Do people not do Christmas baking anymore? Is this a lost art, fading into history with the handwoven May Day baskets or the homemade caramel apples given out on Halloween? I can rememer Decembers past when my kitchen counter was piled high with various plates and tins, all filled with homemade sweets and goodies. The weeks before Christmas would bring out neighbors and church members, visiting and sharing their high-calorie abundance. We would quickly gobble up the best ones - the chewy caramels wrapped in small pieces of waxed paper, or the sugar cookies with gobs of frosting and sprinkles - and leave the less-desirable ones (the over-baked cookies, or anything with raisins) for Dad. Ahhhh . . . the good 'ol days.
Last week, I baked for 4 days straight and delivered plate after plate of tasty treats to many of our friends and neighbors. Painted cookies (recipe to follow), Russian Teaballs, Rosemary Cashews, and chocolate-dipped caramels. All homemade. All chock-full of sugar and butter. My mouth waters and my waistline grows just thinking about it. Then I sat back and waited for the knocks on my door, with friends bearing their own yummy creations.
I'm still waiting. My counters are still bare.
Nearly everyone whom I gave treats to seemed genuinely surprised at the gesture. So now I'm concerned. I gave away all of my goodies, trying to make room for the plates of treats that were sure to arrive.
If we have to put out Oreos for Santa, I'll be so disappointed.
4 comments:
You know, I think I am one of the few remaining holiday bakers (how many people have I seen whose idea of Christmas baking is chocolate chip cookies or the slice and bake dough?!?!). But, this year, I am not baking anything.
I did *not* make marzipan stollen! I am surprised that my dad has not called to ask why there was no stollen in the box I mailed. My dear husband needs to lose some weight, and I do not need to gain any, so this year there was no baking.
I did buy: a gingerbread house kit, Trader Joe's ginger cookies to decorate, meringues, pfeffernuesse (I like TJ's version, although Mike likes mine better), and candy-cane Joe-Joe's. I feel guilty and virtuous at the same time.
And, yes, I have shared homemade baked goodies with the neighbors before, and they always seem shocked.
I need to make my goodies, I usually give out my cookies from my cookie party, but we have eaten all the worthy ones...so I need to make Reindeer Balls (chocolate covered peanut butter balls), and some Fudge. I am having trouble locating dipping chocolate here. Do you have any recipes?
okay, so I'm a bit late in responding to this, but if you are in need of holiday treats, come to Okinawa! We have MORE than we need. Maybe it's because 1/2 of our cul-de-sac (literally) is full of stay-at-home "mormon" moms, or maybe it's because it's one of the few festive things here to really remind us it's the Christmas season, or maybe it just reminds us of "home," but whatever the reason, we have received sweets a plenty! Plus a few "family" favorites from mom - jello cookies, painted cookie and fudge - which lasted approximately one day. We, ourselves, have made candy cane cookies, dipped pretzels, a variety of spritz (cookie press) cookies, pumpkin bars w/cream cheese swirls, and gingerbread men - to give away, put in school lunches, eat before and after school, and just plain munch on. Talk about an expanding waistline. I'm going to be exercising the entire month of January just to be able to breathe properly again. A lot of our Christmas goodies were made with the various Japanese exchange students we have had recently, and they have had a ball making and eating all of our glorious Christmas treats. Don't ever let anyone tell you the Japanese don't like American desserts because they are too sweet - that is a lie!!
I love baking. In fact I have made some form of candy everyday for a week. I have tons of candy and no one to give it too. I don't know my neighbors. Don't know the ward members. Don't have a husband to gobble them up or take them to work. What to do? I started knocking on the doors of strangers handing out the plates of goodies...actually I have the boys give it out, I'm too embarrased. I hope they eat and enjoy, but then again if a "stranger" in the neighborhood gave me treats I doubt I'd eat. Hopefully, they seem less threatening if they come from children. Fudge anyone, or how about divinity, caramels, pretzels, cranberry bread, cookies, more fudge, more fudge...Oh the love of baking!
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