sweet “crust.”) Place prepared dough balls on a prepared cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove cookies and allow to cool on a baking sheet.

Homemade Egg Nog

4 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
3 ounces bourbon
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for garnish
4 egg whites

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks until they become light and lemony in color. Add the 1/3 cup of sugar and beat until sugar is completely dissolved, then add the milk, cream, and bourbon and nutmeg. Stir well. In a separate mixing bowl of an electric mixer, whip the egg whites until soft peaks begin to form. Sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of sugar as it is mixing, and whip until peaks are stiff and hold their shape. Gently fold the egg whites into the milk mixture until the two are combined and texture is smooth and creamy. Chill before serving.

Banana Bread Bread Pudding

1 loaf banana bread (9 x 5)
2 cups milk
1 cup half-and-half
4 large eggs
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare an 8 x 8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, beat the milk, half-and-half, eggs, sugar and vanilla together until frothy. Slice the bread into one-inch squares and place in the baking dish. Pour the milk mixture over the top and allow the dish to rest for five minutes before baking for 50-60 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving with ice cream or warm cream.

HINT: This recipe works particularly well if the bread is slightly stale because it soaks up the custard and is able to retain some shape. Fresh bread will work, but may not hold the cube shapes as well.