Cookie Cornucopia ~ Is Your Sweet Tooth Ready?

A few months back, we celebrated my mother & father-in-law's 40th wedding anniversary with a 70's-themed party.  While creating a list of baked goodies to make for the party, I also had an idea of bringing decorated cookies as party favours.  In speaking with my sister, I was reminded of the awesome Halloween sugar cookies that she had at her own party.  Not only were they decorated to spooky perfection, they were absolutely delicious!

I immediately contacted Pauline Koh, owner of Cookie Cornucopia.  Cookie Cornucopia specializes in freelance pastry arts for any occasion in the GTA.  Pauline launched Cookie Cornucopia in 2007, with the simple desire to create handcrafted gourmet baked goods and confections.  Pauline's creative approach is passionate, adventurous and imaginative.

Pauline boasts an impressive culinary education.  Along with being a Pastry Arts Management alumni of George Brown College in Toronto, she also graduated from the International Pastry Program at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Pâtisserie in Yssingeaux, France.  This fully explains her incredible attention to detail, resulting in sweet perfection!

Pauline's natural creativity is also impressive.  When placing my order for the 70's-themed sugar cookies, I basically left her with a list of common 70's phrases, and a request for 70's colours.  The rest was left up to her imagination.  What I received were truly awesome tie-dye cookies in the perfect colour combinations!  They were a hit at the party, adding a delicious element of fun!

Check out these groovy 70's-themed sugar cookies! Can you dig it?

I'm already thinking about my next order from Cookie Cornucopia.  Last month, Big-A was treated to the most adorable Lego Man cake pop from Pauline.  It was scrumptious!  He brought it to school and had all of his classmates surrounding him at snack time, in awe of the edible Lego Man!  I think that these would be an absolute hit at his 7th birthday party this spring!

Whether you're shopping for a wedding cake, decorated cookies or fancy confections, Cookie Cornucopia will make any occasion even more special.  Check out the website at http://www.cookiecornucopia.com to view Pauline's gorgeous baked creations.  You can also follow Cookie Cornucopia on Twitter and Facebook.

Below, I have added my favourite photos from the Cookie Cornucopia website.  Is your mouth watering yet?

Baby Shower Sugar Cookies
Simply adorable!

Wild Ontario Blueberry Cupcakes with Italian Maple Buttercream and Maple-Glazed Bacon
I am drooling...

French Almond Macarons with Coffee-Cardamom Chocolate Ganache Filling
It it tea time yet?

Miniature 'Wedding Cake' Sugar Cookies with Sugar Roses
Perfect for a bridal shower or wedding favour!

Beautiful custom wedding cakes

Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Fresh Fruit
How perfect for Sunday brunch or shower!

Simple Tomato Sauce

Total Prep Time: Approximately 90 minutes

Canada's Food Guide Servings:
1 Vegetables and Fruit (1/2 cup canned vegetables)

I grew up in a home where meals were made with love and family dinners were a must.  Of the numerous recipes I've taken from my mother, her simple tomato sauce has been the most used one of them all.  My siblings and I all make it, my husband makes it, and I have passed my recipe on to numerous friends and co-workers.

My mother learned how to make tomato sauce from Mrs. Gargarella, the mother of her close friend, many moons ago.  Over the years, she adapted it slightly.  This rich, flavourful sauce will please everyone in your family.  It's perfect over rotini or in a lasagna and it freezes very well.  And it's incredibly easy to make!


Simple Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:
6 cans whole San Marzano or plum tomatoes, pureed
1 bulb fresh garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp dried oregano
3 tbsp dried basil
2 tbsp salt
1 tbsp fresh cracked black pepper


Directions:

1. Prepare whole tomatoes by pureeing in a blender or by using an emulsion blender.  Add to a large pot and place on the stovetop on high heat.
2. While the tomatoes are heating, prepare the garlic.  Heat olive oil in a small pot over medium heat.  Add chopped garlic to olive oil and cook garlic just until it turns a light golden colour.  Immediately add the garlic and olive oil to the pot of tomatoes.
3. Add oregano, basil, salt and pepper.  Stir occasionally.
4. Once the sauce comes to a boil, turn down the heat to medium-low and slowly simmer for at least 1 hour.  The longer you simmer the sauce, the thicker it will be.
5. Serve over your favourite pasta, topped with freshly grated Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese.
6. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Adding olive oil to chopped garlic

Perfectly golden garlic

All ingredients in the pot

Tomato sauce simmering away, almost ready!

Dinner's ready!

*TIPS*
1. Once the sauce has cooled to room temperature, pour into freezer bags or containers and freeze for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the sauce in ice cube trays, handy for homemade pizza!
2. Omit the garlic, add fresh herbs or vegetables, try different flavours.  This is a basic tomato sauce that you can make your own.
3. Add ground beef or spicy sausage for extra protein.
4. Big-A loves leftover pasta with his school lunch.  Simply heat up in the morning, place in a thermos and top with extra sauce.  Penne and rotini work best as they don't fall apart when re-heated.