Lemon Bars

Another on my Christmas squares/bars list.

Lemon Bars (Betty Crocker)
1 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c butter softened
1/4 c icing sugar
Mix first 3 ingredients, and press into a 8x8 or 9x9 pan, building up 1/2 inch edge. Bake crust for 20 min @ 350.

1 c granulated sugar
2 tsp grated lemon peel, if desired (but strongly recommended! I love lemon!)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Beat remaining ingredients with electric mixer at high speed for 3 mins, or until light and fluffy (mine never really got light and fluffy, but it still worked out). Pour over hot crust.
Bake 25-30 mins or until no indentation remains when lightly touched in centre. Cool in pan. Dust with icing sugar. Cut into bars.

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Vintage Sale

Last weekend I went with my sister-in-law to a little market she created with some friends. They've been collecting vintage clothes for a few years in the hopes of re-selling them at a later stage. She asked me to come along, and suggested I try selling cupcakes. I happily agreed, and after many long and stressful weeks with my normal job, I was able to do a trial run, and come up with some interesting flavours to sell. The week before, I ended up not having any work (the nature of my job, when it rains it pours, but then there are really dry spells in between), so I dug out the sewing machine and finished off some projects I had going, and started a few new ones to bring along too. It was a busy week, but it was so nice to be spending time creating things. I finished off a stash I had for making aprons, and also baby bibs. I also made some mini journal / scrapbooks too. Too bad having fun didn't translate into money for me though. I didn't sell a single item besides cupcakes, and only sold about 15 of those. So, for me, the markets were bust, but I think I know where I went wrong - I'm not much of a sales person it seems. We might be doing them again in a month, so I'll get my game on then (I tell myself).  And make a sign. No one really noticed me sitting behind my cupcake stand. Anyhow, here is what we came up with:

I made and finished off a bunch of aprons:

I made a bunch of new baby bibs from a classic vintage pattern:

 

I made a bunch of journals too, with stickers, and labels, and lots of different kinds of paper & envelopes.

Here is a page by page example, with repeat pages left out. There are over 70 pages of new and recycled, and some hand made papers to use for journaling, scrapbooking, or notes:

And then I made a heap of cupcakes (mocha, chocolate, vanilla, cotton candy/ fairly floss, key lime, strawberry & cinnamon roll), which were packaged in take-out containers:

Here are some shots from the markets:

Laura made some gorgeous hair combs & headbands too:

The girls had racks of clothes and shoes, there was so much stuff!

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Butter Tart Squares

These squares are fabulous!! I got this recipe from a lovely blog called Intimate Weddings.


Finally, a truly Canadian recipe I can make with ingredients solely from Australia. Most of my favorite Canadian recipes are not possible if you live in another country. Except, I did see an Australian version of a Nanaimo Bar published in a magazine a few weeks ago, which I will need to try one of these days and do a little comparison. But for these lovely squares, there are no Graham crumbs, Crisco shortening or Rogers Golden Syrup needed! ...There is a great radio clip about Butter Tarts on the site too. Click here.

I am all for raisins too! What about you? Not in anything else, though.

This is the second or third recipe on my short list for Christmas goodies to give out this year.

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