Live Dec 2017

BB: Blizzard Brownies | BRING ON WINTER!!!

BB: Blizzard Brownies

Submission by Nicole Sammut

Brownies Brownies

The wafting smell of brownies baking in the oven will certainly help kick start your holiday baking this season! For a festive and celebratory treat, add some flare to this recipe by incorporating amaretto or orange flavoured liquor to your next batch.

Yields 15-18 squares.

Ingredients:

½ cup of cocoa (with 2 tbsp. melted butter)
½ cup butter
2 tbsp. amaretto or orange flavoured liquor*
2 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup white chocolate chips
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
Light dusting of icing sugar (once brownies have cooled)

Directions:

  1. Grease a shallow pan measuring 11”x7”x1¼” and preheat the oven to 350F.
  2. Combine the cocoa powder (with 2 tbsp. melted butter) with ½ cup of butter on medium speed in an electric mixer.
  3. For a festive treat, add the amaretto or orange liquor to the chocolate-butter mixture.*
  4. Stir in eggs, adding them one at a time, then add the sugars and vanilla extract.
  5. Next, stir in white chocolate chips and flour until all ingredients are combined.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared greased baking pan and bake for 30-35 minutes until the center is set.
  7. Sprinkle a light dusting of icing sugar once the brownies have cooled.

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BRING ON WINTER!!!

Contributed by Trudy Price

Canadian WinterAccording to the Canadian Farmers Almanac we can expect lots of SNOW this year! It’s no secret I am a summer girl at heart and although it took me many years, I eventually learned winter can be enjoyed.

As kids, we loved looking out the window seeing that first snowfall and immediately pulling on the snowsuit and heading out attempting to build snowmen and forts with all 2 cm of snow and grass still showing! Then years go by and we start to dread the winter. The cold, the dark, the shovelling, the clearing off the cars, the drying out of kids mitts and boots, the hour spent getting toddlers in winter gear and out of the house only to hear them declare they need to use the toilet *sigh*… ah yes, the joys of winter!

After spending years spent in the ‘winter hibernation mode’ I realized the only way to make it go away quicker is to…embrace it! Enjoy it! Surely there must be ways for adults to have winter fun! And indeed there are…lots! I can actually say I enjoy the activities of the snowy season almost as much as the sunny days of summer!

Feet in the snowI have my 2018 winter-bucket-list whirling around in my brain and can’t wait to get at it! Here’s a list of fantastic outdoor ideas of ways to spend winter days – solo, with family, kids, friends. Ottawa and area truly have some cool stuff going on whether spectating or participating – from local activities like a skate on the SENS Rink of Dreams to an overnight winter camp adventure in Algonquin Park. So, break out your snowshoes, skis, skates, sleds, wool socks and toques and take in something new this winter… step outside your comfort zone and let the magic happen …

NEW Winter Fun!

Other Winter Ideas:

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