“Love Affair Chocolate Crinkle Cookies”

Would you guys believe me if I told you that a cookie made me want to run away and marry it?  haha

Well my friends it’s true!  I still want to marry Dave and all, but these will be my side loves…

Enter best cookie recipe EVER…   Perfect for Christmas,  Valentines Day…  err chocolate cravings… lonely moments…. etc..

You can get the recipe here… since I didn’t change a thing, I can’t post it for myself…   But PLEASE do it… you won’t regret it, and they make awesome cookies for gifting…

It tastes like a brownie…  but better and in cookie size…

And they are beautiful too!!!  I promise, this is a recipe you don’t want to miss!!

It was a perfect day to make them too…  this is what it looked like outside…

So pretty!!  As long as I don’t have to drive in it, I am a happy cookie!!

 

Another fun Christmas smoothie recipe!!  Simple, but perfect…

That’s all from me!!

I have a few quick, easy foodie, gifty type recipes coming up…  so easy, but great gifts… stay tuned!!

Enjoy,

Jess

Dairy Free over the Holidays

Christmas is fast approaching, and that can be a scary time for Dairy Free people.

I know that my first 2 Christmas’s dairy free were a total drag.  No deserts, no cheese plates, no mashed potatoes… ugg..

So here are some suggestions,  they won’t work everywhere, but you can try!

Please be cautious, these are things I have found to be dairy free, that doesn't mean that it still is 100%, products and labels change often.  You are best off reading boxes, or not eating something if you are unsure.

____________________________________

At HOLIDAY PARTIES

Christmas Dinner

(source)

I wish I had better news here… 

Unless I know the person well (and ask them to let me know what I can and cannot eat) I bring my own plate of food.  Many people will accidently cook with margarine or put a splash of milk into things, which equals a turkey and a dairy hangover!

It’s just so much safer to bring your own, or if it’s a family ordeal, cook with them to do your own mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing etc. 

Some good alternatives

Bring Earth Balance Butter with you! (I even trek mine to Newfoundland)

Chicken or Veggie Stock in mashed potatoes and stuffing is awesome.

Safe Appetizers Eats

I am basing this on what usually shows up at my parties – if you have any questions let me know.

Shrimp Cocktail

Crackers – Triscuts (be aware there is 1 flavoured with parmesan), wheat thins, saltines, water crackers, “mary’s gone crackers” crackers, most rice crackers, graham crackers,

Anything pickled – onions, pickles, asparagus

Olives, antipasto,

Spinach dip is a no no, but it means there will be sourdough bread – which is dairy free.

Fruit or Veggies – beware of dips though.

Smoked Salmon is fine

Salsa and guacamole (usually ok)

Sushi

Bacon wrapped scallops

Meatballs* this is one I would check for sure, usually these are ok, but there are some people who put parmesan cheese in them.

Devilled Eggs are usually dairy free, but double check if you can.

Chips – nacho chips, plain, ripple, for Canadians, most ketchup chips are dairy free, pretzels,

Nuts

Stay away from or beware of; cold cuts (meat), any dips, crackers (except the ones listed above), chocolate anything, anything that looks deep fried or store bought, chicken wings, always ask before eating, quiche,

Candy & Treats

Junior Mints, wine gums, jube jubes, suckers, jelly beans, candy canes (I have never seen one with dairy, even the creamy sounding ones, again double check those ones), candy corn.

Stay away from – cookies of any and every variety (sorry), caramels, chocolate anything (including white chocolate), peanut brittle unless you check first!

____________________________________

Starbucks drinks or goodies – Dairy Free

I don’t know about you guys, but I spend a lot of time at Starbucks over the holidays,  I think it’s because of all the visitors.  This list can work good at other coffee places too!

Soy Chai Latte

Soy Misto

Soy Cappuccino

Soy Toffee Nut Latte 

Soy Steamed Milk with Toffee Nut (my fav), Caramel, Vanilla.

Soy Peppermint Latte

Any of the Teas

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Lucy’s Cookies (in the little baggies)

Just Peeled Snacks

The Sahal Nut Snacks

Shaken Ice Tea Lemonade (the passion one is awesome)

BEWARE OF – anything egg nog, the crème brule, caramel, their smoothies have whey powder, but they are good about not adding it, and using soy milk.

_____________________________

They are great (at my Starbucks at least) about helping me figure out what to order, so ask away – this goes for any coffee houses.

_________________________________________

I hope this helps, even a bit!   Feel free to leave a comment or contact me if you have any questions!!  I know I probably missed lots!

Cheers to a happy and healthy holiday season,

Jess

Christmas Day 2010

Hope you got a chance to read the Christmas Eve Recap!!

I forgot to add on there that before everyone got here  

I WENT FOR A RUN!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you heard it right!!   I was really impressed it was almost

2km and I ran most of it!! (besides the hill)  I haven't run in months!!

If you ever want to know the distance of a run

(no matter where you are) check out this site  MAP MY RUN

Ok on to Christmas morning.

Santa showed up!  We must have been good this year!

If you follow me on twitter, you'll know that Dave's big gift (a banjo guitar) didn't get here for Christmas

(even though it was ordered in October - apparently they forgot to order it - tisk tisk)

So I channelled my inner artist and made him this

I gave it to him with a ukulele!!  Which he enjoyed!

We opened our stockings! (I love stockings)

Sleepy heads

They were made especially for us in Newfoundland

Dave's mom sent them!! (un-stuffed)

I got totally spoiled by Dave...

And I must have been very very good this year!

LOOK WHAT I GOT!!!!

 

**SCREAMS**

I am soooooooo happy! I love it!  I named it LULU!!  (hehe)

The rest of the score

Most of that was just stocking stuffers!! :) 

I got spoiled (and this was just the beginning)

 

I loved this beautiful lotus flower candle holder - he got it at a multicultural trade fair we went too! 

Dave got something he's always wanted

Haha.. it's somewhat of an inside joke, but let's just say sock monkeys scare him!

This is from my childhood and my mom and I decided to regift it to him.

It made many strange appearances during the last two days.

(like in the Christmas tree, hanging in the pantry, up on this light fixture)

He also got tons of tools, and so many other goodies!

The left over of the chaos

Then we made some yummy breaky! (my new camera wasn't charged yet, so I used my old one)

Dave's families tradition is to saute up left over veggies to make "hash"

so into the mix went cooked carrots, turnip and potatoe

I cooked it until it browned... and we also had a mini turkey sandwhich

So super yum!! 

Next up we headed over to Mom and Dad's for more food and more gifts!

~~ ENTER NEW CAMERA~~

bare with me, I'm just learning!!

 

Mom and Dad's tree!

More yummy food
 

I took some close ups, but must have had my finger over the flash!! hehe

Then the gifts began (again)  I got a Wiiiiiiii  with all the fixings!!

So spoiled - but very grateful.
 

Dad was really excited about his "AIR in a bag" - silly man
 

this is what was really in the box

He loves big mugs!!

Then I went crazy taking portraits of everyone (well the ones that let me)

Pretty mama

(and their motorhome that they are disapearing in in September.

Lots of adventures in their futures! )
 

Dad
 

G-ma

 

and Dave and I
 

And an awesome picture of my parents!
 

It was a great morning - one of the best Christmas mornings yet!

I didn't take pictures of all of our gifts, as we got spoiled rotten

but some other highlights -

LULULEMON gift cards - for me -yes!!!!!

Lift tickets for snowboarding for Dave, he was happy

Wii Fit - me - woot

Personal Trainer game for the Wii...  Yes

Supermario brothers for the Wii for Dave

(notice a theme)

I think I may loose Dave to this game - he loved it!

Anyways, I am gone for a few days

We got a great deal on a hotel room for a few days in Victoria, so we are going away for a 

little romantic get away (and shopping at lululemon!!!!!!!!!!!)

Hope you guys had a beautiful Christmas

Lots of love, 

Jessica

Christmas Eve Recap!

Hey guys!

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas!!   It's amazing how fast it flies by!!

Well as I was saying Dave and I hosted Christmas Eve dinner at our house this year! 

Here was the menu - and just for the record, I am NEVER this organized!

Everything was dairy free - if you have any questions of how, let me know!!

I started off early making homemade cranberry sauce.

Super easy, sooo much better than canned!

1 bag cranberries

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

spices if you want - I used gingers, nutmeg and cinnamon.

Another great option is orange zest!

Toss everything in the pot, bring to a boil then simmer until at desired consistency

(I simmered for about an hour)

 

When it was done, I tossed it into a bowl and put it on the table! - Done!!

Should be served at room temp!

Then we set up the bar
 

Prepped all the food
 

All the veggies ready for the Newfie portion of the feast!

Carrots, cabbage and turnip!

 Then prepped all the appies - sweets, candied nuts, veggie/hummus platter, smoked oysters,

smoked salmon with jalepeno jelly and mary's crackers!
 

Then started cooking!!
 

This is the pot of Newfie goodness- boil a small piece of salt meat.

Then you toss in all your veggies and bread puddings (that's what the bags are) and let boil for about an hour.

The veggies come out soft, and a little salty, they are sooo good!!  

Even Dad (the cabbage hater) really enjoyed it and had seconds!! - YES!

I made two types of puddings - a sweet onion one and a cranberry and spice!

I lovvvvvve them!!

(if anyone wants the recipe let me know!)

Here is the final product

They may not be pretty but they are oh so tasty!

I was kind of happy when only 1 or 2 people tried it, it meant left overs!!

The turkey cooked WAY to fast (boo)

But it gave me lots of time to roast the brussel sprouts.

A little bit of grapeseed oil, balsamic, maple syrup and s&p.

Yum!

I also had a glass of my favorite wine while the cooking chaos continued!

If you have never tried stemless wine glasses, I highly recommend!

Then it was time for carving the turkey!!!

Go Dave go!!

Here is the spead!

 Awwh it was a success!

(ps. the stovetop cornbread stuff is FAB)

I made WAY WAY too much food!

Thank goodness the boys cleaned up, I was pooped!

Then it was time for relaxing!

G-ma and I!!
 

The boys in the kitchen taking a break from baby and puppy talk!!
 

 There were a total of 9 people for dinner and one super cute baby girl!

( I didn't get a chance to snap pictures of everyone as I

was cooking, the people pictures are all from my mom -thanks ma!)

It was great! 

A few people stayed late and we played games and ate the gingerbread house!!  hehe

Keep your eyes peeled for the Christmas day recap

I got something sooooooooooo FUN!!!!

Yay!!!!!!

Jessica

An owe to Newfounland!

Hey guys,

This morning I was reminsing about our Christmas vacation last year in Newfoundland

and because I wasn't a blogger at the time I decided I should share some of the pictures!

We flew in to St. John's which was beautiful. 

One of those place I always wanted to go and lucky enough my uncle

met and married (a wonderful) Newfie lady and moved to St. John's a few years ago. 

Also Dave's aunt and family live here also.

Dave took me on a tour, as he went to school in St.John's for awhile. 

This is the view of the downtown from Signal Hill

Closer up

St. John's is known for it's colored buildings...

Driving around...

Cars  match the houses.. hehe

Behind me is the Battery and wayyy up on the hill there is a tiny building, that is Signal Hill ... brrr it was cold.

Then we went to visit Dave's brother, sister in law and kids.

They live in a very small town - it was very small, but beautiful.

It wasn't as cold as this picture makes it seem! Almost, but not quite!

 

 Dave's hometown is about 5 hours from St. John's and is also a small little (cute) town.

Here is the house he grew up in (on the left), with his grandparents house right beside (they all still live there)
 

sorry for the dashboard, it was too cold to venture out if it wasn't needed!!

After a few days of visiting we headed out to Dave's best friends cabin.

Because there wasn't TONS of snow, we went quadding!

Vrooom Vroom... so fun!!

Towards the end of our trip we went on a CRAZY COLD (-15 C or 5 F) hike.

It was so crazy beautiful though
 

The whole hike took us about 3 hours and we went up SO many stairs

 

From the (almost)top - I couldn't go anymore, my legs were frozen solid, it was getting late, and I wanted to

be back before dark!
 

You can see the water in the right corner, that is where Dave's hometown is.

There was no need for fashion on this hike, it was all about staying warm! haha

By the time we got back to the truck, I was this cold

The only skin showing and my eyes were COLD! haha

Last but not least, we went for a little adventure around Dave's hometown...

I snapped some pictures of these "stages" I think that's the name at least!

I thought they were so pretty

I hope you enjoyed the trip!

We are looking forward going back probably 2 times this year.

I would like to see it at other times of the year too, as it was pretty chilly to walk around!

Happy First Day of Winter!!

I'll leave you with this... if you have kids YOU MUST do this for them

It's so super magical.

A personalized message from Santa

Watch for a food post later!!

Jessica