Wednesday, December 9, 2009

I need Depends

Ahhh...holiday baking! Well, I scratched some of the things off my To DO list this weekend, but the one thing that I knew I would get done for sure was getting into the kitchen! As if any of you are surprised :) I know I've said it before, but I will say it again--if I could do any job, I would be a baker. I just love it THAT much!

Anyway my sister and two of my sister in laws came over to help me with my holiday cookie creations on Sunday afternoon. I am so mad at myself for not taking pictures of us in action! It was so much fun, and I wish I could have documented us going to town in our "Santa's workshop," but I guess we were just too busy getting down with our bad sugar cookie selves. At least I remembered to take pictures of the final product!

Ever since I received the December issue, I have been peeing my pants over these sugar cookies from Real Simple Magazine. Easy pee-sy (ha ha), and look how pretty they turned out! Since the whole idea from the mag was 1 batter, 10 ways, I couldn't resist making another batch...
This time with a peppermint twist. Yummers. Are you a thick or thin sugar cookie person? I definitely love the THICK (TWSS)! That's just the way to go for me--plus more surface area for things like sprinkles and chocolate :)

I have also been experiencing an embarrassing display of incontinence over Abby's delightful recipe, so of course I had to hug it out with tray after tray of these babies:
Just a word to the wise--1 bag of Hugs is not enough and a medium sized bag of pretzels is deceivingly large.
You will need to go back to the store multiple times to purchase more candy, and inevitably other items that you need/want/that were on sale and more candy. Sorry babe!

Also, since I had quite the plethora of pretzels, I tried another variation on the theme--Turtle Doves (get it? Turtle Doves for Christmas? Oh never mind). Perhaps you have seen these before, but I have not and I thought they were pretty rad.

Changes--sub Rolos for Hugs
and add pecans. I can't take complete credit for these, though. Remember the church shindig I went to as part of my old-lady in training last week? Some of the ladies there were talking about making these, and since I was already making Abby's little pretzel pieces of goodness and light, I thought these would fit right in.

I actually thought the Rolos melted a little more easily in the oven without getting too runny. And now my mind has been in constant creation mode, thinking of more variations on the theme. Maybe (probably) I will make some more.

And last, but not least, I made what I had actually set out to make all along! My cinnamon apple trail mix, crafted from only the finest apples courtesy of my hugeormous apple tree. When we "suffered" through our apple madness this fall, we ended up dehydrating a BUNCH of apple slices, and it was probably the most efficient use ever. We managed to condense about 10 stuffed grocery sacks of apples into 1 large gallon bag (also stuffed).

I love trail mix, and it's a good thing this is all going to our neighbors (and my mom. Don't panic Mom, I saved some for you!), or I would be in big trouble!
In the mix: cinnamon dried apples, dried cranberries, white and dark chocolate chips, almonds and sunflower seeds.


My sister made fruitcake, too. but alas, no pics. It smelled amazing and came out almost more like a spice cake with dried fruit than a traditional (much maligned) fruitcake. She made it gluten free (for her bf) and used dates, dried apricots, cranberries and mucho nuts. I *think* she is saving some for when we're all home at Christmas, though, so maybe I'll get the chance to put it up later.

Have you ever tried fruitcake? I have once and I don't remember feeling one way or the other about it, really.

Happy humpday to everyone--is your week/month just FLYING by?? Good grief. It will be Christmas and the New Year before we know it! Gotta start thinking of some resolutions...but for now I resolve to stop talking, tell you I love you, and peace out! xoxo

17 comments:

  1. I am so jealous of your spectacular baking skills!!!! I get so bummed because I ofcourse LOVE cookies, especially around Christmas and would LOVe to be able to bake this time of year, but there is just no hope for me! :( I Can't bake! Ugh, oh well, at least I have a mom and sister who can! Not all is lost. :)

    Glad you had a great day baking and everything looks just incredible! :)

    Hope you are having a fantastic week love!

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  2. You are on a roll - and BRILLIANT! Love the rolo idea - Mike would scarf those all up the second they came out of the oven! :)

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  3. Umm.. YUM! That's all I have to say!! And those "neighbors" are darn lucky! ;)

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  4. wow! love all the creations~i saw that cookie article in RS too. except i am not cool enough to actually execute the cookie making. you are! i am impressed, they look profesh! i miss you. we should do something soon.

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  5. Cinnamon apple trail mix?! Can I be your neighbor?!?! All of your creations look fantastic!

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  6. I saw those pretzel creations on both Abby's and Zesty Cook's blogs!! I have 5 children to buy for, so I'm thinking of making them little baggies of those pretzel treats. What kids don't love chocolate?

    LOVE the looks of that trail mix with your own dehydrated apples! Such a great idea for a gift!

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  7. NINE degrees!?!? gah i would dieee! i LOVE those pretzel things..we make them with the peppermint hershey kisses and they are soo great!

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  8. Wow that all looks soooooooooooooo good! I may have just peed myself a little too ;)

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  9. Mmm everything looks amazing! You've inspired me to slave away in the kitchen this weekend making delicious treats!

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  10. I suppose I should have clarified the pretzel to hug ratio, but if I only make one batch at a time, I just save the pretzels for the next one! And good call with the Rolos (I heart Rolos), as I did the same thing but with the caramel Hershey Kisses.

    Is it just me, or do they make a million Hershey Kiss flavors now? Anyway, I saw the Real Simple recipe too and want to try those cinnamon rolled up sugar cookie things...we shall see if I bake. Fun post, girl!

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  11. The pretzel treats look SOO good, I think I'm going to make them myself!!

    I agree that Intuitive Eating takes a while to read-I never really WANTED to sit and read it but I did want to finish it and use what it taught me. I think it needs an updated version since it was written in the '90s, haha.

    Have a great, relaxing weekend!

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  12. Those peppermint dippers look SO GOOD. If I didn't have to go to work I would totally go buy all of the ingredients and make them right now.

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  13. Just bought some ingredients at the store so I can copy you :) Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery - right? :)

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  14. Hey, thanks for lovin' my blog and back at ya. Love those pretzel thingies, but it's really the apple trail mix stuff that looks de-lish!

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  15. hey! heres the recipe i use to make pretzel candy melts:
    Pretzel Candy Melts
    Ingredients
    •1 16 oz. bag Snyder Snap Pretzels (NOT butter snaps!)
    •1 14 oz. bag M & M Milk Chocolate Candies
    •1 14 oz. bag Chocolate Candy Melts

    Directions
    1.Heat oven to 350 degrees.
    2.Place as many pretzels on baking sheet as will fit.
    3.Top each pretzel with one candy melt in the center.
    4.Bake pretzels in oven for 1 minute 45 seconds to 2 minutes or until chocolate is softened.
    5.Remove from oven and immediately place an M & M on each candy melt, pressing slightly down to secure the M & M on the candy melt.
    6.Allow to cool completely and then place in freezer for ten minutes to firm up chocolate.
    7.Remove from freezer and enjoy!

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