Making a List, Checking it Twice.
I'm a list maker. I thrive on organization and categorization. There's something so comforting about knowing exactly what you need, when and where to get it.
Things. Lots of things.
Wrapping paper here. Ribbon there. Toasted almonds here. Butter there.
Needless to say there are a lot of lists floating around here right now. I'm sure the same goes for you too. I always tell myself I'm going to get my shopping done early and wouldn't you know it never happens. Despite my mad organizational skills I seem to lack motivation. It's not a good combo. My lists taunt me and call me names for months until I simply have to get out there and get it done. Otherwise my family would find gas station goodies wrapped in the funnies under the tree.
It's intimidating though isn't it? Shopping. And not just any shopping. Push-and-shove-endless-lineups-all-sold-out-interminable-traffic-fall-off-your-feet-dreaded-holiday shopping.
Let's take a break from the mall madness and mountains of lists shall we? Why not indulge and transport yourself to chocolate peppermint heaven? Step away from the tape dispenser. Kick off those boots. Put that pen down. You work hard. You deserve it.
It’s Not You, It’s Me.
Dear Exercise Bike,
I haven't been avoiding you. No really. I might use you as a coat rack from time to time. I might even have let your seat collect dust. It's a really uncomfortable seat by the way. You should look into that.
I know. I know. I told you I was going to ride you everyday. I promised you. I promised me. So I'm not the most motivated person in the world. You knew that getting into this relationship.
Don't look at me like that. I've been busy, ok? Those four seasons of Mad Men aren't going to watch themselves. Cookies need baking. Dough needs kneading. Hair needs washing. You know how it is.
Maybe we need to take a break. We obviously want different things. You're a fitness enthusiast. I'm a sucker for cinnamon buns. You like action films. I like chick flicks. You like to wake up with the sun. I roll out of bed around ten.
It's not you, it's me. We just need some time apart. I think it'll be good for us.
Tell you what, after the holidays if you're still into me we'll give this another shot. In the meantime just focus on yourself. I'll eat these Sesame Cookies with half a pound of butter and you can fix that seat of yours.
Take care.
Your friend,
Lindsey
Warming Up To Winter.
On a cold Winter's day such as this one what's better than warming your kitchen and your heart with soft, chewy fresh from the oven Oatmeal Cookies? And not just any Oatmeal Cookies. Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies!
It's been particularly chilly here in Edmonton, which normally wouldn't come as a surprise at this time of year and in this part of the country. I guess I was enjoying Autumn so much I didn't realize Winter was already upon us.
I miss all the pretty colours. I miss walking out the door in just jeans and a sweater. I miss the sun. I even miss the rain.
Despite all this, each time the seasons change I decide on a new favourite season. It doesn't matter that I can't feel my feet, or that my nose turns an embarrassing shade of red, or that I get an electric shock from everything I touch, or that the zipper on my favourite coat is broken.
The ground looks like it's made of diamonds. The trees are glass. Breath hangs in suspended animation. Footsteps are forever.
Looks like I might be warming up to Winter. Pun intended.
As the seasons shift I thought it was a perfect time to change up a few things here at Hot Polka Dot. Time to mature. Time to grow up. Time for big bold photos. I'll miss the polaroids, but change is good.
The Spirit.
As the first snowflakes of the season flutter to the frozen ground I find my thoughts drifting to childhood memories of this time of year. Crackling fires, snowman sentinels, cozy socks and silver sprinkles. Momentary snow blindness after an exciting snowball fight. Mismatched pairs of shoes piled in the front hall. The soft glow of peeling glass light bulbs hidden in a snowbank outside the window. The smell of damp mittens slowly drying over an intermittent floor register. All the while A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack lilting in the background.
Over the coming weeks I'll be showing you a few of my favourite recipes to get you in the holiday spirit. Catch-yourself-humming-Jingle-Bells-eat-too-much-fruit-cake-dance-in-your-reindeer-jammies kind of spirit.
Starting with this one. Speculaas Cookies. Think of them as gingerbread cookies with a kick. A seven spice kick. These thin little cookies pack a wallop.
I don't want to be cocky, but I think that my gingerbread cookies could kick your gingerbread cookies butt. Any day of the week. Just saying.
You're probably still thinking, what the heck are Speculaas Cookies? Scooch closer. I'll tell you.
Closer...
They're these crispy buttery Dutch spice cookies and crazy tasty. You'll love them. Did I mention they were tasty? You might recognize them better if they lacked almonds are were shaped like intricate windmills instead. That's the traditional shape, but apparently it's super difficult to get your hands on century old hand carved cookie forms. Who knew? My Mom has diligently perfected this recipe in a effort to duplicate the taste and texture she remembers from her childhood trips to Holland in between care packages from family.
So this holiday season when you're hauling out your clattering collection of cookie cutters consider making these beauties instead. Sure they're not shaped like trees or snowmen or stars, but they are encrusted with toasted almonds. And remember boys and girls, things encrusted with toasted almonds are your friend.
Autumn in a Bite.
Autumn has officially arrived. There was resistance at first. You better believe it.
I didn't want to relinquish my iron grip on Summer with it's melting popsicles, hot breezes and sunny afternoons. I'd have to say goodbye to sun tanning, BBQs and picnics. Don't even mention all the flowers, beaches and campfires I'd be missing.
Then the leaves started changing and I realized I could wear jeans without roasting to death. I do love pretty colours. I'm also pretty fond of my jeans.
So you won me over Autumn. You hear that? You just might be my favourite season, ok? Are you happy now?
So I made cookies for Autumn to smooth over our awkward new relationship. They have apple. They have cinnamon. They have caramel. They're pretty much Autumn in a bite.
The Cupboard Was Bare.
Maybe I ran out of ideas.
Maybe I neglected to plan anything this week.
Maybe I'm a genius...
...Or maybe I just stood gape-mouthed in front of the open refrigerator until it hit me.
A peanut butter and jam sandwich in cookie form. Could there be anything better? That would be a no.
I think my favourite recipes are the kind you can just whip up using leftover things you have laying around in the back of your fridge or pantry. I mean everyone has peanut butter and jam somewhere in their house right? You better. Otherwise our friendship is on shaky ground.
One egg? No problem. A bit of butter? That's cool. Some flour? Sure thing. Oodles of sugar? Yes please.
Slap it all together and you have yourself 2 dozen pretty simple but dang impressive cookies. When you bite into one you'll not only be surprised there's jam shoved in there, but you'll also be surprised you even had the ingredients to make cookies. Everybody likes surprises.
Crash.
I'm sick of being sick.
I've been flat on my back eating nothing but handfuls of chicken noodle soup and crackers. Before you start to wonder how exactly you go about clutching a fistful of soup let me distract you with these cookies.
Feel better?
Me too. For now. Otherwise I'd still be asleep and not sharing this recipe with you.
Funny how sometimes you feel worse after starting a course of antibiotics than before. I'd almost rather take my chances with my ear infection than take another one of those giant pills. Almost.
It's the ten day antibiotic crash diet. Emphasis on the word crash.
All the cool kids are doing it. Lose ten pounds in ten days. You'll be half conscious while shuffling around the house like a zombie in wrinkled pjs and sporting unwashed bed head, but hey you'll look fabulous.
Ok so this is getting a little random, a smidgen bitter and my head is starting to feel a bit fuzzy so I'll just shut the heck up and let the cookies speak for themselves.
So Next Season.
I know, I know. I'm weird.
Who makes something maple flavoured in the Summer? In case you can't see, that would be me reluctantly raising my hand.
It's like I'm just asking for it. I'm tempting the fates. Tomorrow all the leaves are going to turn orange and fall from the trees. And it will be all my fault. If that happens I take full responsibility. And if that happens you'll at least have some appropriate cookies for the premature Autumn season.
I guess I could have tucked away this little gem and waited patiently for the next season. Do I strike you as a patient person?
Let me explain the method to my madness. Remember when I made these Maple Bacon Oatmeal Muffins? Well I had some maple syrup leftover and I couldn't see that sugary heaven go to waste so I planned these lovely Maple Banana Whoopie Pies.
I had exactly one cup of maple syrup left. Did I plan it that way or am I just that lucky? Why can't I be lucky with something useful like the lottery or Kitchen Aid giveaways? Whatever. I'll take what I can get.
And if licking the measuring cup clean of any maple syrup residue is wrong then I don't want to be right.
Nuts About Nuts.
I have recently discovered that pretty much anything is better with toasted almonds. Angel Icebox Dessert, Cherry Almond Cupcakes and Boston Cream Pie to name a few. Let me explain because this is actually quite the revelation in my case.
When I was a kid the only nuts that I liked were of the peanut variety. Yes I know, peanuts are not really considered a nut, but to a seven year old kid they are. I loved peanuts and specifically preferred them honey roasted. All other nuts to me were just those things that got in my way when I dug through the mixed nuts bowl to get to the good stuff. My mom always liked to put chopped pecans in her Chocolate Chip Cookies, which was quite a nuisance for me. In my opinion she was ruining an otherwise perfectly good batch of cookies. Sometimes, if I whined enough, she would make another batch sans nuts which was greatly appreciated.
So when I grew up and started making my own Chocolate Chip Cookies I vowed never to put nuts in them. Well look what's happened? Nuts galore! And not the peanut variety either, but my new favourite nut. The buttery, melt in your mouth toasted almond. I even paired it with deliciously nutty brown butter. What could be better?
It's an acquired taste. At least for me. I have matured. I have grown. I have evolved.
I turned your everyday household favourite cookie into something gourmet, fancy and still quite tasty. You can eat it with your pinkies out if it makes you feel any fancier.
Cookie + Cake = Lee’s Carrot Cake
Don't you just love birthdays? Even someone else's birthday. Actually especially someone else's birthday. I know everyone says this and doesn't really mean it, but truly I love giving presents way more than receiving them. More than that, I love to make someone feel special. I love the thrill of planning little surprises to catch them off guard or keep them guessing. I love to make people smile.
That must be why I love to bake so much. It's got to be one of the best ways to make people instantly happy. How can you not smile when you bite into a freshly baked Lemon Blueberry Streusel Muffin, a chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie or a Hazelnut Brown Butter Cupcake? Ok well maybe you wouldn't smile as you bite into it. That would be messy. But after there would be a definite smile cracking those crumbly lips.
I also love that mumbling cacophony of off beat voices when you get to that certain part the birthday song where everyone says something a little different. Happy birthday dear... It gets me giggling every time.
But I digress.
It was Lee's birthday last Monday and I wanted to make him something he would love. Carrot Cake is his favourite so that was a clear winner, but I was itching to do something a little different, something more. He was telling me recently about birthdays from his childhood and these Jeanne's Bakery cakes from Winnipeg. Apparently they have a Shortbread cookie layer on the bottom so that got me thinking. Carrot Cake with a Snickerdoodle Cookie Crust and Cream Cheese Icing. Yes. That's the ticket. Because my favourite person deserves only the best.
Subscribe Via Email
Kitchen Inspiration
- A Cozy Kitchen
- Always With Butter
- Anne's Kitchen
- Annie's Eats
- Bakerella
- Bakers Royal
- Beyond the Plate
- Brown Eyed Baker
- Call Me Cupcake
- Chasing Delicious
- Cherry Tea Cakes
- Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
- Cooking for Seven
- Crackers
- Delish Living
- Dessert Stalking
- Desserts for Breakfast
- Food Gawker
- Gingerbread Bagels
- Gourmande In The Kitchen
- Honey and Jam
- How To: Simplify
- Joylicious
- Kitchen Karate
- Kitchen Korners
- La Tartine Gourmande
- Minimalista
- Mowielicious
- My Baking Addiction
- Pass The Sushi
- Piece of Cake
- Pioneer Woman
- Poires au Chocolat
- Raspberri Cupcakes
- Sing For Your Supper
- Smitten Kitchen
- Spoon Fork Bacon
- Sprinkle Bakes
- Sprouted Kitchen
- Sweetapolita
- Tartelette
- Taste Spotting
- The Cilantropist
- The Dog's Breakfast
- The Novice Chef
- The Purple Foodie
- Today's Nest
Design Inspiration
- Creature Comforts
- Design Dust
- Design is Mine
- Design Seeds
- Design Sponge
- Have and Hold
- Inspired Bride
- Keiko Lynn
- Polka Dot Bride
- Style Me Pretty
- The White Library
- Twig and Thistle
- Wedding Gawker
DIY Inspiration
- Craft Gawker
- Elisa McLaughlin Designs
- Etsy
- Funkytime
- iDiY
- Idle Wife
- Just Something I Made
- Oh Crafts
- P.S. I Made This
- Such Pretty Things
- The Art of Doing Stuff