Cereal Milk Popcicles

Corn Pop-cicles?  Yes!  I figure I'm in the midst of a mid-winter crisis, kind of like a mid-life crisis? For some reason, despite the freezing temperatures of the last few weeks, I had a hankering for some ice cream.  Completely irrational, illogical, insane! 

Once you taste these frozen treats, you will question my sanity no longer!  I figured it was time to give the cereal milk trend a go.  Ya, I know, I'm waaaaay behind the times.  But, whateva - Better late than never, and now I can see what all the fuss is about.  I can foresee many cereal milk recipe creations in my future, especially if the boys in my house have anything to do with it.  

What I like about the cereal milk concept, is that you can "make it your own".  A nostalgic throwback to Saturday morning cartoons in your jammies, after consuming all the crunchy sugary goodness, slurping down the remaining milk straight from the bowl.  The flavour opportunities are endless: fruit loops, cinnamon toast crunch, captain crunch, just reminisce of your favourite cereal from your childhood. If its your thing, add some extra dry cereal to the end of the popcicle, for a little chewy treat waiting for you for an all-star finish! 

Cereal Milk Corn PopCicles


3 cups Corn Pops cereal (plus additional dry cereal to add to molds, if desired)
2 1/2 cups milk (I used 2%)
1/2 cup half and half cream
3 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract



Using a large bowl, stir together the milk, cream, and Corn Pops.  Let soak for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Strain out cereal and discard.
In a medium pot, over medium-high heat, whisk together the cereal milk, egg yolks, sugar and vanilla.  Bring mixture to a boil, while continuing to stir, to avoid scalding the milk.  Remove from heat, and cool in the in the fridge until completely cold.  
Pour the cooled cereal milk mixture into your Popsicle molds, and add additional dry cereal if using, before inserting the Popsicle sticks.  Place in the freezer for at least 6-8 hours.

Enjoy!

Vegan Peanut Butter & Jelly Breakfast Pie!

It's Peanut butter jelly breakfast pie! 

Peanut butter breakfast pie!

  Peanut butter breakfast pie!!

Now Where he at?
Where he at?

Where he at?

Where he at?

Now There he go
There he go
There he go
There he go

(Faster!) Its Peanut butter jelly
Peanut butter jelly
Peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat!
 

Now break it down ...

and freeze!

Every. Single. Time.  I make this Peanut Butter Breakfast Pie, I get this song in my head.  I'm all about sharing, so now you can sing along!
Pie for breakfast?!  Hell to the yes!   This creation, is actually more like a giant jelly filled cookie than a pie; if that makes you feel any better?!  You can opt for an alternative nut butter, and choose your favourite jam/jelly, I used my Mom's homemade huckleberry jam.  MmMmMmM ! 


Here you go:  10 Hours of PB Jelly Time!  Just try to get this out of your head now, Muahahahaha!



Vegan Peanut Butter Jelly Breakfast Pie
Recipe adapted from:the Frosted Vegan

1/3 cup peanut butter (or your fave nut butter!)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 flax egg (1 tablespoon flax + 4 Tablespoons water)
1/2 cup oat flour
1/2 cup spelt flour (WW or AP flour would be a fine substitute)

For the filling:
3/4 cup jelly or jam (your fave flavour!)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a pie pan or a skillet and set aside.  Make your flax egg, by whisking together water and flax, and set aside to thicken for at least 5-10 mins.
In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.  Next add the oat and spelt flour(s), baking powder, and flax egg, stirring until thoroughly combined.
Spread half of the mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pie pan or skillet, spreading evenly.
Top with the jelly, spreading it out, not quite to the edge.   Drop the remaining batter on top of the jelly, distributing as evenly, as possible.
Bake for about 30-40 minutes, until top is browned and filling is bubbling. Allow to cool for 10-15 before serving.

Enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Dipped Crunchy Coconut Cashew Sesame Bars

Hmmmm, new name maybe?  "Dark Chocolate Dipped Crunchy Coconut Cashew Sesame Bars"...that's quite the mouthful, but so are these bars, soooo maybe it's a fitting name after all?!
I made these bars when I got home from our recent Caribbean cruise, and was trying to wean my sweet tooth off the buffet.  If you haven't been on a cruise before, the food alone is worth the vacation. For real.
You get seating every evening in a fancy restaurant, but Cory's idea of a vacation is not having to put on socks or shoes for a week.  It was the middle of January - I get it, Flop on, Bro!   My idea of a vacation, is not having to cook or clean or nag at children.  Also high on that list is getting to read as much as I want, especially if I get to read whilst bathing in the warmth of the sun.

We compromised on one formal night with suits (and socks & shoes!) at the fancy restaurant, and every other night we could hit the buffet.  Which in the end, was not that much of a concession for me, as the buffet was always outstanding.  I managed to eat really healthy for the most part.  But the dessert buffet?  Oh. Man.  I had at least one bite of each different kind of cake, I mean, how could you not?!  However, I didn't just eat and be guilt free, I ran at least 5 Kms each day, to allow myself this indulgence.  Worth it.

These heavily seeded roasty-toasty bars, are full of so much good stuff, they are practically guilt-free. You get healthy fats, protein, and mega-crunch from the cashews, chia, hemp, and sesame seeds, accompanied by the slight sweetness of the coconut and chocolate, with just a hint of cinnamon in the mix.
Warning!  A good teeth-brushing should follow consumption!

Dark Chocolate Dipped Crunchy Coconut Cashew Sesame Bars
Recipe adapted from Half Baked Harvest

1 1/2 cups raw cashews
1/2 cups coconut flakes
3 Tablespoons white sesame seeds
3 Tablespoons black sesame seeds
1/2 cup ground flax
1 Tablespoon chia seeds
3 Tablespoons hemp hearts
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup pure maple syrup or honey
1 + 1 Tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
1/2 cup (approx) 72 % Dark chocolate, melted


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 x 8 baking pan with parchment,leaving overhang on all sides, and set aside.
Toast cashews, coconut, sesame seeds, flax meal and hemp seeds in separate areas on a large rimmed baking sheet, stirring occasionally (taking care to not mixing the seeds and nuts), until golden brown, about 8-12 minutes.  **The coconut toasted ALLOT faster than other ingredients, I removed it from the pan after about 8 minutes, and continued toasting other ingredients**.
Let nuts and seeds cool slightly and measure out 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, and 1 tablespoon hemp hearts. Set these seeds aside to top the bars with.
Add the cashews, the coconut and the remaining sesame, flax meal, and hemp hearts plus the salt to a food processor or high powdered blender. Process until finely chopped.
Using a medium saucepan, bring maple syrup (or honey) and the 1 Tablespoon coconut oil to a boil. Cook, stirring, for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Finally, add the cashew/seed mixture and stir to coat.
Press the mixture firmly into the prepared pan, using wet hands if necessary. Top the bars with the reserved seeds from earlier, and gently press to adhere.
Bake until golden brown, 25–30 minutes. Let cool, then remove from pan (keep the parchment in there!), and cut into the bars.
Melt the chocolate in a double broiler, or microwave, adding the extra 1 Tablespoon coconut oil if needed for a thinner chocolate.
Pour about 3/4 of the melted chocolate back into the parchment lined pan. Use the cooled bars, to help spread out the chocolate as you add them back in, bathing their bottom in the chocolate as you go. Use the remaining melted chocolate to drizzle over the top. Allow the chocolate to harden in the fridge or freezer, before breaking or cutting apart to serve.


Enjoy!

Bacon, Egg, & Avocado Corn Cakes

This is how we started out 2015...filling our faces with this amazing breakfast.  I don't even remember what we did for New Years.  For a change, it was not because I boozed it up.  We spent New Year's Eve having a quiet night at home with the kids.  I'm pretty sure we watched a movie?  I'm also pretty sure we didn't even make it 'til midnight.  New Year, New Us.

This one comes from a new cookbook, called Seriously Delish, the voice & author behind the blog How Sweet Eats: Jessica Merchant.  I've had a crush on this blog for quite some time, and was eager to sink my teeth into this cookbook!  What confuses me about this recipe though, is that "Bacon" is in the title, but appears no where in the actual recipe?  I read it a few times over, because sometimes I read too fast and skim over essentials.  But, ya.  How did that get past the editors? Librarian problems...we notice the details;)  Rest assured my version does indeed include the bacon, but feel free to omit if you just wanna get your veg on!  Cory loves the bacon (duh!), but doesn't dig the avocado action.  Grate some cheese for the lacto-lover!

Psst - The leftover corn cakes make great little croutons when cubed and reheated or baked, and your can turn the leftovers (sans egg, or make it hard boiled!) into an awesome tomatoes & avocado salad which pairs perfectly with a Dijon-y dressing.

Bacon, Egg, & Avocado Corn Cakes
Recipe adapted from:Seriously Delish Page 39

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup cornmeal, finely ground
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
1 shallot, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
2 Tablespoons canola oil
4 large eggs, for serving
8 slices bacon, cooked, for serving (at least!  cook it all - save it for leftovers & salads & such!)
1 tomato, chopped, for serving
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and sliced, for serving
Grated cheddar cheese, for serving (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400.  Lay out bacon on a cookie sheet covered with tin foil, and bake for about 8-10 mins per side.  Once done lay bacon on paper towel to soak up access grease, and keep warm until corn cakes and eggs are ready to assemble.
While the bacon is baking, get your cakes together.  Using a small bowl, whisk together the 2 eggs, along with the milk set aside.  Using a large bowl, mix together the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, salt and pepper, along with the corn, shallots, and garlic.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and mix until just combined.
Heat a large non-stick pan over medium high heat, and add the oil.  Add the corn batter about 1/3 cup
measure.  Make sure to leave enough room between each corn cake.  Cook about 2-4 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through.  Repeat until all the batter is used up.
Cook the eggs to your liking:  over-easy, sunny side up, poached, scrambled, etc.
Assemble your stack by laying out the corn cakes first, followed by bacon, sliced avocado, tomatoes, and finally, topped with the egg.  Season with additional Salt and Pepper, and serve up!  This also goes great topped with your fave: hot sauce, aoli, bacon marmalade, or maple syrup.  What ever you desire!

Enjoy!

Speculoos Cookie Butter Popcorn

Valentine's is all about celebrating L.O.V.E., right?!  I love lots of things, and people too, of course!  I love my family beyond beyond...to the moon and back!
I love to read, and take long hot baths...I love to read, while I take long hot baths! 
I love food (duh!)!  And the food I love most of all, my desert island food, is popcorn.  I love popcorn like, in an unhealthy way.   I also use food to show my love, if I make something for you, I might have a crush on you;)

One way that I've been shown love recently was during our recent vacay, when Cory went along with the idea of travelling 1 hour on an unknown transit system in Miami Florida, to take me to a Trader Joe's. We could have been doing any number of other touristy pursuits (ahem - beach!), in this hot foreign land, arriving from like 3 feet of snow, and -15 weather.  But, I HAD to go to a Trader Joe's, and he was willing to make the trip (awwww!).   I am in love with this Speculoos Cookie Butter, which I had to have from Trader Joe's after years of reading all about it from state side food blogger's.  Everything they said was true - deadly delicious, and oh so addicting.

Love is this new to me Cookie Butter popcorn, and I think Cory is more enamoured with it than I am! I also managed to find a ginormous block of Log Cabin vanilla flavoured candy coating at the Target across the road.  Not sure if Log Cabin products are carried in Canada?  I've never seen it before, but have seen it mentioned in lots of food blogs.  Why does Target have to be leaving Canada?  I guess I will now love going to the states, to search out all my favourite Target products, just like the old days.  Everything old is new again.  Including my love for popcorn, cookie butter style!

Specaloos Cookie Butter Popcorn
Recipe adapted from: I Heart Naptime

1/2 cup popcorn kernels
3 squares Log House vanilla almond bark (you could always use white chocolate in lieu)
1/2 cup vanilla candy melts
3 Tablespoons cookie butter (found at Trader Joes ... Biscoff or even Peanut butter would work too)
assorted candy covered chocolates (smarties, m&m's - optional)

Pop the popcorn (I used an air-popper), into a large bowl.  Using a large parchment lined cookie sheet, transfer the popcorn by the hand-full, taking care to leave any unpopped kernels behind.
Using a small bowl melt the vanilla candy coating/white chocolate in microwave.  Or melt via stove top and transfer to bowl.  Add the cookie butter to the melted chocolate, stirring until combined. Drizzle the coating over the popcorn, using tongs to help distribute, until evenly coated. Mix in chocolate candies if using.  And allow to cool and harden before serving.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Cinnamon Waffles with Cinnamon Cream Sauce

Well, Hello there! It has been a while hasn't it!  How was your Christmas?  Your New Years? Excellent!  Mine?  ...It was crazy, and without knowing I needed a break, the exhaustion of the all the heaviness of family drama and transition that we've been shouldering since June, finally compounded enough to allow myself to just take one.  I just kind of shut off mentally for the last month or so, and, it to be honest, it was awesome, and so badly needed!

One of the most awesome things that took place over my wee break, was going on a cruise, with my sweetie!  We left the kids behind with my mom (their Grammie), and that way were able to focus on our own relaxation and healing, and not have to worry about them at all.  We did miss the kids horribly though, and experienced so many fun excursions (I kissed a Dolphin! Drove an ATV through the Jungle & swam in a cenote, and Jet skied on the Ocean!).  Plus all the sights and sounds (and flavours!), that we wished we could have shared with them...we felt slightly guilty.  I think we will be planning another trip sooner than later, we just got to scrimp and save a little more, I miss that sunset.

Another reason I've been away so long, is that I have a NEW CAMERA!  Cory, gave it to me for my birthday, back at the beginning of December.  It's so so pretty, not to mention so generous of him, and now I have a big learning curve to get around.

I've been so excited to try and use this waffle maker, Just look at it!  So gorgeous!  I unearthed this summer from my Mother-in-Law's basement while we were moving her out of her place.  I've been slightly daunted by how old school, and heavy it is!  It's made completely of iron, and has waffle instructions in German engraved/embedded into it, and the waffles come out shaped like little hearts - perfect for Valentine's Day!  I think I'll only be breaking it out for specials occasions, as this iron was not the easiest to use, and created a lot of smoke as it's not really meant for use on a modern stove top, but in the end still created delicious results.

Valentine's day falls on a Saturday this year, so you've got the time to put some extra effort into a breakfast your all your lovelies, without the hassle of making reservations, worrying about finding parking, or the long lineups.  Stay in your jammies, or make it a formal affair, and celebrate all you love with these amazing Cinnamon Waffles, don't forget the Cinnamon Cream Sauce - tha bomb!

Cinnamon Waffles
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt
3 eggs, separated
1 1/2 cups milk
5 tablespoon butter, melted and cooled

Cinnamon Cream Sauce
2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup half & half or table cream (I didn't have cream on hand so improvised w/ 1/2 cup Cinnabon International delight, & 1/2 cup milk).

Start by making the Cinnamon Cream Sauce.  Using a small pan over medium-high heat, melt the butter and sugar, then add the cinnamon.  Simmer until the sauce thickens, then slowly add the cream about 1/4 cup at a time while continuing to whisk.  Turn the temp to low, so the sauce stays warm until ready to serve.
To make the waffle batter, begin with separating the eggs whites from the yolks, whisking the egg whites to stiff peaks.
Using a large mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks, with the milk, and melted butter, followed by the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, sugar, and salt, until you have a smooth batter.  Gently fold in the egg whites into the batter, about a third at a time.
Pre-heat your waffle iron, and with non-stick spray, or your preferred method.
Ladle, scoop, or pour your batter onto the pre-heated waffle iron, and cook the waffles for about 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown.  Keep the waffles warm in the oven at a low temp, while the remaining batter is used up.
Serve the waffles with the warm Cinnamon Cream Sauce poured over top, along with all your favourite breakfast fixin's, or just as they are!

Enjoy!

Toasted Sesame Pretzel Toffee Bark

I love love love baking, it's my stress relief, and belly filler. I would assume, if you are perusing food blogs, that you love to bake too? Christmas time can add a different type of stress, maybe even panic(?), for those who are kitchen challenged. I'm not going to give you a turkey tutorial, although, that might be a good future post!  But, I can give you an idea on how to fill you're cookies platters!  The ultimate way to get a tonne of cookies, without having to do all the work, it to plan a cookie exchange!

For the past five years, I have coerced my co-workers into joining me in a cookie exchange.  I send out an internal email, and post a sign-up sheet in the staff room where they can add their name, and what they choose to contribute.  We have to bake one dozen per person, and this year we each baked for eight dozen!  Eight dozen different kinds of cookies!  Well, not just cookies, there was fudge, toffee, palmiers, and even Oreo truffles!

This is how library ladies organize cookie exchanges....on a book truck! haha

The best part about a cookie exchange is the variety of treats that you end up with!  I like to package them up for Holiday gifts for the kid's teachers, our neighbours and for friends.  I'm usually still left with enough treats for my own family, and any holiday visitors, to enjoy over the holidays, too!

Kind of ironic, that I like to bake probably the most out of all my colleagues, and I choose the easiest thing to make.  I contributed Toasted Sesame Pretzel Toffee Bark, which you may already be familiar with under the name Christmas Crack, or Saltine Toffee, or something similar.  This recipe is truly addicting, and so so simple.  Get your gift giving on - Toffee Bark style!!

Toasted Sesame Pretzel Toffee Bark

1/4 - 1/2 cup sesame seeds
roughly 50 salted waffle pretzels (enough to cover your cookie sheet)
1 cups butter
1 cups packed brown sugar
pinch of salt (optional)
1 -11/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips (approximately – I usually just keep adding until it seems like enough!)

Using a small pan, over medium -high heat, toast the sesame seeds, tossing or stirring, taking care not to burn, and set aside to cool.
Preheat the oven to 350F.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment, or foil,  this helps with clean-up after (and to make it easier to remove).   Line the prepared sheet with pretzels, placing them right together.
In a medium saucepan, bring the butter and brown sugar, and pinch of salt to a boil over medium-high heat. Let it bubble for 3 minutes, then remove from the heat and pour it evenly over the pretzels. Spread with spatula to fill any gaps.
Bake for about 8-10 minutes, until bubbling and deep golden in colour. Keep an eye on it for the last few minutes to make sure it doesn’t burn.
Remove from the oven, and then scatter chocolate chips over top while the caramel is still hot. Let sit for a few minutes, then spread chocolate out with a spatula or knife until smooth, and finally, scatter the toasted sesame seeds over the top.
Cool completely in the fridge, (or in the garage cold room) then break up into pieces using your hands.  I like there to be barks of all shapes and sizes, and prefer they aren't just squares - don't be a square, man!  Package up for gift giving, or get ready to get your will tested!

Happy Holidays!