I do not make New Years Resolutions… but every January 1st. I do promise myself that I will exercise more, eat better, be kinder, etc. and I really do try. In support of eating better on January 1st I threw the remaining Christmas baking in the compost. All as been well until recently when I started thinking about cake…I don’t know why, because I really do prefer cookies. However, it is cake that has been on my mind. In fact I am attaching a picture of a particularly delicious and festive cake that Michelle in our office made before Christmas to contribute to the department potluck.

 Curious on how she made this…send us a comment and we will send you her secret.

 Of course, posting this picture has once again piqued my desire for cake, but all is well, my daughter reminded me the other night that we have cake occasion coming up…my birthday! I had completely forgotten this…and for good reason. You see my birthday is really December 21st; however a couple of years ago I made the decision to officially...

Chestnuts Roasting on a Open fire….

This song tends to bring a certain period in time to mind for me.  Not necessarily a simpler time, but a slower paced time when things weren’t so rushed, and how much you spent and gifts weren’t the focus of the season. 

 

A little bit of that time was evoked and shared with my son this past weekend at the St. Albert Grain Elevator and Train Station, where they had a telegrapher send his wish list to Santa in the North Pole via Telegraph!  Man, the Operators fingers sure knew what they were doing as they tapped out this great long list….We opted out writing the list with an old fashioned pen and ink and went with good ol’ lead!  I could see messes happening with ink in a 4 year olds hands and a wandering mind, especially since the great man in red was sitting in the next room waiting to talk and see if you had been good or naughty.

 

We created a couple of crafts and ornaments and decorated a gingerbread cookie (deliciously from Grandin Bakery),...

What a wonderful weekend to head out of St. Albert to the third annual “A Very Cherdarchuk Christmas”; another event that added to the magic of Christmas for our family.   

 

No, no you are correct it wasn’t in St. Albert, but St. Albert sponsored the Winter Garden that included some very intricate and beautiful ice sculptures within it.    Kicking off the excitement was a hayride from the parking field to the nursery.  Kris Kringle and his elves greeted us all from behind a beautiful ice podium with a great big Merry Christmas.  With kid’s passport in hand we found the hot chocolate, wonderfully sponsored by local business and free for those who needed an internal warm up.  The garden centre was transformed into a Christmas cornucopia of wonderful, crazy and delightful items to purchase.  Christmas had exploded! 

 

Outside my son dug for Christmas balls, played candy cane baseball, antler toss decorated a cookie and created another Christmas decoration – gaining a check mark for each...

Christmas Has Come

 I know it is only Mid-October, but the St. Albert Botanic Park has provided us a reason to start celebrating a little early this year. Until October 22nd the gift shop is open and selling everything Christmas. Christmas baskets, ornaments, and end tables adorned with poinsettias are just a few of the items waiting to delight you. As well as a wonderful Christmas shopping opportunity, the Botanic Park complements the experience by providing hot apple cider and a tray of goodies…including my perennial favourite “shortbread” cookies. www.stalbertbotanicpark.com

  I only eat shortbread cookies once a year and I am a purist. I was taught to make shortbread cookies with butter, cornstarch, icing sugar, and flour, topped with a ½ maraschino cherry…and these are the only ones that satisfy me. Recipe below:

1 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup cornstarch 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour...