Thursday 30 May 2013

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

It will soon be strawberry season in many parts of Canada and I love strawberries in any form!  I created these delicious strawberry shortcake cookies as a finger food alternative to the traditional strawberry shortcake made with cake or biscuits. These are easy to make and easy to serve and have the lovely flavours of strawberry & whipped cream on a sugar cookie base.
To make this cookie, I used my grandmother`s sugar cookie recipe which I have shared on this blog before here, here and here. It`s an easy recipe which uses very basic ingredients.
 Sugar Cookies
{makes approx. 4 dozen}
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
4 tbsp. milk or cream
2 tsp. vanilla or orange flavouring
3 1/2 cups of flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon grated orange peel, optional
2 cups whipping cream + 1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups diced strawberries

Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350. In large bowl, cream together butter & white sugar. Add eggs, milk and vanilla and mix well.
2. In medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and mix until dough is formed.
4. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto cookies sheets. Press each cookie gently with your hand.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until cookies are puffed up and edges are slightly golden.
6. Cool completely on wire racks.
7. Add the sugar to cream and whip until cream is stiff like frosting. Frost cookies with whipped cream. Sprinkle with diced strawberries & serve.

The cookies could be make ahead of time, and the whipped cream and strawberries could be added just before serving. The beauty of serving these cookies over traditional shortcake....no dirty dishes!
 This is such a wonderful treat to serve as a dessert for a summer BBQ or as a yummy with coffee.

If you would like to see some more of my homemade treats:

And these boards on Pinterest:

Thank you so much for visiting! 
Happy Baking!


This post is linked to these parties:
Somewhat Simple, Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons, Design, Dining & Diapers, Becoming Martha, Tatertots and Jello, I Heart Naptime, What's Cooking With Ruthie, It's Overflowing, Under The Table & Dreaming, Uncommon Designs, StoneGable, Creative Home Expressions,Time To Sparkle, Chef-In-Training, Sugarbee Crafts, The 36th Avenue, I Gotta Create, StoneGable, Becoming Martha, Whipperberry, Under The Table & Dreaming,Not  Just A Housewife, Home Stories A To Z, Fun In The Sun, 

Wednesday 29 May 2013

Moms Can Lead The Way #Unstoppable Moms For Unstoppable Girls

{This post is part of YummyMummyClub.ca's support of the Dove® Unstoppable Moms for Unstoppable Girls Contest. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors. Go to www.UnstoppableMoms.ca to enter by sharing how you inspire girls to reach their full potential.}

There was a time that I felt very uncomfortable in a bathing suit while taking my toddling daughter to the local pool for swimming lessons.  I thought briefly about not taking her at all because of my own feelings. But then I realized that I did not want to be that kind of role model for my daughter. I wanted to show her that we, as women and girls,  have the power over the choices we make and we must do the things we enjoy without letting uncomfortable feelings about body image stop us. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes and we must embrace who we are and love ourselves...no matter what!

Did you know that 6 out of 10 girls avoid activities they enjoy because they feel badly about the way they look? That is so sad! But when girls have a role model at home, they are less likely to let anxiety  about their looks hold them back. As moms of daughters, I think that it is so important for us to support our girls in participating in a variety of activities by role modelling participation ourselves. We should lead by example by participating in a variety of different activities such as sports, volunteer positions, and fun activities such as crafts, hobbies or clubs. All of these things can be very rewarding and help girls gain confidence and build skills that can last a lifetime Over the years, I have walked for daily exercise, taken yoga classes, taught scrapbooking classes, steered volunteer committees,  and enjoyed cooking classes...all while making new friends and learning so many things along the way.

As my daughter has watched me do these things over her sixteen years, I hope that she has internalized that she, too, can do anything that her heart desires. She can be unstoppable! I like to think that my varied activities over the years have set an example to her, because at 16, she: skates, runs, works out at the gym, cooks, bakes, babysits, holds a part time job as a hostess at a restaurant, tutors kids in French reading and volunteers with committees at school. She has a busy and active life and feels comfortable in a lot of different roles. I am so proud of the young lady that she has become!
An  important approach that we can take as mothers of girls is to make sure that we always use positive self-talk, and strive to be a source of  encouragement to those around us. Sometimes, small words of encouragement can be such a boost to others and make all the difference in the feelings associated with an activity or experience. I always tell my children to never be afraid to try. The success is always in the  'trying' and 'making a good effort' and not in the outcome. This is part of what has made me {what I like to think} an 'unstoppable role mode' for my daughter....I set and tackle goals for myself and I don't  let fear or doubt stop me.{And trust me...I have felt a lot of fear over the years...both real & imagined!} I reassure my children that we must go ahead and try/do the things that scare us the most, because often, those experiences turn out to be the most rewarding ones, and they give us 'pebbles' of confidence to go forward in the next challenge. Pebbles of confidence can take us on new & exciting adventures anywhere.
My daughter and I rafting on the tidal bore in Nova Scotia in 2011.
 I wholeheartedly believe that mothers can inspire daughters to do amazing things by being real, thinking positive, sharing encouragement and role modelling active lives. Unstoppable Moms that are setting positive examples for their daughters deserve to be celebrated and Dove is doing just that. As part of the Unstoppable Moms for Unstoppable Girls Contest, Dove will be choosing 4 lucky women{1 from each region}to win $2500 for themselves and $2500 donated to help raise a girl's self-esteem. All you have to do to enter is share your story as outlined below. Share your story. It's important!

Are you an unstoppable mom? Share YOUR story about a time when you thought about quitting an activity you loved because of how you felt about your body and let them know how you think moms/role models can better support girls to participate in activities. You have until June 13, 2013 to enter. You could win $2,500 for yourself and $2,500 will be donated to help raise a girl’s self-esteem.

Check out more stories on YummyMummyClub.ca about amazing unstoppable moms:
http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/family/mummy/unstoppable-moms-for-unstoppable-girls

Tuesday 28 May 2013

26 Gorgeous Wedding Ideas

Although it's been almost 18 years since my husband and I said our "I dos", I still love looking at wedding ideas and pictures and I occasionally pick up the Martha Stewart Weddings issue. I am enthralled by the simplest of ideas that can make a wedding  so special. I love all of the personality that is expressed through take-home favours and centerpieces, and I have rounded up many of the ideas that I LOVE the most to share with you!


IDEAS for SIMPLE & LOVELY Wedding Favours:

Homemade Preserves Favours

And FLOWER ideas that make wedding tables so PRETTY:
And how about WEDDINGS that represent PERSONAL STYLE:
I am in love with simple weddings held at local settings with a stamp of personal style.
Sadly, I haven't been to a wedding in years because I live so far away from extended family.

Will you be attending a Wedding this summer?
What is the most UNIQUE wedding idea that you have seen recently?

For more ideas, visit these boards on Pinterest:
Family Reunion Ideas
Weddings To Love
Entertaining Ideas
Summer Ideas To Love

This post is linked to:
The DIY Dreamer, Gingersnap Crafts, Clean & Scentsible, Savvy Southern Style, Lil Luna,
The 36th Avenue, I Gotta Create, StoneGable, Somewhat Simple, Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons, Design, Dining & Diapers, Becoming Martha, Tatertots and Jello, I Heart Naptime, What's Cooking With Ruthie,  It's Overflowing, Under The Table & Dreaming, Uncommon Designs,
Creative Home Expresssions, Time To Sparkle, Home Stories A To Z, Chef-In-Training,

Monday 27 May 2013

40 Amazing Family Reunion Ideas

Summer is that time of year for family reunions, picnics, company parties and lots of other gatherings. Our family used to have a family reunion each summer that was organized by one of my Aunt's and her husband. My aunt loved planning this gathering each summer and we always had things like an egg & spoon race and a hat decorating contest. Many, many happy memories were made and laughs were shared at this once-a-year frolic, and in the spirit of that,  I have rounded up 40 ideas that I love for family reunions...including everything from food & drink ideas, to dessert tables, snacks and games.

Here are some great ideas for feeding hungry people:
Rustic Taco Bar

Grilled Corn on The Cob
Pannini Bar
Looking for breakfast ideas earlier in the day?
Waffle Bar
I love these ideas for drinks!
There are so many ideas for desserts to consider!
And here are few ways to organize utensils:
Packaged Utensils
I absolutely **LOVE** all of these games & activity ideas for all ages!
Lawn Checkers
Old Fashioned Egg & Spoon Race
{I **adore** this picture!}
Old Fashioned Music Station
Here are a couple of ideas for snack stations:
Popcorn 
 Milk & Cookies
Of all of these ideas, which was your favourite?

Will you be attending a family reunion this summer?
If so, what kind of activities and food will you see at your gathering?

For more ideas, take a peek at these boards on Pinterest:
Family Reunions
Wedding Ideas to Love
Vintage Campers To Love
S'mores Ideas to Love
Drinks To Love



This post is linked to these parties:
The Creative Collection,  The Scoop,
that give mcdonalds coupons and 
breakfast coupons you also can find recipe from