For the last few years, I’ve leaned towards DIY Christmas gifts for my loved ones – in part because budgeting for gifts is extremely difficult on a single income, but also because I love making things. After spending hours and hours trying to decide what the “best” gift for this person or that person might be, I threw caution to the wind last year and made almost every gift I gave. It was awesome. My favourite DIYs involved my son's hands and feet, first with our Christmas Tree canvas …
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
I love Christmastime and all the feel good giving, time with family, and parties with great food. Oh, the food *wipes drool and loosens belt in preparation for some epicurean debauchery*. This is the time of year that people bring out their best party recipes or their personal food treasures and share amongst their friends. I’m not the bravest party goer who will try one of everything on the buffet table - unless it’s the sweets table because "yes" to everything with sugar and butter as the …
Brutti ma Buoni (Ugly But Good Cookies)
My very best friend in the world is Italian. I'm not saying I chose an Italian best friend on purpose, but I think if you're going to have a best friend then someone of Italian descent is always a good bet. Why? Well because of the food silly. Italian best friends have parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles who are always trying to feed you. The Irish? They don't do this. Just sayin'. Italian best friends also get married. For foodies, this is like participating in the Iron Man of …
No Fail Shortbread Cookies
There's nothing more Christmasy than shortbread. For years I tried to make this delicate, buttery treat, but I could never get it quite right. My shortbread was crumbly and dense and tasted of defeat, which is rather salty on account of all the tears in the batter. A couple years ago a friend of mine heard me ranting about how shortbread was the bane of my holiday existence. She decided to bestow a Christmas miracle on me in the form of these easy, no fail shortbread cookies. She is a …
Chocolate Coconut Snowballs
It's a winter wonderland outside my door today and it's only November! This is not a good omen when this much snow is sticking to the ground so early in the season. I'm having visions of Snowmageddon back in the winter of 2007/08 where we received a whopping thirteen feet of snow in Ottawa. Ugh. So needless to say the bitter cold and white fluffy stuff are pulling me into hibernation mode. And when in hibernation mode, I bake. That's why for this month's Life Made Delicious post I'm making the …
