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Cranberry Apricot Muffins

Easy, Flavourful Muffins- great for lunches or a quick breakfast!

2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

1/2 cup of rolled oats

1/2 cup white sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup of canola oil

1 egg

1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt

1/2 can of apricots- drained of juice and chopped into pieces

1/4 cup of dried cranberries

1/4 cup of sliced almonds

1/2 teaspoon of ginger

Measure all dry ingredients into bowl and mix well. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in oil, egg, and yogurt. Mix well. Add apricots, cranberries and almonds.

Spoon into large paper lined muffin tins and bake in a 350 degree oven for approx. 15 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Makes 12 muffins.

Cookies From Heaven

It's March...it might snow....you need cookies..... fast!
These will chase away the pre-spring blues, I promise!

Milk Chocolate-Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

Cookies

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon (packed) dark brown sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 1/3 cups (about 8 ounces) milk chocolate chips

Filling

3 ounces high-quality milk chocolate (such as Lindt or Perugina), chopped
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
6 tablespoons whipping cream

For cookies:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk first 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat powdered sugar, dark brown sugar, and butter in large bowl to blend.

Add peanut butter; beat until creamy. Gradually beat in vegetable oil and vanilla extract, then egg. Add dry ingredients; mix just until blended. Stir in milk chocolate chips.

Drop cookie dough by level tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake cookies until puffed and golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly, then transfer cookies to rack to cool completely.

For filling:
Place chocolate, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and kosher salt in medium bowl. Bring whipping cream to boil in heavy small saucepan. Pour hot cream over chocolate mixture; stir until mixture is melted and smooth. Chill until filling is thick and spreadable, about 1 hour.

Spread about 1 rounded teaspoonful chocolate-peanut butter filling on flat side of 1 cookie. Top with second cookie, forming sandwich. Repeat with remaining filling and cookies. (Cookie sandwiches can be made 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)


Bon Appétit
February 2006

These are perfect with a nice cup of Earl Grey tea or a nice bold coffee!

Seasons Greetings

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!

We have asked Santa for more great clients and friends like all of you!

We hope to see you soon.

We'll be here- shoveling snow..

De and Di at the B and B ( and Squirrel and Bob..)

Fall at River Wynde and River Lee

Happy Fall to all! Pumpkins and cool nights....touches of snow on freezing mornings, running in the dark, enjoying the cozy evenings wrapped in blankets and eating comfort food....

Things we are watching right now:

Glee

So You Think You Can Dance

The Biggest Loser

The Mentalist

Great DVDs!

Doubt

Management

Coraline

Up

State of Play

Julie and Julia

We can hardly wait to see:

2012

Where the Wild Things Are

The Men Who Stare at Goats

A Christmas Carol

Pirate Radio

Please note we have found our handsome scarecrow a girlfriend- they seem to be very happy setting up housekeeping in the front garden!

Beautiful Weather, Beautiful Breakfast

Just a quick post to show off the beautiful Calgary late spring weather and a gorgeous breakfast on the deck yesterday morning!

I will post the recipe for the cinnamon buns tommorrow!

Enjoy the day!

De and Di at the B and B

PS- Don't forget to visit our sites:

www.riverwynde.ca

www.riverlee.ca

The Great Back Yard Project

Spring is in the Rockies and our back yard is looking amazing!

Our great project is almost finished and here are some new photos!
The backyard has doubled in size and we've added a second deck, a barbecue area, large firepit, second eating area and doubled the garden area! Lots of new plants, new fencing and great new baskets ( thank you Colleen!).

This is what is looked like when we started.......amazing what you can do with a little string and some nails!

Then, Deanne broke out every tool she owned and began to build and build!

These piles of timbers were dug in by hand and leveled individually- so much work!

This was dug out by hand- and filled with yards of dirt and gravel....all by Deanne!

Next, the beds were built with yards of dirt, lots of shovelling with Blaine and Miss Molly, and wheelbarrows (and wheelbarrows...) full of black dirt!

Here is a picture of a little oasis in the heart of Calgary. The petals are from our mayday and crabapple trees- no, it's not snow!!

Drop by for a tour- we'd love to show off!

De and Di at the B and B