I always make goodies to bring over to friends and neighbors. I do something different every year, although Pete has pointed out it would be much easier to pick a couple of things I do well and stick with that. Me? Apparently I thrive on the stress that comes with trying out new recipes when I am crunched for time. This year I made chocolate dipped toffee squares. So good! Unfortunately I was too impatient making the first batch and did not wait for the candy thermometer to read "soft crack" , instead deciding that "firm ball" was close enough. Nope. The toffee never actually hardened and I had to scrap that batch and start over. Lesson learned.
I also made "Angel Kiss cookies". I found the recipe on Laura's blog, Piece of Cake. Interesting side note-- when I mentioned to her that my cookies came out super flat, she suggested I turn my oven down a bit. Since I have lived in this house my cookies all come out super flat! I even replaced all my baking soda and powder thinking it was that. Now I am wondering if it is just my hot oven.
The final thing I made was these cookies. Growing up we called them "Hello Dollies" ( I have no idea why) I have also seen them called magic cookies.
Next year I will take Pete's advice and choose 2 things I am familiar with.The kids did some gingerbread cookie decorating this holiday season
This is the boys at Christmas Eve dinner. No, we did not drug them with wine at dinner. They had cranberry juice in our Christmas wine glasses.
We received tons of treats from friends and patients. This item was especially beautiful and delivered on Christmas Eve, making for a perfect dessert for the evening. It was a red velvet mini bundt cake.
I made a delicious eggplant dish to bring to my sister-in-law's house for dinner. Do you see the big indentation? One of the boys stepped on it getting out of the van. Based on the markings in the foil we deduced it was Vinnie. We still ate it though!
Now I seriously need to go on a diet!!
6 comments:
Based on how yummy it looked, that indentation wouldn't have held me back at all.
In theory, I agree with Peter about making a few things and then sticking with them. I think the only bad thing about choosing to make the same recipes year after year is choosing to give something that tastes bad--something you would never do. Sure, you may get bored with preparing them but you are likely to be the only one who feels that way. So wrap your brain around this: you can do a lot of research baking this year in the name of narrowing down what one day will officially be known as Michelle's annual holiday edibles. I already have one recipe to send your way. :-)
What a drag about stepping on the eggplant, but it still looks like it tasted good :)
And I'm impressed at how well your boys did decorating the gingerbread men. (And that you baked all of that stuff, wow!)
The footprint. Classic!! I still would have eaten it too - I love me some eggplant.
And hello, Hello Dollies!!! Yum.
I wish I had some of those around here now. The Twizzlers I'm having for breakfast just ain't cutting it.
I'm with you on needing a diet! :) But I'm not ready yet. I'm still enjoying eating like a pig.
As for the flat cookies/hot oven, you can buy a thermometer that just hangs off one of the oven racks and use that to be sure your oven temp is accurate. I don't think it's too uncommon for your oven thermostat (or whatever it is called) to be off.
Now I officially know I'm related to you; we too would totally eat lasagna, even it had been stepped on!
I feel ya about the whole diet thing, except I eat better here than at school. All that awful cafeteria food caused me to gain the Freshman 5! (Not 15 thankfully.)
Oh, I've made those magic cookie bars. I forever regret getting the recipe from a friend of mine. I've been putting on the pounds since. They're the devil.
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