Si's Profile

I have one icebox cake recipe that my mum used to make us. I have made it for my kids but never really thought to try different flavors (it's vanilla). The Lemon Ice box cake sounds amazing and would probably be the first thing I'd make from the book (and now that you shared the recipe, I guess I could make it sooner but if she can think up that, then I think I will love a lot of her ideas).

Cheesecake "cake" balls - this recipe w/o crust scooped into balls and coated in dark chocolate.

http://www.marthastewart.com/355373/vanilla-cheesecake-chocolate-glaze

Or homemade turtles, using this caramel and I prefer roasted almonds and dark chocolate - make a day or two ahead and they're even better.

http://cheatdaycafe.blogspot.ca/2009/06/chocolate-covered-caramel-pretzel-rods.html

Or these coconut macaroons dipped in white chcolate:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/homemade-coconut-macaroons

I second the freezing leftovers comment. Works great, I often add it to soups to lend some dairy-free creaminess and only need 1/2 cup or 4 or so ice cubes for that.

I just made balls like these but with medjool dates, roasted almonds and rolled in unsweetened coconut. I love them and I told the kids they were date candy and they ate them up. I'm going to make some up for an ice fishing camp we're going to this weekend. They'll be a super handy snack. And while I would eat nuts and fruit separaetely, I have one kid that will only eat nuts if they're ground up so sometimes mixing flavors and textures just makes them appealing to the whole family.

I got this for Christmas and like it so far. Love her Clean Start book too. I'm not vegan but the premise of her recipes and most of the ingredients are ones I try to use, like nut butters, maple syrup, honey, and lots of veggies to make healthier snacks and meals. I've been pleased with how much my kids like her healthier desserts too.

I am no expert but I know my own body and I was in a similar situation, and after doing some research and reading the JJ Virgin Diet (a book about food intolerance and how to test to see if you are sensitive to certain foods), I found there are just certain foods (even foods you think are healthy and are but maybe just not for your specific digestive system) that make me bloat and feel like crap and excluding those makes a world of difference in size and just feeling light and right. I exercise a lot, eat really clean but sometimes you just might need to find out if certain foods as opposed to calories are causing you trouble.

Absolutely, I love our annual photos. As your children age, traditions like this are sweet and all the pictures are memories, whether they are crying in them or not. And if you prepare them and go earlier in the year, it's not unbearable at all. It's all what you make of the experience too, not just the Santa or the kid. If you're really not into the Santa thing, take an annual photo of them mailing a letter to Santa or something. Any chance to have a scheduled yearly keepsake and watch those pictures change over time is a treasure.

This is very similar to Cook's Illustrated Thick & Chewy Gingerbread recipe which is the BEST recipe ever for gingerbread men (no egg and all butter but other measures are really similar). It makes the best gingerbread. I will be baking dozens of them tomorrow and Friday for our annual cookie decorating party on Saturday. I will definitely try this version for a drop cookie option since sometimes you want the essence of a cookie without all the rolling and cutting. Thanks!

Just made these Donna Hay white chocolate blondies from her Chocolate book this weekend - Here's the recipe online but I made the version from the book (which doesn't include the raspberries & macadmia nuts) and they were loved by all:

http://feedmeimhungry.blogspot.ca/2007/12/blondie-for-all-occasions.html

Also, this peppermint bark is amazing and my go-to teacher gift...

http://orangette.blogspot.ca/2008/12/look-at-that.html

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/bars/twixy-shortbread-bars/

I made this version last Christmas and it was a huge hit but very decadent for sure. Adding at least some butter to the chocolate makes it easier to cut. I accidentally didn't add butter one top when making bars with a chocolate top layer and it did not cut well at all. Such a mess.