Boarding House Bakes & Late-Night Snacks

 

Whether you’re struggling with a math assignment or need a break from writing a history essay, a little sweet treat can go a long way. Here are three recipes you can whip up in the comfort of your own boarding house.

 

 

Inspired by Anna D. '27 and Maya W. '28 from Kaye’s, this tasty carrot cake will have everyone in your boarding house begging for a slice.

 

Let’s make it! For this recipe you will need:

 

Cake ingredients:

• 4 carrots

• 1 cup of oil

• 1 ¼ cup of sugar

• ½ cup of packed brown sugar

• 4 eggs

• 2 cups of flour

• 2 tbsp of cornstarch

• 4 tsp of cinnamon

• 2 tsp of baking powder

• 2 pinches of salt

 

Frosting ingredients:

• 1 cup of cream cheese

• ½ cup of softened butter

• 1 tsp of vanilla extract

• 2 cups of powdered sugar

 

Directions

1. Preheat your boarding house oven to 350°F

2. In a large bowl, mix together the oil, brown sugar, and white sugar. Next, add the eggs and vanilla. Mix it until it's smooth! Then, add in the flour, cinnamon, cornstarch and baking powder, and mix again. Finally, grate 4 carrots and fold them in.

3. Pour the batter into a baking pan.

4. Bake your carrot cake in the oven for 40-45 minutes

5. While the cake is baking in the oven, in another bowl, mix the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Once the cake is done, take it out of the oven and let it cool completely before adding your frosting.

6. Eat up! Call down your boarding house and enjoy it with your friends!

 

Recipe by Anna D. '27

 

 

Another one of Anna and Maya’s favourite things to make is banana bread! This is a perfect recipe for a Sunday afternoon, study break, or celebrating an inter-House win.

 

Banana bread ingredients:

• 3 cups of flour

• 2 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 cup of brown sugar

• 1 tsp of vanilla extract

• 4 eggs

• ⅔ cup of oil

• ⅓ cup of Greek yogurt

• 3 cups of mashed bananas

 

Frosting ingredients:

• 1 cup of cream cheese

• ½ cup softened butter

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 2 cups powdered sugar

 

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F

2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy. Mix in the oil, then add the mashed bananas, vanilla, and yogurt. Stir until smooth.

3. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Once mixed, fold the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.

4. For a layered cinnamon swirl, add half the batter into a prepared pan, sprinkle with cinnamon, then pour the rest of the batter on top.

5. Bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

6. Beat the cream cheese and butter together until creamy and smooth. Add the vanilla extract and mix well. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until the frosting is fluffy. Spread over the cooled banana bread

 

Recipe by Anna D. '27

 

 

Made by Kaye’s baker extraordinaire Ms. Michele Bartlett, these Mint Chocolate Whoopie Pies are great for anyone who wants a bit of a challenge in the kitchen. For an extra touch of House pride, add a few drops of food colouring of your House colour to the filling.

 

Ready to make them? Here’s what you’ll need:

 

Ingredients for pies:

• 1 ⅔ cups of all-purpose flour

• ⅔ cup of cocoa powder

• 1 ½ tsp of baking soda

• ½ tsp of fine sea salt

• 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 1 cup of lightly packed dark brown sugar

• 1 large egg, at room temperature

• 1 tsp of vanilla extract

• 1 ¼ cups of buttermilk, at room temperature

 

Ingredients for mint filling:

• 3 cups of powdered sugar, sifted

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

• ¼ tsp of fine sea salt

• ¼ to ½ tsp peppermint extract, depending on desired intensity

• 1 to 2 tbsp heavy cream

• Food colouring featuring your House colour, if desired

 

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In another bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the butter and brown sugar on low speed until combined. NOTE: You can also mix by hand, but it will take a bit longer. Increase speed to medium high and beat for 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on medium-high speed for another 3 minutes, or until very well combined.

4. Add half of the flour mixture then half of the buttermilk to the batter and beat on low until combined, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Add remaining buttermilk and flour, beating until combined. The mixture will be fluffy and slightly sticky like a very thick cake batter.

5. Use a kitchen spoon to drop mounds of batter onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.

6. Bake the pies in the oven for 11 minutes, or until they spring back slightly when pressed gently and appear dry on top. Let cakes cool on pans for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

7. In a medium bowl, add the powdered sugar and butter. If you have a hand mixer, mix on low until well blended and then increase the speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes, or until the mixture is completely smooth. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Then, add the salt, peppermint extract, and cream and beat on medium for 1 minute, or until light and creamy, adding more cream if needed. Add in food coloring, if desired, and beat until evenly coloured.

8. Use a spoon to dollop filling on the flat side of half the whoopie pies. You could also use a piping bag fitted with a decorative tip. Sandwich gently with the remaining whoopie pies. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a day or in the fridge for up to 4 days. Best served at room temperature so the buttercream filling has time to soften.

 

Original recipe from https://handletheheat.com/mint-chocolate-whoopie-pies/

 

 

After a long night of studying, dinner at Marion Hall can feel like a distant memory. Here are two easy recipes that are sure to satisfy your cravings. 

 

 

It’s the time of year where students are getting sick left and right. If you’re a staff member looking to boost your students’ health or a student wanting to be your House’s superhero, then this recipe is for you. Proven by our very own Ms. Michele Bartlett, this chicken noodle soup will be the cure to whatever ailment is bringing down your boarding house.

 

Ready to cure your cold?

 

You will need:

• 2 tbsp of olive oil

• ½ onion, chopped

• 2 carrots, sliced

• 2 stalks celery, sliced

• 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped

• 8-10 cups of sodium-reduced broth (chicken or veg depending on the version you are making)

• 250g of spaghetti (Note: Ms. Bartlett breaks it into small pieces)

• 1 leek thinly sliced (white and pale green parts only)

• 2 cups of baby spinach

• 1 cup of frozen green peas

• 3 cups of shredded roasted chicken

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Diced cooked pancetta

• Chopped fresh parsley

• Chopped fresh thyme

• Toasted pita triangles (optional)

 

Directions:

1. Over medium-high heat, add olive oil and veggies into a large pot

2. Sauté the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic for 3-5 minutes. Add the broth and reduce heat for a few minutes.

3. Chuck in the spaghetti (or other noodle-like ingredient), cook for 8-10 minutes.

4. Toss in the remaining ingredients and cook for another 3-5 minutes or until your taste test deems it “good to go.”

 

(For a vegetarian option: use veg broth and replace chicken with extra veggies.)

 

Original recipe and quantities from Canadian Living, March 2025

 

 

If all else fails, purchase your favourite mac and cheese on your next trip to Mill Bay and follow the directions of the box.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 box of mac and cheese (Annies, Kraft Dinner, whatever you prefer!)

• ¼ cup of milk

•1-2 tbsp of butter (Kraft Dinner only)

 

Directions

1. Boil water in a medium saucepan over high heat.

2. Once boiling, add your noodles. Cook for 8-10 minutes, or as long as the box says. Once the timer is up, drain the water using a colander.

3. Add cheese powder, milk and butter, and mix together. Once combined, add the noodles.

4. Enjoy! Place in a bowl, plate, or just eat it straight out of the pot. No judgment here!

 

Hopefully these recipes will cure your cravings and keep your whole boarding house full and happy. Bon appétit!