Chockablock Cookies TWD

I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t feeling this recipe. I was pretty sure that I wasn’t going to make it because I thought I wouldn’t like the cookies. The main reason is the nut/dried fruit combo, neither of these ingredients are high up on my to-eat list. However, I was making dinner for S. tonight and he likes nuts and trail mix, so I thought I would whip up a half-batch up for him. Once again, I shouldn’t have doubted Dorie.

My take on these was to use maple syrup instead of molasses. I am trying really hard not to run out for one off ingredients, instead using substitutions. For the add-ins I used chopped peanuts, dried cranberries and butterscotch chips. I was really pleased with the results. Thanks to Mary of Popsicles and Sandy Feet for choosing this week’s recipe. And thanks Dorie for once again, providing us with baking awesomeness. If you don’t have Baking: From My Home to Yours you should go get it!

Banana bread at home and away!

Like many bakers, my freezer commonly has a supply of bananas waiting to be made into a yummy baked good. I have had this Joy the Baker recipe tagged for a while (amongst many others from her blog!) and whipped it up the other night for a healthy snack or breakfast alternative.

I must try and take my pictures during the day!

I am always a little hesitant with “healthy” baked goods. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this recipe. It had a lot of flavour and ended up being a nice healthy breakfast this past Saturday morning with yogurt and strawberries! I sliced some up for the bf and left it in his freezer so he will have a nice little snack option to take to work and saved a little for myself:)

p.s. While I was in Jamaica this past month, I found myself in a cute little bakery in Kingston. I didn’t have much in the way of dessert throughout our entire trip so I was pretty exited to find a bakery! After some tough decisions, I bought myself a slice of banana bread! It was very yummy and hit the spot! I figured I would throw these pictures in as they go with today’s post, plus I figured Caroline would appreciate:)

The bakery!

My snack for the bus ride to Montego Bay:)

TWD Sweet Cream Biscuits

It may appear that I have been lagging in the baking department but it’s just that I haven’t made any new recipes lately. So it was definately my turn to contribute to Tuesdays with Dorie. This weeks recipe was chosen by Melissa of Love at First Bite. I was just checking out her site and I found some yummy recipes that look delicious!

Not the greatest photo... sorry!

Anyways, on to the recipe. I was home last week getting the winter tires off my car and spent a lovely day with my mum. I have never made biscuits before and since my mum makes the best scones, I figured she was the perfect person to make them with. The biscuits were super easy to whip up and came out looking lovely. With a little jam (and butter or clotted cream if you are into that!), these make a perfect afternoon snack with some tea! In my family, all biscuit/scone recipes are compared to my mum’s recipe. These weren’t quite as sweet as my mum’s but she did say she liked them so that is an accomplishment:)

I will try and get some new baking in over the next week or two!

Swedish Visiting Cake- TWD

Swedish Visiting Cake, who knew? This cake is one of the reasons I joined Tuesday’s with Dorie. I never would have tried it, thinking it was too boring but I sure would have been missing out. I love the simplicity of the cake and that I was able to just whip it up after work without a fuss. I made it without the almonds and almond extract; instead I added sliced apples on top.  Simple and delicious, ready to be made without a moment’s notice. It is nice and lemony which is great and makes a reasonable size of a dessert, a real keeper I would say.

Thanks to Nancy of The Dogs Eat the Crumbs for choosing this weeks recipe. The recipe is on page 197 of Baking: From My Home to Yours. Head on over to Tuesday’s with Dorie to see what other bakers made of this one.

Pillow-Top Lemon Cupcakes

Here is another post from my birthday party. It was a feast of friendship and food, key ingredients for any great event. Claire and I have this thing about these cupcakes. We first made them for our sister’s baby shower and since then I sigh with delight when I think about them. If you haven’t sorted out your Easter dessert, I recommend that you give these a go. Super spring-y and delicious.

Image Credit Robin Bergart

These cupcakes are from Cupcakes! by Elinor Klivans. The recipe is available here. I didn’t go for the coconut toping and thus, I have renamed them Pillow-Top Lemon Cupcakes. Who doesn’t love a pillow-top?

Image Credit Robin Bergart

And for those of you who want to see all the birthday baking in one go, here it is, with yours truly.

Image Credit Robin Bergart