I got a late start and it took me forever, but I am finished with all things Christmas! It has been a crazy month. I planned a gazillion blog posts, but for almost the whole month only published one. That doesn't mean I haven't been baking and cooking. There was a whirlwind of parties and potlucks to go to, and that doesn't sound like much work at all -- until you're up at ungodly hours making hand pies or decorating cookies with royal icing. But you still haven't made the family cookies or mailed them out. And your twin sister keeps asking you where her annual cookie shipment is.
But I did have fun at all the parties! Especially this one -- doesn't my book club know how to do a party?
These are the Linzer Cookies my sister must have every year, slaved over by yours truly. Hazelnut cookies are sandwiched with raspberry jam, and dusted with snowy sugar.
And I included Eggnog Marshmallows in the cookie baskets this year. I didn't even like this picture, so I made another batch and saved a few. I tried to think quickly (while I was rushed) of a place they would be safe from the cats until I had time to photograph them. I put them in the toaster oven, and took care of some other tasks. You can guess how this ends, right? Joe went to preheat the toaster oven for something, and I ended up with toasted marshmallows. I guess it's a funny story (if you're not me).
And every year I attempt fancy decorated cookies with royal icing, trying to make them look like the showpieces you see in catalogs. Well, I failed once again, but here are the best and the simplest of the bunch, decorated by Joe and I. The hour was late, one of the cats somehow had edible glitter on his coat, and I was laughing deliriously at some of our attempted designs. At least they taste good. I'm not a fan of sugar cookies; I find them too sugary and not very flavorful. These are simple but tasty: buttery with a hint of vanilla, a bit of salt tempering the sweet.
Now it's time to sit back and celebrate. Especially since it's my (and my twin sister's) birthday tomorrow! (No way am I baking a cake.) Merry Christmas, everyone.
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| Photo added Dec. 2013 |
