Back to School, Back to Baking...

  

  
     After a three day polar vortex extension,  the Christmas break is officially over and my kids are back to school.  I must admit, I was sad to see them go. We enjoyed some good times over the holidays and as they get older and 'wiser' I am afraid that they won't want to partake in my cheesy holiday traditions much longer.
    
     Each year as I take down the tree and pack away all of our special ornaments I contemplate what lies ahead in the year to come. It's a melancholy endeavour.  When my kids were still little, I started the yearly tradition of giving each of them a special ornament to call their own. They  are allowed to open it on the day we decorate our tree and hang it next to the ones they have come to treasure.  Come January, as I remove the decorations, I put the kid's ornaments away in their own individual boxes.  One day, when they grow up and move on, they'll have their own box of Christmas memories to help them begin their own traditions.       

     I'm sure you now have a better understanding as to why this time of year makes me a little blue. And if you are a follower of this blog, you know what I do when I'm feeling down... I bake.  Can you guess what was waiting for my brood when they arrived home from their first day back at school? Cookies, hugs and a teary mom.
  
    I may not know what the future holds, but what I do know is that my past if full of happy Christmas memories. Memories that I will continue to make as long as my kids will let me. The tree is down and the boxes have been stored away. Our living room, no longer festive, looks empty, but my heart is full.
    

• 2 1/2 cups oatmeal, blended
• 1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

~ Preheat oven to 375
~ Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder
~ Cream butter and both sugars
~ Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined
~ In a separate bowl, mix together oatmeal, flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda
~ Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix until just combined
~ Stir in chocolate chips
~ Roll into balls and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet
~ Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown
~ Allow cookies to cool 1 minute on cookie sheet before moving to a wire cooling rack

 

Reflection and Resolve

     As the New Year is upon us, I can't help but become reflective. When I first sat down to write this, my intention was to give a half hearted post giving everyone my best wishes for a wonderful year ahead. A funny thing happened though, as I put the proverbial pen to paper; I started writing again... and it felt great! 

     I'm the first to admit that I haven't found the time to devote to my blog as of late. While I love to write, I often feel that I don’t have anything worthy to write about. Stephen King wrote that a writer's job isn't to find ideas, but to recognize them when they show up. I've come to realize that this is true in more ways than one.

   A new year offers up a fresh start full of possibilities. I'm not making resolutions this year, but I do intend to show more gratitude and focus more on being happy with what I have; become more mindful of things as they show up. After all, the joy is in the journey and my journey is leading me down a new path. I need to take some time each day to focus on what I have and realize that while every day may not be good, there is something good to be found in every day.

     After spending a few years trying to regain my balance I can now honestly say that I believe I have found my footing again. For that, I am truly grateful. As I think back on what these past twelve months have offered me, all I can say is that I am truly blessed.  Allison Winn Scotch said it best;
    

"There is the before. And then there is the after. Happiness is what you choose, what you follow, not what follows you. These are the things I have seen, these are the things I now know, these are the things I will carry with me as I go."

— Allison Winn Scotch ~The One That I Want 
 

       Cheers to a great year everyone... and stay tuned for a year full of recipes and musings. I hope to encourage some of you to try my recipes, find inspiration in my musings and if nothing else, bring a smile you your day. 

Hooray for Fall!

     It's hard to believe that it is once again Tuesday! I thought the days went by quickly this summer, but now that the kids are back in school and I am working, it seems that someone has pressed the fast forward button.  What I need to do is press pause and find the time to enjoy my absolute favourite time of year~ Fall. I love everything about it; the cool crisp air, the cooler weather that calls for cozy sweaters, the beauty in the leaves that turn the most gorgeous shades of red, yellow and orange, and of course the glorious scents of fall baked goods. Apple and pumpkin desserts are my favourtie, both to bake and savour.  There is just something about the scent of cinnamon and nutmeg that brings warmth to my heart.  And of course, there is Thanksgiving... a time to show gratitude and become mindful of the good in our lives. 

      As you may know, I love to bake for others. The pleasure for me is in the giving.  This week, I am going to do my best to find that pause button and create some time to relish the delicious harvest of fall and create some delightful fall desserts.

  Let's celebrate this wonderful season!