BASIC BUT DELICIOUS SUGAR COOKIES
It’s been snowing on and off since Friday…which is pretty crazy for this part of Canada!! We normally don’t get a lot of snow…or if we do, it’s gone the next day, but we currently have about 8 inches on our front lawn! Making cookies is a MUST for a snow day around here! Luca loved being involved and London, well, she just loves eating cookies, ha!
It’s been snowing on and off since Friday…which is pretty crazy for this part of Canada!! We normally don’t get a lot of snow…or if we do, it’s gone the next day, but we currently have about 8 inches on our front lawn! Making cookies is a MUST for a snow day around here! Luca loved being involved and London, well, she just loves eating cookies, ha!
SUGAR COOKIES
Ingredients:
-4 cups of sifted flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp salt
-1 cup unsalted butter at room temp
-2 cups sugar
-2 large eggs
-2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.
2. Mix butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix on medium until pale and fluffy. Add in the eggs and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Gradually mix in the flour mixture.
3. Divide dough into two halves. Flatten each half into a disk, cover in plastic and refrigerate until firm (about 1 hour- overnight)
4. Preheat oven to 325F.
5. Take dough out of the fridge and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
6. Roll out dough on a floured service until dough is about 1/8inch thick then use your favourite cookie cutters to cut out cute shapes! I used these ones.
7. Once you have a cookie sheet filled, put it in the freezer for 15 minutes.
8. Bake cookies for 15-18 mins until the edges turn golden.
9. Ice with Royal Icing or leave plain!
Pin + Share the love!!! Thank you for your support <3
XO,
Laura
HOW TO BE HAPPY ON VALENTINE'S DAY WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT OTHER
Oh, Valentine’s Day. Some of us say that with an “ohhhh, Valentine’s Day!!” And some of us say that with an “oh. valentine’s day (barf barf).” What camp are you in?
It’s funny because before I was married, I liked Valentine’s Day a whole lot more. I remember LOVING going to school on Valentine’s Day. Dressing up, heart shaped cookies, writing cute Valentines…you name it, I did it all…and ironically, I was SINGLE! Now, it’s just another day but this year I booked myself a massage and bought some cute cookie cutters to use with the kiddos.
Oh, Valentine’s Day. Some of us say that with an “ohhhh, Valentine’s Day!!” And some of us say that with an “oh. valentine’s day (barf barf).” What camp are you in?
It’s funny because before I was married, I liked Valentine’s Day a whole lot more. I remember LOVING going to school on Valentine’s Day. Dressing up, heart shaped cookies, writing cute Valentines…you name it, I did it all…and ironically, I was SINGLE! Now, it’s just another day but this year I booked myself a massage and bought some cute cookie cutters to use with the kiddos.
A few years ago I wrote a post on do’s and don’t’s of VDAY and I thought it would be fun to resurrect it! I was single for a lot longer than I’ve been married, and I’m telling you, you can enjoy Valentines day without hiding from the world or compromising your values.
HOW TO BE HAPPY ON VALENTINE’S DAY
DO
1. Choose joy. Joy is a choice that’s not based on circumstances. Choose it and keep choosing it.
2. Spread love to others. Make some cookies for your co-workers or hand some out to homeless people. It’s hard to be lonely and sad when you’re focused on others!
2. Eat chocolate.
3. Hang with friends! Watch a comedy, go out for dinner, have a party.
4. Enjoy your freedom. Go to bed early. Go to bed late. Go for a drive. Plan a trip. Do what YOU want to do before you have to consider someone else in your decisions.
5. Do some self care. Do a face mask. Get a pedicure. Book a counselling appointment. Go to the gym. Do what your soul needs.
6. Journal/pray how you really feel. God already knows your heart and is there to listen. He is the one who can give you true peace.
DON’T
1. Watch too many chick flicks.
2. Pin your future wedding.
3. Not eat chocolate.
4. Think that you’re going to be alone forever.
5. Settle for creeps on tinder, bumble, etc etc
At the end of the day, Valentine’s is JUST a day. Don’t let it dictate how you should feel. Show it who’s boss (that’s YOU, incase you were wondering ;)
XO,
Laura
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WEIRD BUT TRUE! CANADA EDITION
Did you know that Canadians eat more than 12 kilograms of cheese every year on average?
Did you know the first Thanksgiving in North America was celebrated in Newfoundland on May 27, 1578 with a meal of salt beef, biscuits, and peas?
Did you know it’s the 10th anniversary of National Geographic, Weird but True! books??
Ever since we’ve received our Weird But True! Canada book, I found myself telling James all these random facts about Canada. I’ve had so much fun discovering all these random facts about our country!
Luca loves looking through it as well. So many bright, fun pictures and we read the facts together!
Did you know that Canadians eat more than 12 kilograms of cheese every year on average?
Did you know the first Thanksgiving in North America was celebrated in Newfoundland on May 27, 1578 with a meal of salt beef, biscuits, and peas?
Did you know it’s the 10th anniversary of National Geographic, Weird but True! books??
Ever since we’ve received our Weird But True! Canada book, I found myself telling James all these random facts about Canada. I’ve had so much fun discovering all these random facts about our country!
Luca loves looking through it as well. So many bright, fun pictures and we read the facts together!
During Christmas time we loved reading through the Weird but True! Christmas edition. So many crazy, fun facts!
Here are some of my faves:
The ideal snow temperature for building a snowman is 30 F (-1.1 C).
Hot chocolate was once considered a medicine.
The world’s largest gingerbread house was a two-story home!!! It was made with 1800 lbs of butter, 7200 eggs, 3000 lbs of sugar and 22000 pieces of candy!!!
In celebration of the 10th anniversary, National Geographic has updated the original 10 Weird but True! books. Check them out and purchase them on their site!
Even though Luca is just 2, he loves flipping through these books to look at all the fun pictures! I can’t wait for the day when he will be able to read these fun facts for himself! But in the meantime, I’m going to keep reading them so I can impress others with my random fact knowledge, ha!
I highly recommend getting these books as a family. They’re the perfect size for your coffee table and you will love seeing your kids discover these fun facts!
XO,
Laura
I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
2018 READER SURVEY
Can you believe the year is almost over! I really can’t! We’ve been taking it VERRRY CHILL over the last few days but I am excited to get some goals established for 2019. Here is the link for my 2018 Reader Survey. It means sooo much to me that you would take the time to fill this out! And if you want to leave your email, you will be entered in to win a $25 starbucks card! Thanks in advance!!
Can you believe the year is almost over! I really can’t! We’ve been taking it VERRRY CHILL over the last few days but I am excited to get some goals established for 2019. Here is the link for my 2018 Reader Survey. It means sooo much to me that you would take the time to fill this out! And if you want to leave your email, you will be entered in to win a $25 starbucks card! Thanks in advance!!
NUTELLA STUFFED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
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!
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!