It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Sydney made this beautiful gingerbread house in her culinary class.  All hand baked by her.   I think this might be one gingerbread house that actually tastes good and doesn't risk your dental work!

No time to waste taking the pictures as we have some eager people in this house ready to start eating this one!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

One Smart Cookie

There have been two things I've wanted to try out since Christmas.  My new Kitchen Aid Mixer and a cookbook I gave to my husband - Quinoa 365.  We 'discovered' quinoa in the summer at Costco. So I guess it had probably been discovered a long time ago but for us it was new!  It can be found in 'grain' (seed) form or flour in any of our local grocery stores (sometimes in the organic section). 

What excited us about quinoa is that it is not only packed with nutrients but it's protein rich.  It's easy to make as well. It virtually cooks like rice and takes about the same time.  We often make it and mix in roasted vegetables with a little olive olive and and maybe a sprinkle of cheese.  Presto it's dinner!

Today I made the Healthy Cookies from Quinoa 365, written by Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming

Healthy Cookies
2/3 cups water
1/3 quinoa
1 cup butter, softened
1  1/3 cups packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1  1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat flour
1  1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1  1/4 quick cooking rolled oats
1 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup flax (ground or whole seeds)
1/3 sesame seeds

Bring the water and quinoa to a boil in a small saucepan.  Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook 10 min. Turn the heat off and leave the covered saucepan on the burner for 6 min. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork. Set aside to cool.  (I made extra so that I could use it for our dinner tonight).

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the butter with the brown sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in medium bowl.  Add the oats, cooked quinoa, coconut, sunflower seeds, flax and sesame seeds to the flour mixture and stir until well mixed.  Combine with the butter mixture.

Roll the dough in 1 1/2" balls.  Place 2" apart on a baking sheet. Flatten each cookie slightly with the palm of your hand. Bake on centre rack for 8-10 min. until bottoms are light brown.  Allow cookies to completely cool on the baking sheet.

Makes 5 dozen.  Store the cookies in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Mmmm....yum!
Chewy, much like an oatmeal cookies but with a little more interest. You would never guess that there is cooked quinoa in these.   Not too sweet and a little nutty.  Perfect with an afternoon tea.   

Now my only criticism would be the name. When the girls came home they were excited to see I had been baking but their excitement was a little quashed when they heard what it was. Healthy?  Oh, that doesn't sound too tasty (even though they really are).   I think Smart Cookies might suit them better.

This recipe is definitely Family Approved .

28 Days of Random Kindness - Act VIII

Sent cookies to my husband's office

So the other day I was at the grocery store and they had a fantastic sale on some of their holiday Christmas items. I really couldn't resist the price and although I had never had these before they looked good. (and they are)

4 flavours, individually wrapped:

Coconut & White Chocolate, Hazelnut Praline & Milk Chocolate, Orange & Dark Chocolate.

Layers of flavours and textures abound in every bite of these delectable cookies: a crunchy biscuit base is topped with
a creamy flavoured ganache filling, enrobed in luscious Belgian chocolate and sprinkled with a tasty garnish. Mmmm....

If I worked in an office I definitely would have bought some for my co-workers but alas, I don't. Sadly, the accountant, photographer, marketing manager, buyer, computer technician, packager and shipper are all myself now so although my 'co-workers' would have enjoyed these it's not something I wanted to bring to 'my office'.

So, I bought a package for my husband to take to his. They loved them. They asked my husband, 'Why did she do it?' Which makes me laugh. Would it be that hard to believe that I could just do somethig kind, even though I have never sent anything in before? No, there was no ulterior motive, no asking of a raise for my husband or extra vacation days. I just thought they might like them. It wasn't very hard to do, I mean I didn't even bake these and for such a simple gesture it made some people happy that afternoon.

And, if I can spread any bit of kindness to you readers I would recommend that if you see these in your store buy some, you won't be disappointed. (and no I have no affiliation with President's Choice or the Loblaws companies) :)