Wednesday, December 26, 2012

And So Normal Life Resumes

Merry Christmas!
 
I just wanted to drop in one more time before the Christmas season comes to a close to wish you all the best this time of year. I can only imagine how many gatherings and services you all attended, how much turkey, steak, and stuffing was eaten, and how much love and presents were exchanged between families and friends.
 
I, for one, had a fantastic Christmas, as my family always ensures. I spent Christmas Eve at home with my immediate family and Christmas day with the extended family in Winnipeg. When all was said and done, I couldn't have asked for a better family to get to call mine.
 
I also have a few baking projects from the holiday season that I wanted to share before it was too late. Enjoy :)
 
 
A tangled mess of Christmas lights on chocolate and vanilla cupcakes.

 
Cupcakes in homemade cupcake jars! The lids are made with caulking and lots of sparkles!
 
 
Peanut butter, chocolate dipped Bugles! I must toot my own horn, these are incredible!

 
Powdered sugar snowman donuts for Grandpa! A childhood favorite!
 
 
Did someone say Gingerbread time?!
 

The Gingerbread Village created by my mother and I.
 
Now I've saved the best thing for last...hold your horses everyone. This is going to be good!
 
 
 
.......are you ready?......
 
 
 
 

.....here it comes.........

 
 


 
Taaadaaa! Business cards, stickers, and a personalised notebook for my "business!"
 
 
Well, I won't take up too much of your time on this fine Boxing Day. So go forth and be merry!
You are all a blessing to me,
Sydney


Thursday, December 20, 2012

It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Pinterest

Merry four-days-til-Christmas! Are you ready? I am so ready! Now don't let me rant about how fast it came and how I can hardly even believe it's in four days and how much wrapping paper I've gone through already and how much more I'm going to go through in the next four days and how I can't wait to see everyone's reactions when they open their presents and and and....Christmas is in four days and I'm excited.
 
End of story.
 
I do have another story though! Okay, it's not much of a story but it will do. Who loves Pinterest? Everyone loves Pinterest. And who loves food and secret santas and friends and Christmas? Everyone loves..the aforementioned items. So with that rationale, my friends and I hosted a Pinterest Christmas Party!
 
It was a grand time. Every one who came brought some food item they had been waiting to try from their Pinterest boards. There was so. much. food. And it was all so good!
 
What did I bring? Hmm...well I do love cupcakes. And I do love chai tea. I'll let you do the math.
 

Now I must apologise for the lack of decent pictures. I might have forgotten until the party was underway to take pictures, so these are the results. But nonetheless, I made chai cupcakes.

I was slightly sceptical about the recipe, most of the reviews were pretty negative but i gave it a shot anyways. And I don't know what those grumpy people were complaining about. They really were excellent!

Chai Cupcakes
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 chai tea bags
  • 1/2 cup plain (or vanilla) yogurt
  • 3/4 cups white sugar
  • 1/4 canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 + 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/3 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • a pinch of black pepper
*Preheat oven to 350*
*Bring milk to a boil in a small saucepan, remove from heat, add tea bags, cover and steep for 10 minutes
*In a small bowl, mix together the milk-tea, yogurt, sugar, oil, and vanilla
*In a larger bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices together.
*Pour wet ingredients into the dry and blend until mixed.
*Divide batter into prepared cupcake pan and bake 20-25 minutes.
*Frost with your favourite icing!

I used my regular vanilla with some added cinnamon and cloves to match the spices in the cupcakes.

 
The flavour of these cupcakes was so identical to chai tea, it blew my mind. I was eating a cupcake and then it was like "Why does it taste like I'm drinking tea?!" It was the most magical and confusing experience ever.
 
And since this was a Pinterest recipe, I gave them a little credit.
 

You know our society is sad when the letter "P" stands for Pinterest in so many people's minds, my own included.

Well anyways, Thursday night laundry is calling my name.
Pleasure chattin' with you again. Have a merry Christmas!
Love you all,
Sydney