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Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Maple Walnut Bars


My grandmother LOVES the combination of Maple and Walnuts. It could be fudge, ice cream, really it doesn't matter just mix and she falls in love. So when I saw the recipe for Maple Walnut Bars from Canadian Living I couldn't resist. I cut them in squares, bought her a giant "I love Grandma" mug, and filled it to the top. I kept the corners and such for myself.

Let me tell you. These are so good... So very very good. I honestly cannot stop eating the left overs. I has a short bread sandies base, and a creamy fudgey top. You won't regret the 20 minutes it takes to make this thing!

This is definitely something so easy, and so decadent, that I have to share.


Maple Walnut Bars:

Base:

2/3 cup softened butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
Beat together butter, sugar and salt until fluffy; stir in flour and walnuts. Press into parchment paper-lined 13X9" metal cake pan; prick all over with a fork.

Bake in 350F for about 15 minutes. Let cool in pan.

Topping:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tbsp maple syrup
3/4 tsp maple extract
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups icing sugar
40 walnut halves

Beat the butter, maple syrup and extract, and vanilla until creamy; beat in sugar in 2 additions, spread over base.

Press Walnuts halves, over top.

Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hr. cut into bars.


Enjoy!


Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Mother's Day

Mother's day- no matter how many times your mom says she doesn't want something, let's be honest... she does. I'm a mom, I said I don't want anything, and normally I don't... but this year, I want that gigantic "Mom I love you" mug I saw at Carleton Cards. (More for the size than the words ;) )




Now if your mom is like mine, she will never tell you what she wants, and she probably will be content with anything you give her. So why not give her something you know she will absolutely LOVE? Something homemade, sweet, decadent, and absolutely delicious... Like my Chocolate Chip Melting Moments... mmm. I have yet to meet someone who didn't love these. I'm sure your mom will too.








My mom, however, will be getting her two favorites: Gingersnaps and White Chocolate Coffee bars. She never gets tired of them, which is great because I love making them.




Trust me, give your mom something she'll LOVE! Give me a shout. She doesn't have to know you didn't make it.







Pictures published with permission from Tanya Zaleski Photocreations

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Promotion #1

I will be in Montreal the weekend of the 22nd of April. So place an order between now and the 20th of April and get a free dozen chocolate chip cookies.

Look for me on facebook! (I haven't figured out how to get my pictures on Blogger yet... I'm a baker, not a techy ;) )

Monday, April 5, 2010

Out of the Box

Think outside of the box, that's what they say right? Try new things? Alright, here goes. I usually have a gift of reading a recipe and knowing, will this be an instant classic or a do NOT repeat? After seeing this recipe in the Food Network Magazine, I was left wondering: which will it be?

Avocado pie... hmm... guaranteed to be creamy, rich, and fatty. I made it for Easter dessert. I was skeptical about my family, not the most adventurous bunch to say the least. My sister eats and breathes avocados, so I wasn't worried about her. My cousin is the quietest man on the face of the planet; wasn't too worried about him either. My dad and aunt are pretty easygoing, again felt pretty safe. The people to please: my mom and grandmother.

I would not give this mysterious green pie a name out of fear no one would try it. So after reassuring everyone that there was nothing "gross" in it, and no it's not broccoli, they all gave it a taste. They were all able to name every ingredient except the avocado. All in all it got a pass, although my mom told me that it did not compare to my key lime.

Give it a try, let me know what you think. I put a couple of tips after the recipe, check them out before starting.

Ingredients

For the Crust:

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Pinch of salt

For the Filling:
2 medium hass avocados
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Pinch of salt
Whipped cream or confectioners' sugar, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush an 8-inch springform pan with some of the melted butter. Mix the remaining butter with the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and salt in a bowl. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.

Make the filling:

Halve and pit the avocados, then scoop out the flesh and chop. Transfer to a bowl, add the cream cheese and beat with a mixer on medium speed until smooth.

Add the condensed milk, lime and lemon juices, and the salt and beat until fluffy, scraping the bowl as needed.

Pour the filling into the crust, press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface and chill at least 4 hours.

Remove the springform ring and slice the pie. Garnish with whipped cream or confectioners' sugar, if desired, and serve immediately (the top will start to brown as the pie sits).

Kim's Tips:

1-really do make sure that your avocados are really ripe, and cream cheese is at room temp. They will cream together much better, and you won't get little chunks of either.

2-if I were to do it over, I would definitely increase the amount of fresh lemon and lime juice. maybe even double it.

3-whipped cream is a must on the side. Everything is better with whipped cream.

Good Luck!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

What I have to offer?

So what exactly do I have to offer? Not only do I have freshly baked goods, but you should also check out the frozen cookie dough. Freshly baked cookies will never be more then 10 minutes away. These are premade, prerolled balls of cookie dough ready to pop into your oven. Great for a late night snack, or unexpected guests.

I also have home made mixes that just need a couple of wet ingredients to come together to make yummy muffins, pancakes cookies, or bars.

Know in advance you are having company over? Give me a shout and I prepare a more formal dessert for you and your guests.

Here is a list of some of my Favorites

Cookies:

Chocolate chip
Apple Chocolate chip (dairy-egg-nut free)
Butterscotch chip
Chocolate chip filled melting moments: melt in your mouth cookies stuffed with a chocolate chip cream
Peanut butter cup cookies: soft and chewy peanut butter cookies that have peanut butter cup pieces mixed right in.
Gingersnaps: thick chewy spice cookie
Carrot cake cookies stuffed with cream cheese frosting.
Peppermint patties: two chocolate wafers held together by a thick layer of peppermint-flavored frosting.
Sugar cookies

Bars:

Butterscotch and fudge brownie bars
Coffee and white Chocolate chip blondies
Chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake bars

Pies:

Key Lime
Coconut Cream

Other:

Chocolate chip cookie and cream tart

Where to start

For as far back as I can remember I have had a passion for baking. My wish is to some day open my own bakery. Until then I have decided to try my luck in baking from home and getting myself known. This being said I am finally launching Sweet Bites of Joy.

Sweet Bites of Joy offers freshly baked goods that are sure to please anyone. From cookies to bars, muffins and loafs, I have tried, tested and perfected recipes that you will love.

Take your time browse around, tell me what you think.