Buttercream Icing

Ok so we all know how I feel about cupcakes. I love them. And a good cupcake needs an amazing icing. Here it is in all its glory.

What you need:

1 brick of salted butter
8 cups of icing sugar
6 tsp vanilla (substitute for any flavour)
6-7 tbsp cream (18%)

Beat butter until fluffy. Add in half of the icing sugar, vanilla, and cream. Beat mixing well approx 2 min. Repeat with the remainder.

TA DA! Its that easy and so delicious.

Scalloped Potatoes

I have been asked for this recipe before, and they make a delicious addition to any meal.

What you need:

5-10 sliced potatoes
1 1/2 cup melted butter/margarine
3-4 cups of milk
2 1/2 -3 tbsp flour
2 tbsp parsley flakes
1 diced onion
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. First slice potatoes(I leave the skins on just make sure they're washed well). Layer the bottom of a casserole dish. You may need to adjust the quantities based on the size of dish you use. Salt and pepper to taste. Dice up the onion and sprinkle some over layer. Repeat these steps until casserole dish is full. Set aside.

In a saucepan melt butter. Stir in flour and parsley. Slowly add the milk until sauce starts thickening. Pour over potatoes into casserole dish. Make sure the sauce almost fills the casserole dish, and not right to the top. Leave enough room that it doesn't bubble over! If the sauce didn't fill close enough to the top make a bit more by just eyeballing the amounts of butter, flour and milk to get what you need.

Once all together, place in oven and bake at 350 for approx 1 1/2 hours. Longer if your dish is really deep or your potatoes are sliced thicker. Part way through using a knife, stab potatoes to see how well cooked they are.

The amounts I provided are approximations as I don't ever really measure! Hope you like them, they are one of my favourites! Goes great with Ham. ENJOY!

Toffee Blondies

I love this one! So easy and so delicious. Also you can add your favourites to this one no problem....your favourite nut, or chocolate chips...caramels...whatever you like!

What you need:

2 1/2 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup margarine/butter
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 pkg skor toffee bits

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl mix together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda. Add in sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Mix well. Add in margarine or butter. If its not soft enough add in another tablespoon or so of margarine. Once mixed together finally add toffee bits. You may also add in butterscotch or chocolate chips....or even pecans or walnuts.

Spread into a 9x9 ungreased baking pan. Bake for 25 min. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cookies

Ok so this has been a family favourite, and I make them often! Lots of people have asked me for this one in particular so here you go!

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 cup butter/margarine
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 cup pumpkin (pie filling)
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 tub vanilla icing
2-3 drops cinnamon flavour oil

In a medium mixing bowl, mix together butter, and sugars. Stir in vanilla,
egg, and pumpkin. Mix well.
In a separate large bowl, mix remaining dry ingredients together. Slowly add
wet ingredients.
Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets in desired size approximately 2 inches
apart. Using the spoon or fork lightly press down. Bake at 350 degrees for
approximately 12 minutes.


For Icing: Amounts are to taste, and depending on how much icing.
Using a store bought vanilla icing. Mix in approx 2-3 drops of cinnamon
flavour oil. Also mixing in Dark brown sugar (approx 1/4 cup)
Stir very well.

Once cookies have cooled, dig out a little bit from centre of cookie. This is
so the icing will sit nicely atop the cookie.



Enjoy! :)

Strawberry Cheesecake Squares

I thought for the first recipe I'd share my Strawberry cheesecake squares! This is an easy one to make and great for the summer. We love these!

WHAT YOU NEED:

2 1/2 cups crushed graham
1/2 cup sugar (divided)
2/3 cup of melted margarine or butter
1 1/2 packs of cream cheese
2 tbsp milk
1 tub cool whip (or as much as you'd like)
4 cups sliced strawberries (or as many as you want)

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the graham, 1/4 cup of sugar and the melted margarine. Press into a 13x9 pan. Bake for approx 10 min. Set aside to cool.

Beat cream cheese, the rest of the sugar, and the milk until its all blended. Stir in the cool whip. Spread over the crust. Then arrange the strawberries on top of the cream cheese layer. Be creative! Some I've done are a canadian flag, hearts, and flowers.

Also if you want a little twist add jello! Instead of arranging the berries directly onto the cream cheese add 2 cups of boiling water to 2 packs of strawberry jello. Once dissolved add 1 1/2 cups of cold water. Put in the fridge for about 1 1/2 hours until its thick. Then add the berries spreading it over the cream cheese layer and refridgerate for 3 hours.

Either way its delicious and light! Enjoy from our house to yours.

Intro

My name is Alanna and I'm a single full time working mom. My life is crazy and hectic but I still like to find time to do what I love. Bake. I have been asked time and time again for my recipes, and so I thought this would be a fun way to do just that. Happy baking!