Twelve Days of Christmas, #4: Spiced Soft Caramels

Ever since I made my own candies for Halloween and realized just how easy it actually is, I've been a big fan of making them from scratch. Yes, there's still a lot of sugar in it (and corn syrup), but you leave out all that other junk that you often get in commercially-made candy. So it's slightly better for you!

Day Four of my Twelve Days of Christmas series: Spiced Soft Caramels.

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Twelves Days of Christmas, #3: Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

This is another staple that always makes my holiday line-up of Christmas cookies. So fitting with all its festive colours.

Day Three of my Twelve Days of Christmas: Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti.

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Twelve Days of Christmas, #2: Raspberry Cream Thumbprints

You know those fruit cream cookies? Those vanilla sandwich cookies with the jellied fruit center? I used to love those. It has been years since I've had one, and I'm pretty sure if I did pick one up today, I would grimace at its artificial flavouring. But I've finally come across a cookie that evokes the memories of said cookie without all the added unnecessary ingredients. It has also become another staple in my holiday baking line-up.

Day Two of my Twelve Days of Christmas Treats series: Raspberry Cream Thumbprints.

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Twelve Days of Christmas, #1: Chewy Triple Ginger Cookies

It's finally December and the holiday spirit is well under way. Christmas is always my favourite time of the year. There's something so special about the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas that brings out the little kid in me.

With the countdown to Christmas already underway, I have my mini Christmas up, presents are being bought and wrapped, and my baking is very much well under way. Every year, I like to bake a variety of cookies for family and friends that include the regular staples that everyone requests, along with new cookies or confections to keep things interesting in the kitchen for myself. And so, in the following days, I will invite you into the madness that is my kitchen around the holidays for my Twelve Days of Christmas Treats. Day 1 is the classic and much loved Ginger Cookies.

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Taste Ontario, Taste the World at Longo's

Earlier this week, I was invited to take part in the "Taste Ontario, Taste the World" event at Longo's Maple Leaf Square Loft Kitchen, hosted by Alexa Clark, founder and publisher of CheapEats Restaurant Guide, co-chair of Second Harvest’s Toronto Taste community committee, and co-founder of HoHoTO, as part of the Longo’s Taste Ontario Ambassador Program.

So what is this program, you ask? According to the official press release from Longo’s, “the goal of the ambassador initiative is to showcase Longo’s leadership in fresh and local food by developing an integrated program that builds awareness of Longo’s best quality, selection and variety of fresh foods from Ontario.” Alexa is one of those said Taste Ontario Ambassadors, and she was given the green light from Longo’s to take over their Loft Kitchen for one night and cook up a meal featuring Ontario products from the store.

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