Santa has come and gone...!

I guess I was trying to do too many things... So I got sick!   Santa came, drunk his milk and ate his cookies... and I spent Christmas in bed with the flu... Looking forward to New Year's now!

Merry Christmas!!!

For all those students who have graduated with those amazing final projects, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas!  Celebrate in peace in the company of those you love... and have lots of goodies and cake!!!

What is in a Tiramisu?

After trying so many recipes of this famous Italian dessert, I am keeping this recipe.  A lot better done with Ladyfingers instead of cake.  I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients

8 ounces of mascarpone cheese

1/3 cup of sugar

3 tb of Kahlua

1 ts of vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups of cream

1 pkg of ladyfingers

1 cup of coffee syrup*

1.  With electric mixer, beat together mascarpone cheese and sugar.  Add Kahlua and vanilla extract.

2.  Add cream, and beat until mixture is quite firm

3.  In baking dish, arrange half of the ladyfingers over the bottom.  Sprinkle them with half of the coffee syrup.

4.  Spoon half of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers.

5.  Arrange the rest of the ladyfingers over mascarpone layer.  Sprinkle with remaining coffee syrup.  Spoon remaining mascarpone mixture on top and spread with spatula.

6.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

7.  Before serving, sift cocoa powder over the top.

Coffee Syrup

3/4 cup of hot water

2 tb instant coffee

3 tb of sugar

1/4 cup of Kahlua

1.  Combine water, coffee, and sugar.  When sugar disolves, stir in the Kahlua.

Honey cake...

Ingredients

1/2 cup of butter

1 cup of sugar

4 eggs

1 cup of honey

1 cup of sour cream

3 cups of flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp of salt

1 cup of raisins

1 cup walnuts, chopped

1.  Preheat oven to 325 °F. 

2.  Cream butter and sugar until light.  Add eggs one at a time.

3.  Add honey and sour cream alternately, mixing well.

4.  Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

5.  Add to batter.

6.  Add raisins and walnuts. 

7.  Pour into 2 loaf pans.

8.  Bake for 1 hour approx.

Good when it's warm, but definitively better the next day!

Gingerbread House Workshop...

Gingerbread houses got very creative last Saturday during our Gingerbread House Workshop at Michaels, West Vancouver.  Awesome rooftops, chimneys, and beautiful trees!  ♥ ♥ ♥

Heritage Gingerbread House!

This amazing Gingerbread House is part of Park Royal's Christmas decorations and it's well worth seeing... A very fine work! 
In case you are feeling like doing your own (on a smaller scale) come to Michaels, West Vancouver.  We are having our Gingerbread House workshop there, and you don't even need to bake!  Come and find out!

Here we go again... Christmas time!!!

December 1st.  Time to start baking.  If you are looking for a good recipe for Gingerbread Cookies, you may click here!  And the recipe for the Sugar Cookies, here!  Both types of cookies can be decorated.  Happy baking!