Guest Blogger: A Winnipeg Tradition

 I love baking blogs, I love cookies and I love tea parties. However, I cannot bake. That's where my sister comes in. Today I bring you: a guest post by my lovely sister. Enjoy! xxx, Shopahallic.

imperial cookies. enough said. 

Spring is in the air. Even in Winnipeg where there is still snow on the ground, the days are longer and the sun is brighter signaling the onset of a new season. One can't help but be inspired to incorporate a fresh, spring-like approach to everything - fashion, home design, and my personal favorite, baking. 

To me, there is nothing more delicious than imperial cookies. These buttery, icing-laden, jam-filled treats are well-known to Winnipeggers as they tease us from the shelves of every local bakery and coffee shop. I was always scared to bake them myself, perhaps worrying that I wouldn't be able to re-create the perfection of my favorite haunts, like High Tea Bakery. But with a lazy Saturday stretching in front of me, I realized it was the perfect day to try. 

One problem? It was next to impossible to find a recipe. It truly seems like imperial cookies are unique to Winnipeg. So I settled on using a shortbread recipe and experimented for the rest.  

To my surprise and delight, they worked out perfectly! 

enjoy.

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup white sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon pure almond extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons milk

1 cup raspberry jam 

2 cups icing sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 tablespoons hot water

• Pre-set oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cream butter. Add sugar, cream well. Beat in eggs, vanilla and almond extract. 
• In separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. 
• Gradually add flour to the creamed mixture, add milk towards the end. 
• Divide the dough into four parts. Roll each part to 1/8 inch thickness. (I rolled the dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper because the dough was quite crumbly at first). Cut out dough into 2 inch rounds and place on parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. 
• Spread jam onto half of the cookies (the thicker the better!)and top with remaining cookies. 
• Mix icing sugar with vanilla and almond extracts. Add the hot water as needed until you have a thin, spreadable icing. Frost cookies with icing.

 

The Color of March

While it seems to be the color of march for many reasons - the cover of Vogue, my sisters new living room color, my new dress, and now my new ring, I think this color has longevity far beyond just March. It is my new favorite hue that seems to be more like a glow. How convenient that it looks fabulous against all of my caramels and cognacs, especially for spring and summer. 

I have been lusting after various items in this shade for a long while and recently started swiping my card. On a gray, boring Monday, I couldn't help but buy myself a glowing little treat to sparkle on my finger and make me feel a little bit better and a lot more excited for my later spring travels.

This ring will look lovely in Paris. 

Good Girl Gone Green

So for the past few weeks I have been trying to eat healthier and exercise. I have kept up with the exercising, but not so much with the eating healthy. Despite me reading a few amazing healthy food blogs, I make these great recipes and the next day discount it all with a plate of french fries. So, I decided to look to the pro's. Tracey Anderson is Gwenyth Paltrow's trainer and nutrition coach, many of her recipes and tips have been posted on Gwen's blog GOOP, which I read frequently. So today I decided to try a few of her healthy smoothies, since I am obsessed with my new magic bullet. One being - kale juice. 

I have always been frightened of kale, as it looks strange, smells weird and has a very odd texture. But in a quest for health and fitness, one must be adventurous! So, here it is- apple, kale and water for a lighter texture. 

Blended together to make a very interesting "smoothie". My rating? B. I will drink it for the healthy benefits but it is definitely not something I will ever crave. 

Creme Caramel

Can you tell I like the colour cognac?

It works for every season. So far, it has lasted me through fall and winter and now I cannot wait to wear it for spring. Perfect with the whites and creams, laces and eyelets of the spring/summer season.

Old Wishes and New Beginnings

Welcome to the new Shop-a-hall-ic. 

        While I still love clothes, fashion, trends, vogue and everything else beautiful to look at, wear and play with, fashion is not the only part of my life. In fact recently (as I am sure you can tell due to the lack of posts), it is a small part of my life. Over the past 6 months since living in the big city, I have become less obsessed with what to wear each morning, and more obsessed with getting my body through the hectic schedules I have created. 

         I have become even more determined to pursue my dreams than ever before, and those dreams don't completely involve fashion. 

         Moving to the media center of Canada and the biggest city in the country was about living up to the standards I have set for myself since I was a child. And finally in this past semester, I am feeling in touch with where I want to be and where I am going. 

        My brother inspired me to believe that I am allowed to have more than one dream and that I can try to make more than one thing happen at once - he is the master of this. So, for the past little while and the in the next long while, everything I do is working towards the things I want. But along the way, I am going to be continue to live the fabulous life I've always tried to create. 

       This new chapter to my blog will be the documentation of my quest and pursuit of being stylish, fit, hardworking and of course - always shopping.  

Allow me to bore or entertain you with the next few months of my life.

The best is yet to come.