Choosing what I would make was the torturous part. I succeeded in holding off making anything until this past week, but that gave me a full two weeks after Thanksgiving to ruminate about which treats would make my short list. And because it would be a short list, I decided to stick with our family's favorites instead of trying anything new this year.
After agonizing, emailing friends and discussing it with my sister I finally hung the prized list on the fridge. I felt like I was hanging up one of those class or race rosters where, in this case, cookies and treats of all sorts would surround the posted list checking to see if their name appeared and in what order they would be made if it did. Some would turn away hanging their sweet, albeit inadequate, heads. Others would stand proud.
Those that made the list follow...
Caramel Corn
Peanut Blossoms with Dark Chocolate Kisses
Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies with chocolate chunks (my very favorite cookie)
Gingerbread Cookies Dipped in Chocolate
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Oh my. I am drooling over all of these recipes. Thank you for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for the gingerbread!
ReplyDeleteDid you finish all the baking just like that? So quick?!
I can certainly vouch for the yumminess of the caramel corn! Oh my, couldn't stop eating it at the Christmas party last week. Baking Moravian cutouts here today...what else does one do on a snow day?!
ReplyDeletei started baking yesterday. my short list: peppermint mocha shortbread, fudge, & pecan toffee are done. still to do: dad's cookies & ginger bears and that's all!!!
ReplyDeleteTHOUGH CARAMEL CORN SOUNDS YUMMY.....
What a beautiful assortment! (Waahh, I haven't started baking yet.) Have you listed the recipe for your Lemon Bars somewhere on your blog before? I'd love to have it.
ReplyDeleteJJ,
ReplyDeleteI made everything over four or five days. Jamey was home during this time so it made for easy, uninterrupted baking.
Mama Pea,
Just click on "Lemon Bars" above and it will take you to my original post about these lemon bars and a link directly to the recipe. For the ones pictures above, I chose the thicker, full-size lemon layer option. It is an outstanding lemon bar recipe- I highly recommend it.
I am still planning on making some soft ginger cookies, but chocolate chunks? I never would have put those flavors together. Those chocolate dipped gingerbread men look wonderful too.
ReplyDeleteThey look beautiful and delicious. Have you ever used whole wheat flour for the chewy chocolate gingerbread cookies?
ReplyDeleteI can't say I did so well staying off sweets for the first two weeks of December. My goal is to start after Christmas Day - :).
wow, you just put my christmas baking to shame, lol! what BEAUTIFUL baked goods you have made! BRAVO! :)
ReplyDeleteCarrie @ comfortedbyGod.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you for commenting on my blogFrog post...now ive found your great blog! LOVE your awesome pictures. Beautiful. looking forward to a great blogging friendship :)
Oh yum those chewy gingerbread with chocolate chunks look delicious!
ReplyDeleteLOL!! THAT was your *short* list??? I cannot imagine what went on in your kitchen in years gone by!!! :) It all looks super yummy. I like the idea of dipping the gingerbread into chocolate...yum! And lemon bars...well, those are a favourite.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a wonderful CHRISTmas full of lovely memories as you celebrate the Real Reason for it all!
Blessings,
Camille
I have been reading your blog for a couple of months now but haven't been able to for about 2 weeks due to internet problems. I just read your post about Etsy shops and had to smile. I posted this morning about the possiblility of opening my own shop. If you read my post , please leave a comment with your ideas and answers to my questions. I'm trying to get input on my ideas for my shop.
ReplyDeleteHave a very Merry Christmas!
hi YCCMJ,
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying your blog! From kindergarten age, I visited the Mennonite (Doopsgezinden as they are called in the Netherlands) regularly. Both their Church and our Church were so small that we often shared services. It was wonderful. I belong to a slightly different Dutch congregation, called the Remonstrants, that shares a long history with the Doopsgezinden of opting out of the main Churches here about 400 years ago.
But, my reason for writing: we have a very big baking tradition during Advent. However, there is one slight difference to yours: all cookies are kept away until Christmas day. I remember waiting as a child, it was a wonderful lesson. Once the cookie jars were opened, we were allowed to pretty much have as much as we liked. My Grandma would bake large amounts, that meant we would have cookies at least until New Year's Day. The cookies were baked in a certain order, with Lebkuchen and other cookies based on eggs baked early on, while the very buttery recipes were saved up to the last week before Christmas.
That way, you never end up having them beforehand, and Christmas is extra special... I loved that tradition and now share it with my own children. It is not so much Dutch, more German. My mother was German.
So, there, you might give it a try!
with love from Holland,
Sophie