Run, Run As Fast As You Can ...

2003 - Cookies, Cookies Everywhere

Charlie played with magnetic Santa Claus
while I decorated cookies.

I may be bleary-eyed and my back still aches but I'm so pleased with my Sugar Cookie results! I think I started decorating the cookies about 2:30 p.m. yesterday (Nov. 20), and I finished at 3 a.m.! There were loads of them everywhere — both counters, the stove, the CD player, the table, the chairs and Charlie's high chair. I had every plate, platter, cookie sheet and tray out. (They're still out, waiting to be washed.)

Charlie was an angel the whole time and didn't show much interest, thankfully. He spent a lot of time at the table with me though. He was playing with a magnetic dress-up Santa Claus that I bought for him the last time we were in the States. I even made dinner and gave Charlie his bath between decorating stages.

I couldn't figure out the proportions for the Royal Icing at first. Martha Stewart's recipe calls for a pound of confectioner's sugar. A kilo is 2.2. pounds and I used that sized box but it was runny. So I kept that back for flooding. Fortunately, I had another small box, so I made another batch using 4 cups (each cup weighs 4 1/2 ounces), which I used for the piping, or outlining. I still don't understand what I did wrong but it all worked out in the end. Conversions are a pain in the bottom!

I found some different decorations at Millets Farm.

We now have green trees, white trees, blue bells, yellow stars, striped candy canes, white snowmen and green holly leaves. I had some cute decorations that I got last year at Millets Farm Centre (sugar snowflakes and such) that made a nice change. I love Millets for produce and baking supplies, and it's not too far away from our town.

Now, the Sugar Cookies are all boxed up in the freezer, ready to go! I've had to divide my own cookies up too, so I'll have some for taking "home" and some for when we get back "home." I shall be well-received!

2003 - A Baker's Work Is Never Done

I got a very late start tonight but you'd never know it! I had a dentist's appointment, walked to town, took a nap with Charlie, made dinner (Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon Glaze), then started baking! I guess I started at 6 or so and finished around 10:45 p.m.

I made Lime Meltaways for Lisa first. I didn't break a single one, which is unusual for this cookie. I think I let them sit long enough before shaking them in the powdered sugar. Yield: 6 Limey dozen. Then I sliced up my two logs and produced another 6 citrus-y dozen. Between us, I reserved a half dozen for Mom's cookie tray.

Then I decided to forge ahead with my PBs, which I had mixed up the night before. I admit I hate rolling the dough into those little balls. In fact, I got them all rolled up and covered with plastic wrap so they were ready to be criss-crossed when each pan was ready and cooled. I made another 6 dozen. Between us, we gave Mom eight for her Christmas-day tray.

Parchment paper is the only way to go every time! 

2003 - Divvy Up the Loot

What a day! I started rolling out the Sugar Cookies at noon and the last tray came out of the oven at 7 p.m.! We're loaded with cookies now! I decided to divvy them up as I went and  here are the results:

(Wait - I made bells, trees, candy canes, snowmen, stars and holly leaves; then mini trees out of the leftover dough.)

Lisa: 1 dozen each + 1 dozen little trees and 1 1/2 dozen + 1 of assorted.

Me: 1 dozen each + 1 1/2 dozen little trees + 2 dozen assorted.

Mom: 2 each (for her cookie tray).

Michael: 1/2 dozen each (except holly leaves).

Grand total: 20 1/2 dozen!

When I finished, I had dinner, then whipped up another batch of Criss-Cross dough for myself. I'll bake those tomorrow  — after the Limeys.

Happy Hogmanay!

My neighbor, Bob, in his clan's kilt,
was my first-footer.

While the rest of us were ringing in the New Year, the Scots were celebrating Hogmanay! It still works out pretty much the same though. Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the last day of the year. However, it's just the start of the celebration, which carries on from midnight on New Year's Eve till the morning of New Year's Day (or, in some cases, through Jan. 2, which is a Scottish Bank Holiday). 

My neighbor Bob, who always sports a sporran, was my "first-foot," the first friend or neighbor to cross my threshold in the New Year. Scots who continue the tradition of first-footing, bring such symbolic gifts as salt, coal, shortbread, whiskey and black buns. In my case, it was Bob's homemade Shortbread. You may think it's a bit late to blog about Hogmanay, but modern times see people visiting houses well into the middle of January. The first-foot is supposed to set the luck for the rest of the year. I cannot think of a better start to the year than a friend bearing homemade cookies. (or whiskey!)

The beautiful homemade shortbread that
I received for Hogmanay.

2003 - A Serious Start

Yesterday, Nov. 15, I had a faux Thanksgiving dinner for Neil and his cousin's family because Charlie and I are going to Grandma's for Thanksgiving. We had all the fixings and they love coming round for my American holiday feast. They especially like the "Candied Yams," except they're really sweet potatoes, of course, covered in butter, brown sugar and marshmallows.

While I was at it, I made another batch of Pumpkin Bread. I must have filled the mini loaf pans differently, though, because this time I wound up with six mini loaves. I guess I was feeling generous.

Today, I got a serious start on my baking. Here's what I'm making — doubles of everything, of course, to split with Lisa: Sugar Cookies, Lime Meltaways, Peach Kolacky, Nestle's Toll House Original Chocolate Chip Cookies, Dunkable Brownies, Grandma Baker's Criss-Cross Cookies, Vanilla-Bean Butter Cookies, Snickerdoodle Pinwheels and Moravian Spice Cookies. I think we just might make it through the holidays!

I made two batches each of Martha Stewart's Sugar Cookies and two batches each of her Lime Meltaways. The doughs are all wrapped in parchment paper and tucked in the fridge until tomorrow, when I get down to the baking side of it.

Meanwhile, I called Lisa, who was busy making Pumpkin Bread. She forgot the oil and water in the first batch! Oh dear! But she followed up that mishap with two perfect batches. I'm awaiting her email to hear how it went. April was helping (could that explain the boo-boo?). Because Charlie was helping me, which explains why I kept leaving out various quantities of flour — 3/4 cup the first time and 1 cup the second time! I could tell by the unused (and therefore un-floured) measuring cups. All is right, though, and I have confidence that my Limeys will be perfect.

After I talked to Lisa, I made a quick batch of Grandma Baker's Criss-Cross Cookies. I yielded 5 3/4 dozen. They're going in a freezer bag for Lisa (minus some for Mom). I'll bake mine tomorrow. While I was making these, Charlie pointed to some on the cookie sheet, waiting to go into the oven, and said: "Charlie want a fresh one." HA HA! Eating cookie dough must be an inherent trait.

I bought two new cookie sheets (£10.95 each!) and I cannot believe it — the suckers are too big for my stupid, puny oven! RATS! Good thing I have parchment paper for the old ones (which I ruined making Kolacky last year without parchment paper!).

Hangover? Try a Cookie!

Try a Chocolate Brownie for what ails you!

A cookie for a New Year's hangover? Why not? Chances are you still have some left over from Christmas, and it's better than bothering with a fry-up.

Ginger has long been known to soothe upset tummies. While you could take it in pill form or mix it with tea, I recommend eating Gingerbread Cookies. Ginger has been shown to reduce nausea and gastrointestinal distress.

Or try a Brownie! Chocolate can help you recover from your stupor thanks to plenty of potassium. Apparently, it helps you to regain your nerve impulses too, whatever that means.

So, take the pain reliever of your choice and follow it with a cookie cure!