NUTELLA STUFFED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

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So you know how my mum and I made cookies on cookies on cookies a few weeks ago? Well, James and I decided it wasn’t enough and we made two more types of cookies, ha! We went for a basic peanut butter one with a hersey’s kiss and these Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Cookies. THESE ARE AMAZING! I’ve blogged about them before but the pictures were so horrible that I decided to take some new ones…enjoy!

NUTELLA STUFFED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

makes two dozen cookies

ingredients needed:

2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 cup unsalted butter

1 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 tablespoon plain greek yogurt

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 jar of Nutella, chilled in refrigerator

Coarse sea salt for sprinkling

directions:

1. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.

2. Brown the butter by melting it in a saucepan over medium heat. start whisking the melted butter. Keep whisking and the butter will begin to foam. Keep whisking. After a long time the butter will begin to brown on the bottom of the saucepan; continue to whisk and remove from heat as soon as the butter begins to brown and gives off a nutty aroma. As soon as it gets to this point, pour the butter in a bowl to cool.

3. Mix the butter and sugars in an electric mixer until thoroughly blended. Beat in the egg, yolk, vanilla, and yogurt until combined. then add the dry ingredients slowly and beat on low-speed just until combined. Fold in all of the chocolate chips.

4. Now chill your dough for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. I know!!! This seems like a ridiculous step BUT it is essential for the cookies to taste AMAZING.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. After the dough is chilled, measure about 1 1/2 tablespoons of it and roll into a ball. Flatten the dough in the palm of your hand and then place 1 teaspoon of chilled Nutella in the middle and fold dough around it. Gently roll into a ball. Place dough balls on a baking sheet prepared with parchment paper 2 inches apart. Flatten cookies super gently with your hand!

6. Bake the cookies 9-11 minutes. Cool the cookies on the sheets for 2 minutes and then sprinkle some sea salt on top. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool.

7. Enjoy!

EGGNOG SUGAR COOKIES

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Let the Christmas baking begin! Over the weekend my mum and I made a ton of cookies! We made my favourite gingerbread ones, candy cane biscotti (recipe coming soon) and these eggnog sugar cookies! They were super easy to make and are soo yummy. I am NOT a professional cookie decorater so do not judge me on my sloppy icing job, ha!

EGGNOG SUGAR COOKIES

(makes about 36 cookies)

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

• 1/4 tsp cloves

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temp

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tbsp rum extract

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, spices and salt.

2. In an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes). Beat in eggs and rum extract. Gradually add flour mixture until just combined.

3. Gather into a ball then divide in half. Shape halves into two flat discs and then wrap each one in saran wrap and put in the fridge for 1-2 hours.

4. Preheat the oven to 375. Line cookie sheets with parchment. Dust a surface with flour and then roll out the dough until it’s 1/8 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out some fun shapes and then arrange cookies on the cookie sheets.

5. Bake until cookies start to brown at the edges (about 7-8 minutes). Let cookies cool on cookie sheets for about 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

6. Decorate with Royal Icing.

Enjoy!!!

PUMPKIN RECIPES PERFECT FOR FALL

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I recently took a poll on Instagram Stories (ps. here’s the link to my instagram if we’re not friends on there yet!) and asked you all what you wanted to see on the blog. Most of you requested RECIPES!

I have soooo many recipes I’d love to share with you but I first need to take pretty pictures, ha. But in the meantime here are four mouth watering Pumpkin recipes! I wish I could eat each of these RIGHT NOW (and I also wish the calories would NOT count, ha) I may just have to do some late night baking….

PUMPKIN CREAMCHEESE MUFFINS

These ones are UN-FREAKING-REAL! They are 1000000x better than the Starbucks version and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. If you really want to wow someone, you need to bake these.

PUMPKIN SPICE SNICKERDOODLES

These ones are from a super old blog post but you guys, they are soooo good and sooo easy to bake! Just mix up the few ingredients, roll the dough in some pumpkin spice sugar and then bake and voila, delicious cookies!

PUMPKIN SPICE SCONES

Let’s just say these have a pumpkin spice butter drizzle on them. Seriously, thinking about them makes me drool a bit! They are pretty easy to make and sooo delicious.

MELT IN YOUR MOUTH PUMPKIN COOKIES

Pumpkin cookies with pumpkin with pumpkin butter cream icing…need I say more!!

Hope this post inspires you to light a candle, make a pumpkin spice latte and get you pumpkin bake on!!!

XO,

Laura

HEALTHY SWEET POTATO + BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

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Did you know that muffins can be lifesavers? Seriously, one of the greatest gifts you can drop off to a new mama is a dozen of freshly baked muffins! In those early days of nursing around the clock (aka hungry 24/7), I remember being so thankful for the muffins that friends had baked for me.  

I alwaaays have muffins in the fridge or freezer as they make a great breakfast or snack on the go. Luca loves them and so does London girl! 

I love making these Quick and Skinny Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (I use coconut palm sugar instead of honey so London can eat them) but I wanted to add another muffin to the rotation. I came across these Sweet Potato ones (yams for all you Canadian folk!) in the Love Child Organic Cookbook (such a good cookbook for baby, toddler and family food!!) and I loved them so much that I needed to share the recipe with you guys!

SWEET POTATO + BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

makes 2 dozen muffins
modified from the Love Child Organic Cookbook

Ingredients:

• spray oil to grease pan
• 2 cups of rolled oats
• 2 cups of flour (I use 1 cup white and 1 cup whole wheat)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp ground flax seed
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups roasted mash sweet potato (best if you roast the night before. Just poke holes with a fork and roast them at 425 for about an hour)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup coconut palm sugar
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
• 1 1/2 cup blueberries (I use frozen ones)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 and lightly grease two muffin pans.
2. Mix oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and flaxseed in a large bowl.
3. In a separate bowl (I use my Kitchenaid mixer) mix the sweet potato, eggs, coconut sugar, milk and coconut oil.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredient and then carefully fold the blueberries in. Be careful not to over mix the blueberries as it will turn your muffins blue!
5. Pour batter into the muffin tins (about 2/3 full) and bake for about 20 minutes. Eat within three days or freeze right away! I usually keep one dozen out and freeze the other dozen!
6. Enjoy!!

Happy baking!!

XO, Laura

5 SUMMER SALAD IDEAS

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Can you believe we only have a month left of summer! To be honest, I'm a little over this hot weather (31 weeks pregnant doesn't mix well with crazy hot weather, ha!) BUT I'm trying to enjoy what we have left of the season!

 When I'm not craving sweets (which is ALL the time BTW) I'm craving a good ol summer salad! \

Here are 5 that I want to make ASAP:

1. Moroccan Quinoa Salad

We make this Moroccan Quinoa Salad all the time. It's very tasty and also super quick and easy  to make! 

2. BLT Chopped Salad

This is on my list to make this week! I'm a huge fan of chopped salads and bacon always makes everything better.

3. Grilled Peach Salad

This Grilled Peach Salad is AMAZING...especially when you get to use fresh, local peaches! And don't even get me started on the honey goat cheese dressing with this one. It's always a hit.

4. Summer Grain Bowls

How good does this summer grain bowl look? I need to make this ASAP.

5. Caprese Orzo Salad

Caprese + orzo = a match made in heaven! This is such an easy and delicious salad to make!

Hope you're enjoying this last month of Summer!!

XO,
laura