2007 - Meet My Able Assistant, Charlie

After Charlie and I returned home after his soccer practice, I made Dunkable Brownies. I was going to double the recipe but my Skyco order of American groceries hasn't come yet. I wound up with 46 with walnuts and I made a dozen for Charlie with no nuts. Then I made another batch of Snicker Doodles dough to go in the fridge.

We went to Clemmie's birthday party today (Dec. 15). But before we left I made a batch of Checkerboard Cookies dough (two rectangular "logs"). After we got home from the party, I baked the Checkerboards for a yield of 21 white-and-black cookies and 21 black-and-white cookies. 

Then Charlie helped me make the Snicks. He was so helpful! He rolled the dough into balls; made the cinnamon-sugar mixture; rolled them in the mixture; and removed the baked cookies from the tray. What a helper! We made 8 dozen. 

Afterward, he decided to start his own Cookie Journal! How cute is that? We also made another double batch of Hedgehog Cookies (6 1/2 dozen) and some Kolacky dough to throw in the fridge until tomorrow. 

I was all set to make the dough for the Gingerbread Kids for Charlie's cookie decorating party but I don't have molasses! How could I not?! The gingerbread party is on Monday! I could have a crisis on my hands! I'll have to figure something out tomorrow. 

I finished the day with a batch of Chex Party Mix. I pulled it out of the oven at 12:45 a.m. Good night! 

2007 - Bake All Day, Frost All Night

First thing after I got Charlie off to school, I baked the Snicker Doodles that I whipped up yesterday (Dec. 4). A double batch yielded 8 1/2 dozen scrumptious cookies. I followed Lisa's directions, pressing the cinnamon-sugar-coated balls down with a glass. These cookies were far superior to the Pinwheels and I'll probably stick with these from here on out. My sister knew what she was talking about when it comes to cookies!

Overnight Cookies, with pecans.

Afterward, I sliced and baked the Overnight Cookies. Charlie was a little disappointed that I baked them while he was at school, but I had to get on with it. I wound up with 4 1/2 dozen (no nuts) and 4 dozen (with nuts). 

Production zone! 

Then I went for Charlie, made supper and bought some gingerbread house cookie cutters on eBay. I also got some gingerbread boy and girl cutters in the mail yesterday, but now I don't know where I've stashed them!

Sugar Cookie cutouts.

I started frosting Sugar Cookies after Charlie went up to bed; I was up till midnight. I had such a back ache. It was all worth it when Charlie came down in the morning, though. He made his selections to take in his packed lunch for the Pantomime. He wanted one of each shape! Of course he did.

Sugar Cookies waiting to set.

2007 - Let It Dough!

I hauled out my nutcracker oven mitt (that Mom gave me one Christmas) and my Christmas tree spatula (that I wheedled out of Mom a few years ago) and all my cookie cutters and cranked out the Sugar Cookies that Charlie requested. There were about 9 1/2 dozen, but 2 1/2 dozen were mini trees, so it's more like 8 dozen.

I made Charlie's trees; and snowmen, bells, candy canes, stars, mini trees, and, as an afterthought, angels. I set these aside (on new trays that I bought last year) to be frosted tomorrow.

My lovely assistant, Charlie, with the Checkerboard Cookies. 

Then I made the dough and "logs" for Checkerboard Cookies. That takes about an hour! It's really fiddly and you have to be dedicated to want to bake these. The doughs — black and white — are rolled to measure, then cut into strips. The strips are then used to build the cookies, using an egg wash to help them stick together. Charlie and I both really like the taste of these light, buttery cookies, and I love the way they look on the tray.

When Charlie got home, he requested Grandma Baker's Overnight Cookies, so we made a half-batch (he got some math practice!). We listened to Christmas music while we mixed, just like Lisa and I always did. He always pulls his little stool up to the counter to help. At one point, ihe accidentally lifted the mixer arm and dough and flour flew all over the kitchen! We both froze; then he started singing, "Let it dough, let it dough, let it dough!" We both exploded with laughter! We put the four logs into the fridge (no paper towel tubes — I want them flat on one side like Grandma's always were). We made two logs with pecans (me) and two without (Charlie).

I also mixed up some of Lisa's Snicker Doodles. I'm bored with those Snickerdoodle Pinwheels — they look great, but they don't taste that great. So, I honored Lisa by trying her favorite Snicker Doodle recipe, which she kindly copied into the diary the first year she made them. I refrigerated the dough for tomorrow, when I'll be back at it again.

2005 - Where Did December Go?

Ah, here it is Jan. 1, so I had better add a postscript to 2005's Christmas baking. Christmas always comes faster than you expect and I was too busy baking and wrapping and shopping to make any more diary entries.

My brother, Michael, went out to Mom's house and made Whoopie Pies, Buckeyes and Nestle's Chocolate Chip Cookies. He's becoming quite the baker!

Lisa made Poor Man's Cake, Snickerdoodles, Magic Cookie Bars and Pillsbury Sugar Cookies (ready-to-bake rolls). Poor Man's Cake has been in our family's recipe box for years.  It's a chocolate quick-bread, studded with raisins, that is traditionally made in a tube (or Bundt) pan. My great-grandmother used to make it, back in the 1940s, when sugar, butter and eggs were rationed. It was a "poor man's" fruit cake that was served at Christmas time. She once accidentally made it with cayenne pepper and the family teased her for years! The recipe itself dates back to the late 1800s.

I've written the recipe down, even though I don't usually make it because Lisa and Aunt Catherine do. The recipe is strange because it's the one Great-Grandma Berghaus used (so I copied it just as she had it). So it doesn't read like a contemporary recipe at all. Still, the results are satisfying.

Mom made loads of cookies and Pumpkin Bread. She and I both love the new Coconut Cream-Filled Macaroons we found in Martha Stewart's Cookies magazine. 

I don't think I'm going to make the Snickerdoodle Pinwheels again. I love making them and they look great — but they're just not cinnamon-y enough for me. I say that about all the Snicks I make. One day, I'll find one that's perfect.

I can't believe I didn't make Sugar Cookies this year. I'll have to get going just as early next year so I can be sure to make them. They need to be made first thing, though, because they take so much time and effort. But they are certainly worth it; and kids love them!

Poor Man's Cake

4 c water

1/2 c oil

1 box raisins (12 oz)

Cook until the raisins are soft.

Sift together:

4 c flour

2 c sugar

3 1/2 tsp spices (ginger, cinnamon, all-spice and cloves)

4 tsp baking powder

1/3 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1/2 c cocoa

Mix the raisins and the water/oil mixture into the dry ingredients.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour. 

Obviously, some steps aren't described as well as they could be. For instance, boil the raisins, oil and water for about 3 minutes and let cool completely before adding to the dry ingredients. The measurements for the spices aren't  precise. I should think 1 tsp each of the first three; and 1/2 tsp of the cloves. You should grease and flour (or spray) the cake pan generously. Watch the cake when it's in the oven; it could be done in as little as 30 to 50 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

2001 - Ghost Writer

2001 was the first year I lived in England, away from my family. When I came home for a visit, I brought The Cookie Diary with me. Lisa made this entry from her side of the pond:

This was a year of firsts for the Carr bake shop. First, the week before Thanksgiving, I made Chex Mix for the girls. Personally, I can do without it! I have never done Chex solo but I believe Kevin would have approved. 

Lisa bought one of these for each of us.

I went right on to People Chow, from the cookbooks I bought for us at Cracker Barrel (Gooseberry Patch: Magic of Christmas, 2001). It's made with Rice Chex, peanut butter, chocolate chips and powdered sugar. It was good while warm, but once it got cold, nobody wanted to eat it. 

Then I did a test batch of Snicker Doodles. They were yummy with a great texture. 

On Dec. 3, with the kids' help, I made about 6 dozen Nestle's Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies and four dozen Snicker Doodles. I also made my first ever Pumpkin Bread (this may explain why I left the pumpkin out of the first batch!). So I made six loaves with pumpkin and three without - but all loaves were equally delicious.

I made four batches of Snicker Doodles - eight dozen - on Dec. 15. They turned out beautifully. They were difficult to mix - someone lost the paddle attachment to my KitchenAid. So, I tried to make do with the dough hook.

Danielle, Rachel and April were present for all sessions. They were all helpful - getting cookie sheets ready, measuring ingredients, and cracking eggs. They also are quite adept at rolling and sugaring the Doodles. I have plans and ingredients for fudge, Poor Man's Cake and more Pumpkin Bread.

Snicker Doodles

1/2 c butter, softened

1 c sugar

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c flour

2 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Beat butter on high for 30 seconds. Add sugar, soda and tartar; beat till combined. Beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in flour. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour.

Combine cinnamon and 2 Tbsp sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll balls in sugar mixture and place on baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.

Bake 10 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

*Keep dough chilled while waiting for batches to bake. If dough gets warm, it wont spread right, leaving fat cookies. I got better results flattening the balls with the bottom of a glass for more even baking.

People Chow

1/2 c butter

1 c creamy peanut butter

2 c milk chocolate chips

17 1/2 oz pkg corn or rice cereal (Chex)

1 lb. powdered sugar

Combine butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips in saucepan. Melt over medium heat, stirring often. Pour over cereal and mix until thoroughly coated. Place cereal in a paper sack, sprinkle in powdered sugar. Fold down the top of the paper sack and shake well. Makes 3 pounds or about 12 servings.