Ready, Set, Weekend with Simply Beautiful Eating

As a citizen of the "true north", it was only fitting to do a Canada Day post using lots and lots of RED & WHITE. Once again, my friend Minilicious by Rachelle provided perfect mini donuts to use in this shoot. They are seriously adorable and even better - baked not fried. She also supplied an added bonus - huge sugar cookies which were decorated in the colors of the Canadian Flag - take a look at those maple leaf sprinkles.......weeeeeee!! The donuts are simple to make at home, but why bother if you live in the Greater Toronto Area. Look her up - she does all the work for you and they are great for just about any occasion. Here are some things I love about being Canadian: 1. Our Flag – Is there any other flag as recognizable with that Maple Leaf? I don’t think so. 2. Fellow Canadians – We’re basically really nice people eh? 3. Freedoms – Free-est country in the world.....that doesn't mean things are free here...we still have to pay for our stuff. 4. Health Care – Free healthcare means we don’t have to mortgage our homes when we break a hip. It's not perfect, because you if you do fall and break something it takes up to 9 hours for a doctor to have a look at it in the ER, but who's complaining? 5. Maple Syrup - I mean, pancakes and waffles need this.......I need this.......we all need this. 6. Poutine – Fries, Cheese, Gravy… um hello? That's why we have free healthcare! 7. Smarties - The Canadian version of M & M's but in my opinion better - "when you eat your smarties do you eat the red ones last?" I DO! 8. Ketchup Chips – I can’t believe my niece (Little Miss Party) has to smuggle these back with her to the USA. Why? 9. Our Money – it certainly goes up and down like a rollercoaster against the greenback, but look at all the pretty colors! 10. Toronto – The city that I was born and raised in. A multicultural delight with loads of things to do, eat and see. 11. and lastly - BEING A PROUD CANADIAN. I love and respect our Country and the world seems to like us as well.

Show us your red and white - HAPPY CANADA DAY! Canada Day Sugar Cookies 3⁄4 cup butter (1 1/4 sticks, softened to room temperature) 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1⁄4 tsp real vanilla extract 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt

Cream butter with sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and blend well. Sift together dry ingredients and add to butter/sugar mixture. Chill at least 1-1/2 hours. Roll on floured board to 1/2 inch thickness Cut with desired cookie cutters. Bake at 350F 8-10 minutes on a greased cookie sheet. (you don't want these too brown so keep an eye on them) Cool and frost with your favorite frosting! See ya next week! XO Debi @simplybeautifuleating simplybeautifuleating.com