Little Sweets

As I've said before I am so lucky to have an extended family that is large. My Mom is one of 5 and over the years my cousins and I have spent many, many good times together. My maternal Grandma has 5 children, 19 grandchildren (including their spouces), and 9 great-great grandchildren with one more on the way! Needless to say we're a big, loud, happy, funny, family. When my cousins and I were smaller it was much easier to get together for anything, now that most of us are married and soon all of us will be there are so many more schedules to consider. What we do each year in the summer is all collect at my Uncle's house, and have our own Reunion. We spend most of the day swimming in his pool, eating, drinking and having a fantastic time catching up on each other's news. Since there are so many of us we all contribute to the family dinner, and each year we take turns on what we bring....this year it was my turn for sweet stuff! So I grabbed the opportunity to make up a bunch of squares so I could take pictures of them to show you. In the picture above there are from top to bottom; Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Chocolate Confetti, Toffee Peanut Squares, and Chocolate Crinkle Cookies again.

In this picture there are from top to bottom; Lemon Squares and Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies.

All the squares were such a big hit that I didn't bring many home with me!! One of my cousins has a peanut allergy so that is why I placed some of the squares on one tray and some more on another to ensure that he could at least have some dessert.

Baby's 1st Birthday

One year ago in June my sister gave birth to a beautiful little girl. It is so hard to believe that our sweet Lauren is 1 already. My sister, Corina asked me to make up some cupcakes for her first Birthday party. I wanted to do something light but also something that I've never done before. I've done the vanilla, chocolate, orange, and carrot type cupcakes. I happened across this recipe for Lemon Cream Cupcakes that sounded just too good to resist!! I ran it past Corina to see what she thought, and off we went!

Normally I wouldn't dare make a new recipe for someone that I've never tried before, but since the recipe made up 30 or so, I thought I'd give myself enough time to make a new batch just incase something disastrous happened. I really shouldn't have worried, they were fantastic!!! The cupcakes themselves were so moist, and had just a hint of lemon. But the best part as always is the icing...it was so perfect, just enough sweetness but not too much and the lemon was just right! My husband Ryan & our boys couldn't stop eating them :)

I decided to go for pretty sprinkles on the icing. I was thinking of making little faces to put ontop of each one, but after some consideration I realized that Lauren would really not mind if I didn't do up a face for each one...maybe with her next birthday!

When the big day arrived we were blessed with a day that started out great, not too hot, just enough wind to keep it comfortable at the Lake. Well, then the skies opened up!! My Dad grabbed the tarp from his trunk and he and my Uncle managed to string it up and presto, we had a roof!! We all ran under the tarp and I huddled under an umbrella and BBQ'd along with my brother-in-law Ian. Despite the rain it was so much fun!!! When the moment arrived for Lauren to eat her cupcake, I was so nervous. I wanted her to be happy with what I'd made especially for her, didn't have to wait too long...she started to "Yum" virtually right away and didn't stop until she'd eaten the whole cupcake.

My Son's 7th Birthday

Our oldest son turned 7 at the end of April, we can't believe how much time has flown by. Seems like just yesterday we were bringing this little baby boy home. I'm not sure if you would consider a 9lb baby "little" but we sure did! LOL On that day our lives changed so much, he has and continues to give us many laughs, joy, pride all of those emotions all you Parents will understand.

So when he asked me to make him his birthday cakes I was so thrilled! My husband and I come from wonderful families, and our son has made some fabulous friends at school this year! So on the closest weekend we could arrange we threw a party for his friends on the Saturday afternoon, for 13 children no less; and then on the next day we had both of the families over for a huge party! And of course just one cake wouldn't do...he had to have 2 different cakes. Since I couldn't figure out a way to make one cake work....I got busy in the kitchen :)

He was so excited to go to the store and pick out a cake pan for each of his cakes. He already had a good idea of what he wanted before he walked in the door, and it didn't change when we got in there. He picked out a Sponge Bob Square Pants cake for his "friend" party and a "Superman" cake for the family party. I thought it would be great fun and I couldn't help getting just as excited as he was about the cakes. He helped me pick out the cakes & the fillings for each one. I'm not sure who was more proud of the cakes, he, my wonderful husband or me. He almost brought me to tears when he proudly told all of his friends that "My Mom made this cake".

I was so honoured to make this cake for my new neice. It was a layered Carrot cake, with flowers on the sides and shell details at the bottom. It was delicious and beautiful!

This cake was so much fun to make! I made it for my Nephew's birthday, who can resist a Superhero?

My introduction to baking....

I love baking and cooking. I learned this art at my Mom's apron strings. Almost every Sunday she would spend in her kitchen baking sweets and treats for my Dad, my sister and I. When she would make a pie for Dad, she always used the leftover dough to make turnovers for my sister and I. I would eagerly await dessert time when I could have that special treat from Mom. While she was baking she would tell me stories about whatever treat she was making. If it was a Sour Cream Raisin Pie, she told all about the pies she made Dad when they were still dating. When we were fortunate enough to receive my Nanny Hillman's recipe for Mincemeat we spent hours reminiscing about Nanny. And when I bake I remember those stories, and some new ones of my own.

When I was older Mom taught me the basics, and then I got my first cookbook after making my first batch of Orange/Date Muffins I was hooked! The smell of those muffins baking in the oven made all that mess worthwhile~and then the expression on my family's face when they were eating...that was it! My Mom has so many wonderful recipes that were passed down to her and I have been the recipient of some of those recipes...maybe one day she will share them all!