If you were to look at me and judge me based on body type and floury clothes alone, it would be safe to guess that I am a baker. It would not, on the other hand, be so easy to look at this same person and guess "Why Yes! Here we have ourselves a long distance runner!" To be fair, up until a few months ago, I would have agreed. I pride myself on being able to eat all of my baked goods and due to some relative physical activity, only gain the Freshman 15 once every 2 or 3 years (I realize that I am no longer in school and must find a new name for this. Ideas are welcome). However, last summer, my sister Lauren and I decided that we should take part in the ever popular Colour Me Rad. This is a 5 km race in which you listen to fun music, get doused with colourful dye, and having a raring good time while being in shape. So after a few months of training, Laur and I mastered the 5 k. |
Just a few months later, I was feeling pretty darn good about myself. So when Evan asked me to join his law firm's team for CIBC's Run for the Cure, I considered this a doable task. Only 5 k, right? Well, we may have looked the part, but I admit I walked a fair bit. I may have just then realized that running in hilly Toronto is far more difficult that my beautiful prairies. |
Alright, running career over. I shall stick to baking. And then disaster hit. No, not a natural disaster that requires a marathon to raise money. A much more serious disaster. Mom wanted to cross a challenge off her bucket list - running a half marathon. And my graduation date in Toronto fell on the day of the Manitoba Marathon. Shoot. So the wonderful daughter that I am - I found her a beautiful and scenic half marathon to try the day after my graduation, in Niagara on the Lake. Susan says, "Great. And you'll do it too." This gave me 3 1/2 months to go from barely being able to run 5 k to running a full 21 km. Training was no piece of cake. Except for the part where you get to eat lots of cake and carbs to fuel your runs - that bit I enjoyed. I often came home dismayed and discouraged, realizing that my mother, whose age shall remain unmentioned, was going to beat me in the half marathon. However, Mama's guilt trips continued, and she and I crossed the finish line (me a cool 29 minutes before her). |
I crossed the finish line, hugged evan, and stated breathlessly, "Never Running Again. Time to get fat." Which brings us to today. There is only one cause that I am still willing to lace up my runners for, and that is fighting Breast Cancer. Many do not know that I never met my Great Aunt due to her battle with the disease, and that my Grandmother and Mama had both been labeled as "High Risk." As well, tragedy recently struck Evan's family as his beloved uncle succumbed to cancer himself. For these reasons, this is not a charity event that I brush off as "having nothing to do with me." On October 5, the day after my birthday, my sisters, mom, and myself will be running CIBC's Run for the Cure in Winnipeg to help win the fight against Breast Cancer. To help in our search for donations, I have decided to begin Baking for Boobies! Last night, I made a delicious batch of sugar cookies (for those who remember, I sold these beauties at the Winnipeg Farmers Market and sold out), and will be delivering these cookies to anyone who donates to my team page. What's more, my partner in crime, Evan, will be matching any donation made to our team based on cookie purchases. And, in case you were wondering, here is how I made my Charity Cookies: |
Ingredients -3 cups All Purpose flour - 1 tsp baking soda - 1/4 tsp salt -1 cup white sugar -1 cup unsalted, room temperature butter -2 eggs -2 tsp vanilla Combine your flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, and set aside. Whip up your butter and sugar together until they are fluffy. Then add your eggs one at a time, and your vanilla. The end result should look like this: |
In 2 additions, stir in your flour mixture. It will look crumbly once everything is combined, but you will know that is the right consistency if you press down on it, and it sticks together, like so: |
Now separate your dough in 2, wrap the dough balls in plastic wrap and chill for a good 30-60 minutes. |
Once the dough is cool, roll it out on a very well-floured surface (about 1/4 inch thick), and cut out your shapes. To keep your shapes from spreading out in the oven, stick them in the freezer for 10 minutes. Now pop the cookies into your 350 F oven for 10 minutes. They should be golden brown around the edges but not on top. I pride myself on my chewy sugar cookies, so do not worry if they do not look crispy- they will harden up a bit once they cool. |
Now Decorate!
And now, please donate by clicking here! This is a wonderful cause, and you would have a very special place in my heart if you do. As well, these cookies will have a very special place in your tummies. Xoxo. |