Christmas is probably my favourite time of the year to bake cookies. I love making the family recipes I grew up on as well as adding new and exciting treats to my repetoire. For me baking during this time of year really holds a special place in my heart because, to me, it means family. Whether it's Nana's ginger snaps (excellent year-round with tea by the way), or Grandma's sugar cookies they all have so many memories.
One of my favourite is my Grandma's almond cake. The first time I made it was 2 years ago. The recipe was the last Christmas gift I got from her. It took me 8 years to bring myself to make it. And reading the recipe still makes me cry. I didn't get a chance to make it last Christmas; between teaching, participating in a local baker's market, moving and a serious case of first-trimester narcolepsy, it just didn't pan out. This year it's a must on the baking list.
 I usually go a bit overboard with the cookies, partly because of my sweet tooth, but mostly because I love having them around for family and friends. Also, I love baking cookies with people. One of my best baking assistants is my hubby. I do most of the baking, but he's a great help. Whether it's dipping cookies in chocolate, taste testing, cutting out shapes or refilling my eggnog, he's always there with enthusiasm and a sense of humour. The other night he helped out with the Cardamom Honey cookies while I fed baby. Yep, those are Christmas lobsters he's making!

I've tried not to set the bar too high for myself this year. Baking and taking care of a 5 month old at the same time isn't easy. Things get burnt. The dog steals anything that isn't closely gaurded.  So what gets done gets done, and I'll probably opt for more slice and bake cookies rather than cut outs this year. I do know that I'm already looking forward to Christmases in the future when little hands can help us make cookies together.

Here are a few of my favourites for you to check out. Sorry, only a lucky few get the family recipes!

• Cardamom & Honey Cutouts
• Icebox Shortbread
• Raspberry Hazelnut Linzer
• Chocolate Hazelnut Cutouts

Hope your baking is full of friends, family and lots of love!

As soon as Hallowe'en is over there is talk about what to do with all the candy. I've heard everything from thow it out after a week to donate it to the food bank. Growing up I knew this stash had to last through to Easter so I always rationed my treats very carefully. I'm not into wasting food. And it someone spent money on it, and I'm far too, let's say thrifty, to throw it out. 

This year we saw 13 trick-or-treaters and had 3 large boxes of candy = lots of leftovers! Rather than just eating them all myself, and I've had my fair share, they are going to be mixed into some of my favourite baked treats. This way it doesn't get wasted and I don't have to buy choclate for baking for the forseeable future.

So far I've made, and eaten, chewy cookie bars with Reese's Pieces. Sorry, no photo. They didn't last long enough. They were really good.
Other plans include: peanut butter cup brownies, coffee crisp cookies, and smartie cookies or cookie bars. Basically, anything that is chocolate is going to be used up like chocolate chips!
Here's my super easy Cookie Bar recipe. I often use a combination of chocolate and dried cranberries or nuts, and have been mixing it up using leftover candy instead of chocolate chips.

Chewy Cookie Bars
1/4 cup butter at room temp
1 cup packed golden brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup chocolate chips (really who measures the chocolate chips?!)

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8 x 8 pan.
Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla.
Stir in dry ingredients.
Stir in chocolate chips. Spread into pan.
Bake for 25-30 min.

I have friends that live for Hallowe'en and friends that detest the day. I'm usually somewhere in the middle. I love any chance to dress up and I love the chocolate. I also love any excuse for baking themed treats. I'm not big on being scared, and I really don't appreciate how some people use it as an excuse for bad/annoying/dangerous behaviour.

This Hallowe'en was filled with firsts for us. First Hallowe'en in our townhouse. First with a dog. And first with a baby. Needless to say, I was looking forward to it more than usual.

In order to get into the festive spirit, I learned how to make a simple, quilted table runner. We put up a few decorations and got ourselves ready for a family dinner and hours of answering the door handing out the 300+ pieces of candy we'd stocked up on. The family brought dinner over and I made pumpkin and ghost shaped biscuits. As we ate we answered the door to a total of 13 kids. A bit of a let down. Yes, it was raining, but seriously, where were all the kids? Our complex should be a Hallowe'en goldmine - only 5 steps between doors!

The rest of the evening was spent admiring babe in his Yoda costume - touque thanks to a talented Auntie and robe supplied by Baba.

More on how the candy will be used up to come...