Looking for something different to do to honour your mom on Mother’s Day? Transform a weekend afternoon into a tea party for the women you admire most. Include some delicate mini deserts from my cookbook “Soulful Helpings” and you are on your way. Mother’s Day should be dedicated to any woman who is helping to make this world a better place by nurturing and sacrificing to care for another person. These women should never be taken for granted. They deserve your respect, gra

Vanilla Pound Cake ¾ cup softened unsalted butter 1½ cups white sugar 3 eggs 1½ tsp. vanilla 1¾ cups flour sieved 1½ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt ¾ cup milk Heat oven to 300°F Grease and flour loaf pan (5 x 10 inch) In a medium bowl stir together the sieved flour, baking powder and salt. In a mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, beating about 10 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Add

Spring 2015 -- it’s all about making a statement with pastels. Enjoy this heavenly pastel ice cream layered cake that’s bursting with the freshest flavors of the season. When I think of spring my first though is of Easter and how it is symbolic of the season with the glorious promise of rebirth and rejuvenation after a long winter season.The inspiration for this ice cream cake comes from the colors of the traditional candy coated mini eggs that my parents would hide around th

Pecan Thumb Print Cookies 1 cup d,Or Co-op butter ½ cup brown sugar 2 cups enriched all-purpose Co-op flour 2 d’Or Co-op eggs separated ¼ tsp. salt 1 tsp. almond extract 2 cups enriched all-purpose Co-op flour 2 cups finely chopped nuts 1 cup pure Co-op jam (I used cherry but any flavour will work) Preheat oven to 350°F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add the egg yolks, salt and almond extract and bea

Fill your home with the Christmas spirit by baking some of these great cookie recipes. Your children will love it, and it is a great way to spend time with you family this holiday season. This time of year always brings me joy. This year, however, my feelings are tempered by the recent loss of my dear brother. I miss him terribly and my sadness will endure for a long time. I take comfort in the secure knowledge that I will see him again, and that is related to the reason we

Cherry Pie One recipe for a double piecrust 2 -14 oz. cans of Co-op pitted Bing Cherries in heavy syrup drained with ⅓ cup of the syrup reserved and set aside ¾ cup white sugar 3 tbsp. quick cooking tapioca ⅛ tsp. salt 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice ¼ tsp. almond extract ½ tsp. vanilla extract 2 tbsp. butter Prepare the pie pastry in advance and divide into two equal sized disks. Preheat oven to 425°F Roll out 1 pastry disk on a well-floured surface to a 12-inch round. Transfer t

Pie is a must this holiday season. I double dare you to be stressed out with a piece of delectable pie in front of you waiting to be devoured. I am certain Pi would have enjoyed a slice of pie while ship wrecked in the Pacific ocean for 227 days with a Bengal tiger as his only companion. Today nouvelle cuisine has taken pie to a new level of fusions and complex ingredients, but it is my belief that the humble pies are still our favorites. Everything is better in a crust.

Pumpkin Puff Pancake 1 cup flour 1 tbsp. sugar 2 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt 1 tbsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. nutmeg ¼ tsp. all spice ¼ tsp. ginger 1 cup milk ½ cup canned puree pumpkin 2 slightly beaten egg yolks 2 tbsp. melted butter 2 stiffly beaten egg whites 3 tablespoon butter Preheat oven to 400°F and place a 9 or 10 inch cast iron pan into the oven to get hot. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice and ginger. In another

Pumpkins and the autumn season go hand in hand. For me, pumpkins bring up a host of memories: a cozy fireplace and the tantalizing rich spicy aroma of baking with pumpkins. There are so many options besides the ever-popular pumpkin pie. There are cookies, cakes, muffins and many more. Besides the baking there are savory recipes for pastas, soups and lists of other wonderful recipes. I have one memory from my youth that still makes me smile. I planted some “Jack ‘O Lantern” pu

Rustic Apple Tart with Salted Caramel Sauce 4 Granny Smith apples peeled and thinly sliced ½ cup dark brown sugar 1 tbsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. nutmeg ⅛ tsp. all spice Pinch of salt 2 tbsp. flour ½ tbsp. lemon juice 1- 397 g. package puff pastry thawed 2 tbsp. melted butter Preheat the oven to 400°F Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. In a large bowl combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice and salt. Toss to coat all the apple slice