Glazed Fudge Drop Cookies
Glazed Fudge Drop Cookies
Some cookies are just ooey-gooey good, and this glazed fudge drop cookie recipe is one of them!
When I was a child learning to bake, this was one of the first recipes I learned to make, and I would make them an awful lot! They are quick and easy, and we always have the ingredients on hand.
The recipe does say to refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes, and it does make them easier to handle, but I’ll admit, in a pinch, I skip this step!
The recipe includes an easy glaze that can be drizzled over warm or cooled cookies. Don’t skip this step!
Try not to eat them all at once!
- 1 3/4 C flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 C cocoa
- 2 egges
- 2/3 C oil
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1/4 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1 C sugar
- 1 C chopped walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 C Icing Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Milk
- Mix all ingredients
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes
- Drop on cookie sheets
- Bake 350 for 12 minutes.
- Make glaze and spread over partly cooled cookies.
- Add sprinkles if desired.
How To Spot A Family Friendly Neighborhood
How To Spot A Family Friendly Neighborhood
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, written to provide you with some great tips to help you get ready for your next move to a family friendly neighborhood.
You’re getting ready to move, and you have little ones, so what’s an obvious concern? A family friendly neighborhood.
When you find that perfect neighborhood it can be easy to find weekend activities close by, your neighbors become like your family, and your kids have instant playmates nearby.
It’s a great thing for a family when they find themselves in that neighborhood that’s the right fit for their family, but how do you spot it during your home search? When you first start looking and browsing listings on sites like RentSeeker.ca, you can get a general feel for the neighborhood, but how do you delve deeper and know what daily life is like in the community?
The following are some tips to help you find a neighborhood that will be a good match for your family.
Nearby Amenities
If you have little ones and you have to pack them up and drive or take public transportation just to reach a park, it can be a problem. You want to look around and see if there are parks, play areas and green spaces nearby.
Usually, when these features are present in a neighborhood not only is it going to be good for you and your kids, but it also means there are probably also other little ones who will be hanging around.
If you’re in an urban area, it can be even more important to look for these spaces, because these will be the primary areas where your kids spend time outdoors.
If you’re looking for a home in a suburban area, you might look for signs of play equipment in lawns even if there aren’t parks nearby.
What Else Is In The Neighborhood?
When you were younger and didn’t have kids the idea of a neighborhood packed with bars and restaurants was probably exactly what you were looking for, but now, it’s time to rethink that.
If you move somewhere where there’s a lot of energy that can be fine during the day, but what happens at night? Not only can it be noisy but you may run into some scenarios you aren’t exactly comfortable with when it comes to your kids.
A better option might be to choose a quiet neighborhood that’s near to more happening areas so you can visit them if you choose, but you’re not stuck there.
Talk To the Neighbors
If you’re considering a new neighborhood, get out and talk to people. Ask them how kid-friendly it is and try to get a feel for who else lives there. You can also ask about whether or not there are community groups and activities nearby, whether families feel safe, and what the crime is like.
Finally, in terms of safety, along with crime statistics, you should also think about things such as whether or not the sidewalks in the neighborhood are well-maintained, and whether there are streetlights.
You want to make sure that there aren’t a lot of opportunities for cars to speed down the roads in the neighborhood.
Generally, if you visit a neighborhood and it seems like families are out and about and active, there’s a good chance it’ll be a good fit for you and your kids as well.
In truly family-friendly neighborhoods there are signs that kids are there, and that people feel comfortable talking with their neighbors and just being part of the community.
Get Your Rural Family Pass at the Discovery Centre, Halifax
Get Your Rural Family Pass at the Discovery Centre, Halifax
Disclosure: Our family received a free day pass to the Discovery Centre in exchange for updating our blog post about the great deals for rural families. All opinions are our own.
Hey! If you live 100km from the Discovery Centre in Halifax, you are going to want to pay attention to this!
Since our boys were little, they have been huge fans of the Discovery Centre in Halifax. We spent so much time visiting the old location, playing with the bubbles and the Lego. They never grew tired of visiting. We bought a Rural Family Pass every year.
The new Discovery Centre opened in the spring of 2017 when we were living in the UK.
The boys were so excited to get to the new centre that they asked if we could stop on the way home off the plane!
That didn’t quite happen, but we finally did get to visit this summer and we can’t wait to go back again!
We spent well over two hours exploring all the exhibits.
It really is a kid’s paradise with everything being a hands-on activity … for all ages!
Next time we go, I think we will plan to spend our entire time in the makery lab on the bottom floor where the boys spent the majority of their time building Lego robotics and learning about circuits.
Dome Theatre
While at the Discovery Centre, we took in a show at the Dome Theatre. Here’s the explanation:
Marvel at the wonders of the world and beyond in our fully immersive Dome Theatre. With live star shows and full dome films, you can explore the vastness of space, discover the ancient remnants of a star or experience the best seats to a meteor shower!
These tickets are $2 extra and there are several shows to choose from, depending on the age and interest of your group.
Rural Family Pass
Here’s one of the best parts of the Discovery Centre! They realize, that when you live further away, you can’t get in as often to play, so they make it worth your while!
Anyone who lives 100km from Halifax is eligible for the Rural Family Pass! Here are the highlights:
Explorer (RURAL)
$100 +HST
RURAL ONLY*
2 adults, 2 kids
Unlimited access all year
ASTC Travel Passport
Discounts on Camps
Discounts on Birthdays
First access to registrations
15% OFF at Discovery Shop
50% OFF Dome Theatre tickets
15% OFF at Bird’s Nest Cafe (on location)
15% OFF at Tomavino’s Pizza
Member sneak peeks
Add a child – $10
*Limited to residents who live 100km away and residents of Prince Edward Island.
This is a great deal!
We have used our Rural Pass to get in free to the Ontario Science Centre and could have used it in the UK as well!
The great thing about getting a pass is that it only takes 3 visits for a family of 4 to make it pay off. And, you can see each traveling exhibit, and not have to worry if your kids want to spend the entire time in the lab!
Remember, every Wednesday evening from 5-8pm is free for everyone!
(This excludes the Dome Theatre)
The next time you are in Halifax, stop by the Discovery Centre and pick up your Rural Family Pass and stay and play, time and time again!
Learn More about the Discovery Centre here.
Eating out with Friends and Family: Pearles in Paradise
Eating out with Friends and Family: Pearles in Paradise
Valley Family Fun is eating out with friends and family around the Annapolis Valley to report back to you new places to try. It’s all about supporting our local business owners and eating locally!
Pearles’ Take out is one of our favourite places to stop to eat when we are coming and going from the Annapolis Royal area!
This is a small building on the side of the road right off the highway, on Route 1 in Paradise. You wouldn’t think it would amount to much, but it’s totally great and a must to check out!
Famous for their fish and chips and ice cream (both soft serve and hard ice cream). The line up is worth the wait.
There is no where to sit inside at Pearles, so either wait in your car until your number is called and you can take it home with you, or sit at one of the many picnic tables on site.
Plus, the view is spectacular!
It’s a great place to check out!
Location
9767 Nova Scotia Trunk 1, Paradise.
When you are coming on Highway 101, take the Bridgetown exit 20. At the off ramp, turn left and drive less than 10 minutes down the road. It is on the left side of the road.
Open 11-8 most days.
Open seasonally.
Eating Out with Friends and Family: Troy Restaurant in Wolfville
Eating Out with Friends and Family: Troy Restaurant in Wolfville
Valley Family Fun is doing a series of posts featuring great local restaurants and cafes to check out to encourage everyone to get out and explore and support our local businesses!
My friend Lisa and I used to work together, and we still like to stay in touch by going out for lunch every couple of months. We are creature of habits. We always go to Troy in Wolfville, the Turkish and Mediterranean Restaurant. Even more predictable is that we usually order the same thing each time.
Why ruin a good thing if you find something you love?
Troy is a great place to go, just to check out the atmosphere.
There is often live music, and combine that with a glass of wine and great food, it makes for the perfect recipe for a wonderful night out!
Lisa and I always go for lunch and have the wraps.
The side salad alone is so good!
I’ve never taken my kids here, but if your kids aren’t fussy eaters there are a lot of dishes that would appeal to them including lots of kinds of kebabs!
Location
Troy is located at 12 Elm Street, Wolfville.
Next time you are looking for a nice meal out for date night, with your friends, or to culture your kids a bit, try Troy in Wolfville! Support our local restaurants and owners!
