Everything is a Photo Opportunity #29

I'm posting this photo so I can tell you about the jealous feelings I'm currently experiencing.

You see, my Mom is on vacation with her sister and their high school best friend and they've gone to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I'm super jealous because the weather there is amazing (30°C/86°F) and this photo was taken from the balcony of the place they are staying. I want to be that close to the beach!

Let's all just gaze upon this photo longingly, especially if we live in a region that is still hovering around 10°C (50°F).

Sweet Potato + Cranberry Muffins

I recently learned that I can easily make sweet potato puree and then substitute it in for any recipe calling for pumpkin puree. Sweet potato puree is incredibly easy to make and I always have sweet potatoes on hand, so I think it is going to be part of my life for the next while.

I have a giant bag of Craisins so I thought I would mix the two and make some breakfast muffins.

This recipe is slightly adjusted from a recipe found here.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tbs baking powder
1 tbs pumpkin spice
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sweet potato puree (about 2 small sweet potatoes)
1/2 cup applesauce
2 eggs
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries

Method:
1. In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, pumpkin spice, and salt.

2. In a separate bowl, mix sweet potato puree, applesauce, and eggs until mixed. Add cranberries.

3. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir until just moistened. Divide batter into 12 muffin cups.

4. Bake at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Suggested Serving: pair the muffin with your favourite warm beverage.

30 x 30 Nature Challenge - 2014

I signed up to participate in the David Suzuki Foundation 30 x 30 Nature Challenge for the month of May. The challenge? Spend 30 minutes in nature for 30 minutes a day. You can do that without signing up, but signing up involves doing a pre and post survey of the challenge to help researchers understand the effect that spending time in nature has on people. I think it will make me feel amazing, seeing as I spent the past 5 months stuck inside and hating nature soooooo much. I'm still so happy it is actually spring, even if it is a little cold out and certain piles of snow are still hanging on.

Want to participate in the challenge? Find out more here.

See you outside!

Peanut Butter Cookies (Assorted!) #FoodPicFriday

I sometimes forget about cookies. Until I eat them. Then I can't stop thinking about them and have six in a row. Mmmmm.... worth it. ;)

I made a batch of peanut butter cookie dough (following this recipe), and baked one half as is and added dark chocolate chips to the other half. Both variations of this cookie were delicious and it was impossible to eat one kind without eating the other right after. It was only fair.

Marshmallow Buttercream Chocolates

Recently I made some rainbow cupcakes for a family get together and made marshmallow buttercream for the top (my favourite). I'm always really careful with how much frosting I pipe onto my cupcakes, as I don't want to run out, but I always seem to end up with leftovers (I'm too careful). I didn't have time to eat the leftovers with a spoon (we were off to an event) so I left the buttercream in the fridge with the idea that I would do something fun with it when I got home.

Leftover Marshmallow Buttercream

I shaped it into discs and let them firm up in the fridge

Then I dipped them into melted dark chocolate chips

My leftover buttercream was enough for nine chocolates

Mmmmmmm....chocolates on a fancy plate

They were really, really, good.

They were so good that at some point I might even make up some marshmallow buttercream just for chocolate making. I think they would make a great gift.