Shower for baby Nofield March 26,2011

One of my dears friend is about to embark on the journey of motherhood and I along with my friends had the honour of hosting her baby shower.

The planning had begun and I was like a kid in a candy store I love planning events. Jodi & her husband Jim had already let us know that they were expecting a baby boy. The furniture had been ordered and the room was coming together. I took my colour notes from there. Thus, and assortment of blues, browns and some white to soften the colour pallet. I had begun making large tissue puffs for decorations, I selected a collection of papers to make a bunting for over the fireplaces and to make tags.

I had stumbled upon an idea to have a milk and cookies party along with your traditional fair. So I set aside time to begin baking a couple cookies each day. I felt like a keebler elf the entire week. It was too much fun.

My Mom was kind enough to come out and help me make an assortment of tea sandwiches. Including asparagus, egg, tuna,cucumber and maraschino cherry with cream cheese. We had a wonderful time rolling and cutting off all the crusts. They sure turned out beautifully.

My girlfriends were also kind enough to bring some additional baking,tasty basil sliders, platters of fruits and vegetables.

We ended up with a nice group of ladies and good friends. I had been anticipating their arrival as well the arrival of the guest of honour. My living room was covered with an assortment of gifts large and small. Pastel colours peaked out along with diaper cakes piled high.

The ladies moved around nibbling, chatting and catching up. A good friend Jill had set up in my craft room and each guest was asked to put together a page for the baby's album. So between crafting and eating we were a busy group.

And when our tummies we full we set to the task of watching Jodi as she opened each carefully selected baby item. The oh's and the ah's were in full swing. After the unwrapping of lovely goodies. I asked my guest to joining me in a cookie, or two or three. I proceeded to unwrapped an icebox cake for the ladies to enjoy. With their Milk & Cookies.

I hope everyone had as much fun as I had putting the day together. And most of all that Jodi, Jim are blessed with a happy and healthy baby. We all can't wait to meet Baby Nofield!

MORE PICTURES HERE

On a side note some of the cookies that were served were as follows

Lightly Spiced Benne Sesame Cookies

1 cup sesame seeds, toasted 2 egg yolks

½ cup all purpose flour 1 teaspoon cider vinegar

½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon vanilla

½ to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1. Preheat oven to 375˚. Coat non stick cookie sheets with non stick cooking spray: set aside
2. Blend sesame seeds , flour baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in small bowl. Cream sugar and butter in medium bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, vinegar and vanilla : beat well .
3. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Slightly flatten cookies with fork.
4. Bake 5 to 6 minutes or until edges are just golden. Remove from heat. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

Soft Ginger Cookies

2 cups all purpose flour ¼ cup packed light brown sugar

1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger ¼ cup canola oil

1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ cup molasses

¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup fat free sour cream

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 egg white

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

1. Preheat oven to 350˚
2. Combine flour, ginger ,baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves in a large bowl. Beat brown sugar , oil and molasses in large bowl with electrick mixer and medium speed 1 minute until smooth. Add sour cream and egg white: beat until well blended. Gradually add flour mixture, beating at low speed until well blended.
3. Drop dough by round tablespoons 2 inches apart onto uncgreased cookie sheets. Flatten dough to 1/8inch thickness with bottom of glass sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
4. Bake 10 minutes or until tops of cookies puff up and spring back when lightly touched. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets. Remove to wire racks:cool completely.

Makes about 2 ½ dozen cookies

Creamy Lemon Nut Bars

½ butter or marg. 1 pkg. (8oz) cream cheese softened

1/3 cup powdered sugar 2 cups granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla 3 eggs

1 ¾ cups flour divided ½ cup lemon juice

1/3 cup pecans, chopped 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel

1 tablespoon powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Line 13 x 9 baking pan with foil; spray with cooking spray. Mix butter, ½ cup powdered sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Gradually stir in 1 ½ cups of the flour and pecans. Press dough firmly onto bottom of prepared pan. BAKE 15 min.
2. Beat cream cheese and granulated sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until well blended. Add remaining ¼ cup flour and eggs ; beat until blended.
3. Stir in lemon juice and peel. Pour over baked crust in pan. Bake 30 minutes or until set. Remove from oven. ; cool completely. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon powdered sugar cut into 32 bars.