Welcome to my Nest!
Merry Christmas to all of you, from our crazy family. May your holidays be filled with love, laughter and your family surrounding you. Cherish the twinkle in your children’s eyes as they experience the wonder of giving and of course, the magic of too much chocolate combined with the glee of new toys and over [...]
I have never been a cobbler kinda gal. I like my fruits in crisps, the cakey topping that I usually associate with crumbles can’t hold a candle to the crunchy oatmeal topping that crisps are known for. The story that lead me to this recipe is a common one around this house. It started with [...]
Oh, yes I did! These lovelies were inspired by my first trip to the Bulk Barn, prompted by everyone on Twitter telling me how much I was missing in life by not frequenting said store. And I mean everyone. I think even Jessica Alba chimed in at one point and said “Are you crazy??” Ok, [...]
The devil made me do it. That’s the only thing that came to mind when I realized that on a day when it was about plus 28 Celsius, I was finally making the cookies that have been niggling in the back of my mind for a long, long time. I recently posted the base recipe [...]
Why Magpie? Why? Ah, I love ya guys. Like a bunch of cute seagulls circling ol' Magpie here, cackling "Why? What? How come?" "Why are you venturing into gluten/dairy free territory? What happened? Who can't have gluten? Who was diagnosed with what? Are the kids ok?" said the endless Facebooking, Tweets and emails. No worries, my groupies. ( <----I still think that's hilarious) My daughter … [Read more...]
Oh, yes I did! These lovelies were inspired by my first trip to the Bulk Barn, prompted by everyone on Twitter telling me how much I was missing in life by not frequenting said store. And I mean everyone. I think even Jessica Alba chimed in at one point and said "Are you crazy??" Ok, well maybe not Jessica Alba, but you hear what I'm sayin' right? I do follow her, I mean, I have to follow … [Read more...]
True confessions time for this mom: I hate mini muffins tins. Oh, how I loathe those little buggers, with their shiny little places to scrub out - all 24 of them in one pan!- how they love to stick no matter how you grease them and how you never can get that batter in evenly with a blasted spoon. Ever. However, school time is arriving on our doorsteps sooner than this mom would like and it's … [Read more...]
Lately I have been on a "use everything in the refrigerator before you grocery shop" kick, whether it's from the urge to purge, pack or otherwise feel like I am moving forward in a purposeful manner regarding the house selling/moving process. It also helps me be creative when I might otherwise go for the same standby's baking wise and these scones were no exception. It went a little like … [Read more...]
There is not a single possible way you can be looking at the picture of my latest cake and be grumpy, so Happy Monday to all of you! I do apologize that you can't reach through the screen and take a bite, or sneak a candy though, because this is one fun, happy cake! It's neon and it's here to stay, baby! This latest creation came about when I found out that Mike's friend at work, … [Read more...]
This recipe comes from the Chiquita Banana's website, I was looking around for a more interesting banana bread recipe, googled "buttermilk banana bread" and up this came. I was really intrigued because it uses applesauce, mixed sugars and buttermilk. There are always over ripe bananas in this house, if I don't have time to use them up, I freeze them whole in bags then defrost when it's time to … [Read more...]
Luckily for me, rhubarb still abounds at the local farmers markets, allowing people who have decimated their home supply to get their fix. I scored 6 beautiful stalks for a mere $2 the other day and set to making up something that I have had stuck in my head since rhubarb season started. A strawberry rhubarb upside down cake, with a white cake bursting with rhubarb as the … [Read more...]
Labor of love, thy name is Reese's Peanut Butter Cake. My dearest work wife Anisa had her birthday lately and to celebrate I made her a cake of epic tastiness . She loves Peanut Butter Cups almost as much as I do so I knew that I was going to have to make a cake with Peanut butter cups. I wasn't keen on a peanut butter icing because I have yet to find anything peanut butter flavored that matches … [Read more...]
Ruffle cakes are on every pretty baking website you come across, and for very good reason. They are beautiful, impressive, make you look like a pro and are easy to create. Really, they are! All you need is an icing bag and tip #103 by Wilton and you will be ruffling icing in no time at all. I whipped this up for a girl who sadly was leaving us at work and thus we were in need of a farewell … [Read more...]
Mmm. Babka. 'Tis the time of year to eat this for a week, then put away the coffee tins until 2012 in anticipation of the next time we eat ourselves silly on Easter Bread. This year I didn't have any coffee tins, whether they were accidently recycled or Hurricane Mike chucked them during the great house cleanup of 2011, I don't know. I do know I turned this house upside down … [Read more...]
This is a product review, recipe, what-is and how-to all rolled into one post. It sort of just took off in a completely different direction that usual, and that's ok. Mainly because I really didn't like this recipe. It's so very meh. Weird, I know, to post a recipe I didn't like, but this is so much more than a recipe. I decided to delve into the world of Whoopie Pies. What are … [Read more...]
When I am desperate to bake something, whether it's because I need: a) the stress relief b) a sweet tooth fix c) both are the same thing, no? ...I usually end up rummaging through my tickle trunk of ingredients and see what my mind comes up with. This last time I had buttermilk in the fridge, delicious dried cherries and ripe bananas. Seriously weird sounding. My mind is … [Read more...]
Ooooh baby. If you are dieting in the New Year - and who isn't at least just trying to eat healthier after the wonderful excesses of Christmas- LOOK AWAY NOW. I mean it. Go away. Please. I don't want to be mean and taunt you with goodies. I have heard of this bread time and time again, but really didn't want to make it with canned biscuit dough. That just seems wrong. … [Read more...]
With the responsibility of undertaking the creation of your child's birthday cake comes a basic yet really, the ultimate decision: what kind of cake am I going to make? You would think that chocolate simply just pops to mind instantly and your decision is made. But start searching the internet for ideas and you are bombarded by recipes. Some have mayo, some have sour cream, others have coffee … [Read more...]
First of all, give yourself at least three days to do this. Do not attempt this the day before the party. It will end badly. Day one. Bake your cake and freeze it. Day 2, we get the large enough cake to cut the shape of R2D2 out of the freezer. There is a Wilton pan, from the 1980's that can be found for a mere fortune on Ebay, if one is inclined. However it can be done without it just … [Read more...]
These have been on the back burner of my mind for a while now, since our favorite muffins ever are my pumpkin chocolate chip ones, I knew that someday I would get around to making a scone to match. They had to have molasses, lots of spices and chocolate chips. I took these into work Saturday afternoon, because my work wife asked me to make something. In case you haven't met her before, here's … [Read more...]
"You guys like a bake sale, right? I mean we need money for the dance recital and you know I do an empowering lemon bundt!" Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 4. Ah Buffy. Anything Buffy can bake, I can bake better. Ok, well, maybe I am not really sure how to make this bundt empowering, but you get the picture. Ingredients: 1 cup of butter 2 cups of white sugar 4 eggs 4-5 … [Read more...]
I really apologize for all the zucchini recipes if you don't have an abundance like us gardener's do this time of year. Perhaps your neighbor might drop some off and run away cackling. I am considering it. Random bombing of zucchini's on my neighbors porches.They would totally know it's me though, I would be busted in a second since I am the only person who has an obvious garden in their … [Read more...]
'Tis the season for zucchini. And more zucchini. And barrels of zucchini. Ok, well it's not quite that bad. I should be grateful since I didn't get that much last year and now I have so much to cook and bake with. This is really tasty. I am not a huge fan of traditional plain zucchini loaves, though my husband really likes them. I need more to flavor them up, and the coconut and … [Read more...]
If you are lucky, you have some Saskatoons right now in your kitchen. 'Tis the season for those lovely purple berries and time to bake with them! As much as I do love them fresh, sometimes you just want them in a muffin or loaf. And since I love lemon, I put them in a basic lemon loaf. And for once I tried to make it a little healthier, something I rarely do. I used applesauce instead of oil and … [Read more...]
I love my kids, my husband and chocolate.
The order depends on when you ask.
Welcome to my nest!
