Happy NYE

Have a safe and happy New Years! Wishing you a happy and healthy 2017!

Karen

New Years

The official NYE party in the 6ix with live music by Walk Off The Earth, Boogat, Exco Levi, High Priest and Nefe, skating party with DJ Shub, and fireworks in the Square. 7 pm. Free.

This year's countdown also launches the year-long celebration of Canada's 150th birthday. 

Enjoy!

Karen

Pop up Planetarium

Visit the planetarium in the Gallery School and discover amazing and unexpected landscapes found within our solar system and throughout the universe. Dec 26-Jan 8, 11 am-3 pm daily, every 30 minutes. $5, youth 6-17 $3, child 5 & under free.

Enjoy!

Karen 

Happy holidays!

Happy holidays from our family to yours!

Karen

Holiday Cookies

This recipe, adapted from All Recipes makes a lot of cookies. I spit the dough into two batches and added cocoa to one for a chocolate variation.

Difficulty: 3 out of 5

Cookie tip: Many recipes call for chilling the dough first before rolling it flat in order to cut out shapes. In theory, it’s to ensure the dough is stiff enough so it doesn’t stick to the cookie cutters. However, cold dough requires a lot of muscle to roll and it often cracks. Instead, roll out the dough while it’s still warm, then refrigerate it before cutting into shapes.

For the cookies

1 1/2 cups (375 mL) room temperature unsalted butter

2 cups (500 mL) granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract

5 cups (1.25 L) all-purpose flour

2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder

1 tsp (5 mL) salt

1 tbsp(15 mL) cocoa powder

In a stand mixer with paddle attachment on medium speed or a large bowl with a mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Turn speed down to low and add eggs and vanilla. Turn speed to medium to whip into a fluffy mixture.

Slowly add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix on low speed until it forms a single ball of dough.

Divide dough in half. Mix one half with cocoa powder until there are no more streaks. Roll out each dough ball into 1/2 cm thickness between two sheets of parchment paper. Refrigerate dough for minimum 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.

Cut rolled-out dough into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Gather any leftover dough, roll out and repeat.

Transfer cut cookies on to lined baking sheet. Using a chopstick, poke a hole into each cookie for ribbon.

Bake cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cookies begin to turn golden brown on edges.

Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. If the holes aren’t completely open, widen it with a toothpick.

Makes about 72 cookies.

For the icing

2 cups (250 mL) sifted icing sugar

2 tbsp (30 mL) light corn syrup

1/4 cup (60 mL) water

In a bowl, whisk together all ingredients until smooth and sugar has completely dissolved. Fill a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Twist open end of bag to ensure icing doesn’t leak. Pipe decorations on cookies and let dry completely before stringing them with ribbons.

Enjoy!

Karen

Bath toys

So I was flipping through my daughter's Today's Parent magazine when I read the simplest trick for kids bath toys.  Apparently some of the squeeze or squirting toys have holes in them and one can never get rid of all the water in them and the leftover water creates mold.  Kids get sick from bathing in said mold of course so the best thing to do is to simply put a dab of crazy glue over the hole so it becomes airtight! Voila! No mold and healthy happy kiddos!

Enjoy!
Karen

Riverdale Hub Christmas Market

This sounds like fun for the whole family. The Riverdale Hub Christmas Market will feature handmade and locally produced items December 17 & December 18 from 11 am-6 pm at the Riverdale Hub 1326 Gerrard E, Toronto. Free!

Enjoy!
Karen

Skate with Santa

This will be great fun for the kiddies! Skate with Santa is presented by Greater Toronto Skating Academy. Bring your friends, skates and a helmet to Downsview Park Toronto December 17 from 11 am-12:30 pm. Free at rink 4 at 57 Carl Hall Road.
Enjoy!
Karen

When you wish upon a star

This sounds fab! When you wish upon a star is a holiday magic celebration with shows by illusionist entertainers Professor Wick, Soli and Rob, Santa's castle workshop, arts and crafts, holiday mascots, decorating treats, sing along with carollers and more at LOCATIONCasa Loma 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto December 17 from 9:30 am-5 pm. Tickets are $27, seniors/youth $21, under 13 years $17. This celebration runs from December 1-January 8. See website for program schedule.

Enjoy!
Karen

Holiday Fair For Epilepsy Toronto

The Holiday Fair For Epilepsy Toronto will have shopping, skating, midway rides, Santa visits, performers, food, drinks at the ice bar and more at this European-style Christmas market and winter carnival from December 8-23, weekdays 11:30 am-9 pm, Saturday-Sunday 10 am-9 pm at Nathan Phillips Square 100 Queen W, Toronto. Free admission and all proceeds support Epilepsy Toronto. For more information visit Holiday Fair.
Enjoy!
Karen

Christmas in the Valley

Experience the holiday traditions of the 1890s and the 1940s through sampling historic recipes, making take-home crafts and an outdoor tour of the Wildflower Preserve. December weekends noon-4 pm (December 24 & 31 to 2 pm; closed December 25-26) and December 27-January 8 (closed January 1) at Todmorden Mills 67 Pottery, Toronto. Tickets are $4-$8.

Enjoy!
Karen

Evergreen's Winter Village

The Evergreen's Winter Village Etsy Canada Makers Market, street food vendors, hands-on nature play at the Children's Garden, ice skating, fat bike rides and more at the Evergreen Brick Works 550 Bayview, Toronto from December 10 to January 8 (Makers Market to December 23) daily (closed December 24-25). Free admission, fee for some activities. For more information visit The Brick Works.

Dec 10-23: weekdays 3-7 pm, weekends 11 am-7 pm.

Dec 26-Jan 8: daily 11 am-6 pm (Dec 31: 11 am-3 pm).

Enjoy!
Karen

Mt. Pleasant Village Christmas Fair

The Mt. Pleasant Village Christmas Fair will have tree decorating and lighting, a giant snow globe, family photos with Santa, scavenger hunt, live music and other family-friendly festive activities on December 3 from 10 am-4 pm free at Mount Pleasant Village Mt Pleasant between Eglinton and Davisville , Toronto. For more information visit http://mountpleasantvillage.ca/christmas-fair

Enjoy!
Karen