Christmas Cookies!

Shame on me and slap my hand, I have not posted in a long time. It's not that I haven't wanted to but the thought of it all made my head hurt.
However, I have been somewhat a busy bee at home in the kitchen trying all sorts of Christmas cookie recipes. I've never really taken the time to research good recipes until this year. Here we have some nominees . . .

Classic Shortbread, Pecan Shortbread (not pictured)

Cherry Cherry Cookies



Cherry covered chocolate





Coconut Macroons (w/chocolate not pictured)

Apple Strudel

Bought some phyllo dough and after having researched a recipe for an hour, ended up using the one on the inside of the phyllo package. It was easier to make than I thought since i bought the dough rather than making it. Try it.
Buy phyllo, apples (only 2) cinnamon, butter, pecans, breadcrumbs (fine), sugar and you're ready to go!

Pork Dinner

THIS was good... my mom and I made it together and everyone raved about it.

http://www.compliments.ca/recipe/pork-tenderloin-with-blood-orange-teriyaki-sauce/

Worth the wait

This trip was amazing, only wished we had more time at the canyon. After about 5 hours traveling we finally arrived at the canyon, although I was fascinated by the desert since never actually seeing a desert before. But well worth the wait. I took all sorts of photos from inside the bus window at the scenery outside. I made due with most of the shots and some were far too blurry to make anything out.
The trailer below was one of many lonely trailers parked in the middle of nowhere..reminds me of movies where you find a car parked outside a trailer way out in no mans land (which this definitely was!) and then killing happens and people get buried where nobody can find them. off topic anyways....



The grand canyon itself was unbelievably larger than I had expected it to be. It was too much for my eyes to take in, let alone the camera. It spanned more than 30 miles or something like that.

Seeing the tarantula was a bonus. I've spoke with several people about the tour, none having seen one. But the childhood memories I have of being afraid of tarantulas are all untrue. They can't kill humans, they are just big and hairy and ugly.
We also watched for rattlesnakes but didn't see one.



This being one of my favorite shots of the day. I am learning how to properly angle the camera when taking photos to ensure that the lines are all even and not on a crooked angle across the horizon. This one turned out well. I can't believe how easy it is to screw up a whole set with crooked horizons without even realizing it when taking the photo. I told Nicola the same advice ;)

Vegas

I have so many Vegas pics from last week I can't sort through them all without losing my mind. A couple so far..

our room

our view

our tower

lobby

Dundas/Church

My aunt has always been my mentor, somebody I look up to. She is successful, fashionable, smart, pretty, etc etc etc... During an evening together at her place I snapped a few pics with my new cam.
I've always enjoyed my time spent with her and since my dad's passing we have grown even closer. With recent hard times, without her I don't know how I would have gone through it. I haven't told her thanks lately but I have told her that I love her.

Autumn day #2

So these images were not modified in photoshop. It had been raining all day and the sun peeked out for only 3 mins approx. Enough time for me to run from the dinner table down to the water and snap a pic.

Autumn

Beautiful images taken in Springville, just off the 115 Hwy on the way to Peterborough. It's really easy to drive by but we stopped to take the photo and admire. They were taken with my Sony mini since I still haven't received my 8gig memory card in the mail for the new camera.

Spaghetti con brocoletti

This is a classic Italian pasta dish. We grow this broccoli (rapini) in our garden easily whereas here in Canada it's $2.50 a bundle and difficult to find.
Wash and trim off the thick stalks.
Boil the broccoli leaves and flowerettes until tender (7 mins) to remove bitterness.
Transfer to the saute pan with approx 3 tbsp of cooking water on low heat with a large chopped clove of garlic, salt, olive oil and hot pepper (optional)
Cook pasta in broccoli water (salted)
Drain pasta and add to the saute pan for 1 min to toss.
YUM

Homemade Pie

I made this pie. It's a very easy recipe. I took the pastry recipe from Betty Crocker's bridal cookbook that my mom presented to me, although I am not yet married she thought it was a good starter book, and it is. The recipe for the pie I printed from the internet from Canadian Living's website.




If you want the recipe, ask.