My tastes as a baker don’t always please my friends and family. I prefer bread > cupcakes (always) and simple over complex (I still cannot frost a cake properly). These cookies are the exception: they will please everyone!

Marshmallow groups ensure consistent mallow-ness. Science.

A basic chocolate chip sugar cookie + graham cracker crumbs + marshmallows + squares of milk chocolate = heaven. Perfect for a long weekend BBQ or party!

S'mores Cookie

2013-05-18 15:31:55

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Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 milk chocolate bars (full size)

54 mini marshmallows

Instructions

1. Whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, salt and baking soda.

2. In an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Add flour mixture and beat into a smooth dough.

3. Add in chocolate chips and stir to combine.

4. Cover dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

5. Preheat oven to 350º F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and set 2 inches apart on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

6. Bake at 350º F for 5 minutes, remove from oven and top each with 3 mini marshmallows and 1-2 pieces chopped milk chocolate bar (I used Jersey Milk). Bake for 3 more minutes.

7. Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Adapted from Toronto Life Cookbook

Adapted from Toronto Life Cookbook

Kat Langdon http://www.katlangdon.com/

We recorded this album just last month during a whirlwind weekend in Peterborough and soon it will be available on iTunes and at every show this summer.

Reservations for the album release party are highly recommended and can be made on the Seven44 website. So convenient. Talking to other humans is overrated ;)

See you there!

xo K

Remember, I’m no doctor and these are just general tips. Pay attention to how you feel and act accordingly.

Basic Training
Ok, this one might be too late for some but it really is the best proactive measure for being able to sing when under the weather. A strong and healthy voice will fare better with a cold than one whipped into action every now and then. Daily warmups and practice will keep your voice limber. Remember, if it hurts – don’t do it! The show must go on, but not at the expense of your voice.

*If you’re looking, I teach voice lessons in Toronto or can recommend a number of great names!

Water
Duh. This is one of those life skills you just need to get on board with on the regular. Best way to get in the habit is to pick up a reusable water bottle and make it your best friend. I love Klean Kanteen.

Avoid Problem Food/Drinks
Sorry friends. Avoid:
- Caffiene. Yes, even tea (unless herbal/decaf).
- Alcohol
- Sugar (helps bacteria grow)
- Cough drops (never Halls, if you must, these)
- Dairy. Aids in phlegm production. Gross.

Listen to Your Body
I’m going to say it again: don’t hurt yourself. Nothing is more important than rest when you’re sick. And as my voice teacher would say, “If it hurts, stop doing that. Don’t be stupid.” I might have added the stupid part.

Have a Cold Kit
This is where you’re expecting ‘eye of something’ or an essential oil, right? I remember in college everyone had their top secret cold remedies they swore by. One involved cheesecloth and making your own tea. Come on. I was never that fancy, but I’ve found a few things I love when needing to perform under the weather:

David’s Tea Organic Cold 911

David’s Tea Organic Cold 911 is an herbal (see: decaf) peppermint tea with juniper berries and orange peel. I drink this stuff even when I’m perfectly healthy! Forget Throat Coat, this stuff actually tastes good and doesn’t numb your throat (you want to feel what hurts so you don’t do it). Pick up a tin, keep it in the cupboard, break in case of emergency (or just open the lid).

Steam
Free things! Steam helps keep everything moist (ew) and bonus! free facial.

Good Food

Eat well! Your body needs the care now more than ever. As a total aside, Joy McCarthy of Joyous Health just had a great post on the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 for 2013 that I loved. Print out her PDF and go shopping. Go go gadget fruit and veggies!

Scarves

Keeping your throat warm is a good idea plus it’s an excuse to accessorize. It’s no secret, I’m a big fan of the American Apparel circle scarf. I know they’re pricey (and thinner than they used to be) but no other scarf comes close for functionality. When you’re sick and in rehearsal this scarf is so huge it can double as a pillow, blanket, or ramshackle costume (if you’re low budg’).

Do you have any voice care tips for singing with a cold?

Office for a weekend

The studio we recorded at backs out on to the country. It was nice to come outside and have this view while warming up or on a break. There may have been a few Salzberg-esque moments.

Peterborough was lovely. I had never been and would love to visit again in the summer. A few of us had dinner last night at Hot Belly Mamas, a great cajun food restaurant downtown.

Come on, it was finally SPRING outside!

Does anyone else love staying in a hotel room all alone? I had a beer with my bandmates next door then spent the rest of my night eating left over dessert watching Funny Girl on my laptop. Mini-vacation at the Super 8.

I’m really proud of the work we did. Keep an eye out for our album “First Set” out this summer, available at all our shows!

On Wednesday I’ll be singing at the Emerge Conference opening for keynote speaker, Adrian Grenier. Yes, that Adrian Grenier. 

And this weekend I’ll be in the studio with the Brian Rose Band recording an album that will be available this summer.

Plus rehearsals, writing, teaching and a few secret projects ;)…send caffeine!

xo Kat

De-stressing with vintage. Oh, I bought the hell out of this.

“The uncannily beautiful harmonies that Ryder and Langdon created were made all the more lovely by how special the moment was. And every person in the room was connected by that same feeling of hope and excitement that Langdon was radiating.”
…Read more

Oh and LivemusicTO thinks I have a very nice voice, thanks guys! :)

Soundcheck!

Yesterday put my phone through its paces. Between Facebook messages, posts, likes, shares, tweets, Instagrams, emails and texts I don’t think I’ve ever received so many notifications in my life! Thank you all for your support, it’s a little overwhelming and completely lovely.

A lot of you have been asking me how the day went and luckily, it’s a short story (in a good way)! I arrived for soundcheck to rehearse the song with Serena’s band and got to watch Serena do soundcheck in the empty venue. This might have been the second best part of the experience because listening to Serena’s voice resonate in an empty hall is akin to a masterclass in phenomenal singing. Not to mention her band. Damn.

I came back for the show and was told to just wait in the audience and she would call me up. Here’s where it got a little tricky. If you’ve ever been to a standing room only show you know how difficult it is to push your way to the front. But I made it!

Serena Ryder’s fans are also the kindest people. After leaving the stage I got a lot of hugs and high fives from strangers, and even a few people who have seen me sing before – I actually sang at one audience member’s wedding a while back! The neatest part was having a woman come up to me and offer the set list she took from the stage with my name on it – so kind! She said she got it to give to me and was hoping to run into me. I didn’t catch her name but I’m so grateful, thank you!

I also got a lot of messages asking what I was going to wear so here it is!

French Connection Aloha dress, Spring 2013

After the show minus my favourite boots!

I’m going to take a couple days to recover from a whirlwind trip in New York followed by this experience the following day. I’ll post some more pics soon!

I got the email Tuesday night while sitting in the Foxwoods Theatre on Broadway in New York (more on that later…) and have been travelling ever since. I’m still wrapping my head around it but I’ll take photos and video tonight to share with you all! :)

xo Kat

Interview + first performance

Outro performance

Big thank you to Rogers TV for having us and to David Schindler (piano) and George Chenery (bass) for waking up early and being great bandmates :)