Easter Baking

I wanted to try a couple of new things for Easter. Sometimes our family gets into the favourites and we stick with them for a very long time. This wasn't so far off the beaten path but it was a cute little idea that I picked up on Pinterest. I just baked a regular Funfetti cake mix cake and frosted it with my buttercream frosting. If you're not great with icing this is the cake for you. You can mess up the sides and cover them with adorable Peeps. Then I broke into one of my countless jars of Funfetti and had the perfect addition to the dessert table. What do you think?

Signs of Spring

I thought I'd better post this before it snows again. Seriously, this is the longest winter ever. I snapped this photo early in the week, while I was outside desperately searching for some signs of new growth. I was pleasantly surprised to see this brave little white crocus who sadly froze and wilted the next day but I knew we were moving in the right direction.

I am also happy to report that all 3 of my rhubarb plants survived the winter. Not sure how they will taste being in a quite shady situation but I hope to harvest a stalk or two this spring.

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

And now for something completely different. Well, a little different then the usual type of cookie that I like to make. This is a nice fresh tasting treat, feels a little spring-like after that nasty winter. Looks like I could have baked them a hair longer but they were very tasty anyway.

Try them for yourself.

Lemon Crinkle Cookies
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 tsp lemon zest
1 Tbsp lemon juice, fresh
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour (all purpose)

(About 1/2 cup icing sugar for rolling)

Cream butter and sugar, whip in vanilla, egg and lemon. Stir in dry ingredients until just combined excluding the icing sugar. I would chill them a bit, mine were quite soft.
If firm enough to form into balls, then roll them in powdered sugar and place on cookie sheet.

Bake for 9-11 minutes at 350F or until bottoms begin to brown and cookies look matte.

Kennel Club Progress

I had to take a bunch of photos to try and get a couple front and side shots of Lindor to send to the Kennel Club. She always wants to sit down or come close so her head always looks enormous.
There is still some snow in the backyard but fortunately not as much as in this photo.
Here's one of her "head" shots that I sent away.

Isn't she a pretty girl? On another note, here is her famous son Elvis meeting a (sort-of) famous person. Walter Gretzky, father of the Great One.

I remember when that puppy was born and we spotted the little white dot on his chest.

Morning Glory Muffins

These are my favourite muffins to get at the Stone Crock bakery in St. Jacobs but do you know what... I can make them just as easily at home. A delightful combination of carrots, apples, coconut and raisins. They were supposed to have nuts (I always use pecans) but I forgot them this time. You can really taste the different ingredients especially the fresh apple.  These are going to be a regular in the rotation now.

Morning Glory Muffins
In a large bowl mix:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

Stir in:
2 cups grated carrot
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup nuts
1/2 cup coconut
1 apple, peeled, cored and grated

In a bowl beat 3 eggs, I cup vegetable oil and 2 tsp. vanilla
Stir all together and back at 350 F for 20 minutes or so. I made large muffins, filled the cups right up and it made about 15. I think the oil could be scaled back slightly, the muffin liners were a little greasy but they muffins were light and delicious.

A Canadian Tradition

Every year, we Canadians look forward to the annual Tim Horton's Roll Up the Rim event.
This year was their anniversary ( I'm not even sure which one ) but I DO know there were TWO chances to win on each cup.

I'm not an excessive Tim's visitor but I am addicted to my morning coffee which I pick up on the way to work. They say that the chances to win are one in three so I thought it would be interesting to keep track. So here's the TALLY:
Purchased 47 cups of coffee- won 9 coffees and 5 donuts. Pretty close to 1 in 3 chances of winning.

I think the contest is drawing to a close. Yesterday, I got a plain cup. SO disappointing but it's another sign that spring is a little closer.

From the Heart Stamps Monthly challenge

The only challenge I seem to be able to keep up with these days is the monthly challenge at From The Heart stamps. It's a progressive challenge which means that if you complete it every month, you get the next month's image FREE! I love waiting to see what we are going to get to work with. This little guy is growing on me. This month we worked with Hamlet Pigwit Think Spring. He was super fast to colour and I just love how he worked up.

I'm trying to use a few products that I haven't used before so this card seemed perfect for my (new to me) Martha Stewart Butterfly punch. I even added a little bead to the butterfly's body.
I hoped by completing the inside of the card... spring might come a little sooner.