UeaT

Does this sound familiar?

It is two weeks to Christmas. Your Christmas shopping has yet to begin. The lineups are now bordering on insane, and everything seems to be sold out. The quest for the perfect, unique-but-affordable gift is slowly dying. You are considering running away to Bora Bora for the holidays.

Christmas can be overwhelming. But only if you let it become overwhelming.

Your gift shopping does not have to be so hard….read on for a list of “unique yet affordable” presents which make you go yumm.

1- Chef’s Hats: These puffy white hats with your name embroidered on them are available online…just do a quick Google search. They may not be too useful but you know mom will feel like a queen when she wears her hat to bake a special batch of cookies for you. It’s a win-win type of present.

2- Subscription to delicious magazine: This glossy magazine is so pretty. The pictures should be enough to make anybody go yumm. The recipes are easy to follow, there are many low fat, healthy options, and the finished products turn out yummy. This is a great gift for mom, dad, or anybody else who enjoys cooking up a storm. You can buy the magazine at any bookstore, and the subscription can be mailed in or purchased online.

3- Peppercorn and Sea Salt Mills: Once you have used pepperballs and saltballs, you will never use a pepper shaker again. The flavor of peppercorn and sea salt is a big plus point. Other pluses include the adorable shapes they come in. These are available at most kitchen stores, as well as online.

4- Batch of cookies: This makes a great present for friends you are not too close to, and in Secret Santa situations where you don’t know who will get your gift. Pick out your favorite cookie recipe, or use one of ours, bake a BIG batch, put them in cookie tins and give them out. Of course, feel free to eat some yourself. J

5- Purdy’s Hedgehogs: We dare you to buy these for presents and not eat them until Christmas morning. These Hazelnut-flavored Hedgehog-shaped truffles are arguably the most delightful treat to come out of Canada. Yup, they’re up there with Cow’s icecream, beavertails and poutine. Purdy’s is a Canadian company which began in Vancouver 102 years ago…so in a way, you’re buying local when you buy these hedgehogs.

You can buy and have them gift wrapped for free at their retail locations (Erin Mills Town Center, Vaughan Mills and Fairview Mall) or order them from their website.

Anybody have any other yummy ideas they’d like to share?

Hello to a new week and the first snowfall of the season!!
We suggest that you stay indoors, drink warm hot chocolate, and bake some delicious Shortbread Sugar Cookies. They are super simple and quick to make, and turn out absolutely amazing!
(Click on the image to make it larger)

As promised, here is the second installment of the U-Cookie recipes. Click on the image to make it larger, and right click to save it to your computer.   Enjoy!
You will need:
2 1/4 cups margarine
2 cups brown sugar
3 whole eggs
2/3 cups molasses (not blackstrap molasses)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Steps to follow:

• Mix all dry ingredients together and sift.
• Cream together the margarine and brown sugar in a standing mixture until smooth and light (4-5 mins).
• Slowly add the sifted ingredients to the creamed margarine and mix evenly until smooth.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours (or overnight).
• Roll the dough with your hands into golf-ball sized shapes.
• Roll the balls into sugar on one side, leave the other side clean.
• Lay the dough balls (clean side down) on a parchment lined baking tray and bake at 350F for 12-15 mins.
• They should appear brown around the edges. Cool on a wire rack.