April Showers Bring May Flours

Luckily, we haven't had *too* many showers this April, and other than a few cold spurts it's been LOVELY weather. That means it's hard to want to stay inside and bake, so I'll give myself another task to keep me focused:

April Showers Bring May Flours

I do love a good pun.

So! In May I intend to bake several recipes using different kinds of flours, mostly ones that I've never used before. This means I'll end up with some gluten-free baked goods--which, again--I've not really done.

How exciting!

I will be away on vacation to Puerto Plata from May 7-14, so that will knock a week out of the running. Don't worry; the manfella and I will be eating and drinking our faces off and having a grand old time, but before I leave and when I come back there will be baked goods a-plenty, starting with...

CUPCAKECAMP TORONTO 2010!

Stay tuned, kittens.

News!

March may be over, but this blog has just gotten started!

In Food Bank news: the current total raised so far is $500! That's double the original goal. While I am so very pleased with the generous donations from my personal network, the Food Bank is still in desperate need right now. They've fallen 3% short of their fundraising goal, even after extending their Spring Challenge until today. Unfortunately, during and since the recent market tumble, people have been donating less but needing the Food Bank more. I urge you to reach deep into your pockets or, failing that, your cupboards and make an effort give something to this very worthy organization. I still have cookies available if you want to give to the Food Bank and get something back!

In other news: I have had a very excellent April so far. I've gotten past a major work deadline, I've been healthy as a horse, I've been getting in fabulous shape by working out every day and seeing my trainer twice a week, I've reconnected with friends I didn't see in March, and in 3 weeks I'm off on a week-long vacation to Puerto Plata with my manfella. I've even baked a little! I've been cutting back immensely on my sugar intake (3:00pm jitters + bikini season = eat less sugar!) so when I had to bring dessert to a board games party in Aurora last weekend, I made No Added Sugar Piña Colada Mini Cheesecakes. Blog post with recipe and photos forthcoming!

In the meantime, I've got so many ideas for my next "project" that I can barely decide! I may launch something in May (despite being absent for a week) and continue to blog whatever I bake in the meantime. It's hard though, because both the manfella and I are trying to lose weight, but I want to keep baking! Guess what friends in real life, random goodies may be forthcoming.

One of the next things I'll be baking is iambaker's awesome sugar cookies for my Big Bunch. I got to meet my new Little last weekend, and she is a terrific kid. I figure I'll bake up a bunch (har!) of cookies, make up icing and pre-bag it, then we can all ice cookies as a group.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that there are still many Ms. Adventures in Baking to be had, so keep coming back for more!

March 31: Whoopie Pies

Finally...the last post of March! I've been sitting on this badboy for a while, not having the opportunity to blog it until now. Well here it is! Can I get a 'whoop whoop'?

No? Anybody?

Well how about some WHOOPIE PIES?

I'd never heard of these crazy little cookies, let alone tasted one, but the name pretty much grabbed me the moment I read it. Apparently they're a Pennsylvania Amish treat, but I gotta say...it's hard to imagine the Amish making something so DECADENT. Yurm! (that's "yum" as said with a mouthful of Whoopie Pie.)

Essentially white icing sandwiched between to rich mini chocolate cakes, the Whoopie Pie is reminiscent of an Oreo (specifically, and Oreo "Cakester"), yet nothing in the Oreo history I have found mentions the Whoopie Pie. Perhaps it wasn't the inspiration for the Oreo like I imagined it would be. In any case, if given an opportunity to fight, the Whoopie Pie would beat the Oreo, hands down. You might say the Whoopie Pie would "whoop" Oreo's butt!

*groan* Okay I'm done.

Seriously though, I couldn't believe how tasty these are. The strong coffee used in the recipe deepens the flavour of the chocolate; you won't believe these are made with cocoa instead of real chocolate!

Also, they're surprisingly easy to make. I had these made, baked and sandwiched in an hour!

My only complaint: the use of shortening. The filling is half butter and half shortening, but I would change the ratio to 2:1 in favour of butter next time, because the filling didn't WOW me with its flavour. However, I suspect that it's not supposed to; the filling adds sweetness to a very chocolatey cookie and the whole thing just works. That's why, despite my not being a fan of shortening, these babies get a Final Grade of A+. The manfella also gives them his thumbs up seal of approval.

I almost don't want to give these away (more for me, haha!), but you can purchase your own Whoopie Pies for a good cause by sponsoring me for the Daily Bread Food Bank's Spring Challenge! Make your donation, then email me your order!

You can find the recipe for Whoopie Pies on my Recipes Page.

March 30: Hello Dollys/Magic Bars

Hello Dolly's are most likely the easiest thing I have ever made. There is no mixing whatsoever! All you have to do is layer butter, graham crackers, coconut, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips (optional), nuts, and sweetened condensed milk. Then bake! That's it!

Ooey gooey goodness!

Hello Dollys are traditionally made with chopped walnuts, but I'm not a big fan of walnuts so I used sliced almonds instead. It was still really delicious, but I must say that--despite me using unsweetened coconut and omitting the butterscotch chips--these are very sweet. Best served with a glass of skim milk!

Final Grade: B+. Just a bit too sweet for me (personal preference!), although these get an A+ for ease. If you need to make a dessert fast, this is your go to recipe! You can find the recipe for Hello Dollys/Magic Bars on my Recipes Page. To purchase your own Hello Dollys for a good cause, sponsor me for the Daily Bread Food Bank's Spring Challenge! Make your donation, then email me your order!