Baking Frenzy

Some of the most thoughtful gifts can come from a kitchen, where tasty things

are crafted with sugar, spice and everything nice.  Each package is filled with

love and the gift of time as well as something delicious to be enjoyed by the 

recipient.  A few days ago, I turned the Christmas music up nice and loud and

pulled out the recipe cards.  Then I went into a baking frenzy.  Kenzie was my

assistant and we had a great time together in the kitchen.

Freshly ground wheat turned into whole wheat bread was the first thing 

to go into the oven.  Nothing smells as good as yeast bread baking.  And

a warm slice with butter and honey is pure heaven.  The bakers had to

sample to make sure it was good enough to give away.

This bowl of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups went in the center of "right out

of the oven" chocolate chip cookies baked in small muffin tins.  Chocolate

chip cookies and peanut butter cups?   What a great combination.

Oatmeal Craisin cookies with white chocolate drizzled over the top

My cookie press broke before I could make any of the Spritz cookies

that are so pretty on a cookie tray.  Not too sweet, but full of butter and

sugar, they are a simple shortbread that my husband enjoys.  With a double

recipe of dough mixed up, I had to figure out something to do with them.

So I rolled them in little balls and pressed designs on the top...not nearly as

pretty, but it worked.  Note to self- replace cookie press before next 

Christmas.

Sugar cookies are the taste of Christmas for my kids and the one thing they

all ask for each year.   They also take the most time and make the biggest

mess, so I was especially happy to have Kenzie take over with these.

I loved watching and coaching from the other end of the kitchen, 

while I worked on another project.

She did a great job.

Yum!!!

We also made poppy seed bread, pumpkin bread and rocky road fudge. 

Oh, and I made butternut squash soup, which of course doesn't fall into 

the catagory of baked goods, but was the perfect accompaniment for the bread.

A full day in the kitchen produced lots of gifts for the family and

friends.  We took these plates of goodies to our neighbors

and made large trays for our family and hid them in safe places with notes 

that said, "Do not eat until Christmas Eve."  Then we pulled them out to go

with all the finger foods we indulge in on that night.  Cheese ball (from my

Dad), seven layer Mexican dip, shrimp and fiery cocktail sauce, hot wings

(a new addition to the menu this year), veggies and dip, baked brie en croute

with apple and pear slices.  It has become an eclectic mix of everyones

favorite snack foods.  

Here's the tried and true sugar cookie recipe that we've been making for 

years.  It's one of the few recipes that I've been completely satisfied with

from the first time I made it and I've never looked for a better one.  

Christmas Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup butter, softened

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

2 1/2 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Mix powdered sugar, butter, egg, vanilla and 

almond extract.  Mix in flour, baking soda and

cream of tartar.  Cover with plastic wrap and 

refrigerate at least two hours.  Heat oven

to 375.  Remove dough from refrigerator and 

let sit a few minutes to soften.  Roll 3/16 inch

thick on floured surface.  Cut into shapes. 

Bake for 7-8 minutes until barely light brown

on edges.  Do not over bake.  When cooled,

dip into powdered sugar glaze and decorate

with sprinkles.  For glaze- mix powdered

sugar with water until proper consistency

for dipping the tops of the cookies.

Hope you had a sweet Christmas.