KAW - Baking Christmas Treats!

motherof3sons

11 years ago

We are getting slammed by this storm and my office closed at noon. What's a girl to do? Bake!

And finally - cleanup.

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Comments (13)

rosylady
11 years ago
What fun! I wish we had snow! Just rain here.

You have a very pretty kitchen:)
motherof3sons
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks RosyLady! It rained all night and turned to snow around 10:00 a.m. Within 30 minutes it was a white out. My son called and it is snowing in his area. He is stuck in traffic due to an accident on a rural highway - almost 2 hours. At least he is within 5 miles of his house.

I pray for the safety of everyone and for the first responders.
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I think I'm about baked out too for now. I had to get the box to New Orleans in the mail yesterday so during the week I made Ann T's Chocolate Chip Shortbreads, the four different times I baked them they all came out good. Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pudding cookies, one pan of those I overcooked and they're pretty stiff, but edible, saved those for us/me. Made the ricotta cookies by hand after my non stand mixer crapped out and they came out tough. I find I have to make at least a double batch of cookies to use my stand mixer. Last week I had made some oatmeal cookie dough so I baked some off for the kids[N.O.]. I made some of the dough for the cutouts/press cookies posted by Lori I believe it was.. mind is gone tonight. I was planning to use my cookie press and somehow both of the tubes were cracked and therefore the press was unusable. I didn't have the energy by then to cut out cookies so I made some into a linzer type cookie with raspberry jam. I just pushed the dough out of the tubes with the ratchet and the end off and cut off slices. One down on pan, then one I cut hole in with a decorating tip. Just liked you'd do for any linzer cookie. Worked out well and since I had both tubes filled, it was for sure the easiest fix. The crew in New Orleans also always gets a pecan pie which I forgot until about ten Thursday night, so, had to whip up some crust and get that baked off. I cook them pretty well done when I mail them but this got a little extra well done. I'm sure it will still taste good. Since I had enough crust for two pies I just put that crust into a foil pan and froze it. We also made fudge for the family down there. It's Christy's tradition and these days it's her that makes it. I did some of the heavy beating. Today I still had some doughs in the fridge for the Chocolate Chip Shortbreads and the sugar dough so I made those up to have around here. I froze the rest of the Pudding Chocolate Chip dough so we can have fresh cookies at Christmas. Froze some of the cutout dough too. Think I'll try some as Kolacky with it. Since I had that frozen pie crust in the freezer.... we had a couple of Jonagolds that needed to be used so I had the nerve to make a apple crumb pie. We were both so exhausted that we didn't even cut the pie tonight. LOL..
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motherof3..I would LOVE to meet you. I have had the pleasure of getting together with of GW Kitchen folks in NYC . You let me know when you are going to be in AL and we will make it happen. What fun !! War Eagle ! :) t4all...thank you for the wonderful wishes. So generous of you. I appreciate all the lovely compliments everyone has posted. I do love to share bread making. It is a fun hobby for me. DH is definitely a keeper. If you need help/have questions about the sourdough please ask me..can send email if you want. And please post your results here !! peony thank you !! It is yours :) ...cat_mom is a card no ???
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Colleen, I can only say that you should be sure they are at least written down. My family had/has several "secret" recipes that no one knows how to make because they were family secrets and younger generations just aren't interested enough to ever obtain them before elderly family members died. I was guilty of that myself with some of Grandma's recipes, but fortunately she shared them and so I found other family members that still had them years after Grandma was gone and I finally decided I wanted to make them. I have a cousin who, when her Mother died, just rented a dumpster. When I asked about old family movies, hoping to have them put onto DVDs, she told me that she didn't think anyone was interested in all that "old stuff" and they went into the dumpster with pretty much everything else that wasn't worth money. (sigh) I know we've had this discussion here before, but today's generation just isn't as interested in "family heirlooms", they are more mobile and have less space and different lifestyles. Someone might want those recipes later, though, and hopefully they'll be preserved in some way. Annie
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Here you go: Orange Scented Chocolate Almond Bark 1 pound chocolate (I use 42% semi sweet) Approx. 1 scant tsp. finely grated orange peel or a few drops of orange essential oil 2 cups roasted almonds*, very coarsely chopped - reserve a tsp. or 2 very finely chopped nuts for dusting Approx. 1 tsp. flaked sea salt (optional) Directions: Line a large cooky sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water, heat the chocolate, stirring until it is mostly melted; do not let the bowl touch the water. Add the orange peel and stir until the chocolate is completely melted & smooth. Do not overheat. Stir the prepared nuts into the chocolate, mixing well, and turn out onto the lined baking sheet, spreading in a 1/2-inch-thick layer. Sprinkle with the reserved finely chopped nuts & then the sea salt, crushing the salt flakes as you sprinkle them on. Refrigerate the pan with the bark on it for about 20-30 minutes, until hardened. Remove the bark from the parchment paper, break into pieces and store in the fridge or serve at once. * other nuts may be used instead of almonds To Roast Nuts: Preheat oven to 350F Spread whole nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet or pan. Bake for 5 minutes, then stir and bake for another 5 minutes. Check for color. If nuts are still not done, stir & bake an additional 1-2 minutes at a time until golden brown. Check often, since nuts can burn quickly! To remove skins, place slightly cooled nuts in a clean, dry towel, gather the towel around the nuts & rub vigorously. Skins should come off, but if they don’t, it’s OK. Cool & chop as desired.
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beekeeperswife
11 years ago
You go gurl....

we are just getting ready for the end of the world here. Anybody know what time it is supposed to "end"? Midnight tomorrow or midnight tonight? Of course it already is tomorrow in Australia and we are still here, well, I think we are at least.
User
11 years ago
Nice !! What is in the loaf pans ??? You have to tell us ALL about what you baked :)
SparklingWater
11 years ago
You're a neat cook. You concentrate. Cookies look great as do breads. Very nice kitchen: warm and cozy. Fun. Thanks for the motivation!
schoolhouse_gw
11 years ago
Looks like a great day of baking. Yum. Are you the kind of baker (or cook) that washes dishes as you go? I am. Just a habit I guess, but I'm always washing up between the times the cookies go in the oven and come out.

Love Santa supervising.
springroz
11 years ago
Looks good!! Where did you get that cool multiple loaf pan??

Merry Christmas!

Nancy
cathy725
11 years ago
I was admiring your kitchen too. Yes, kitchen envy!

I have a multi-loaf pan like that which I purchased from pampered chef. Not sure if her's is from there. I love it for baking to make give-away baskets for friends!
motherof3sons
Original Author
11 years ago
Sorry I have not gotten back to the posts. My son is stranded in a snow storm, but the volunteer firefighters are rescuing him soon. Plus, two nephews are stranded in the same storm about 20 miles from their cousin.

Bee - we are still here, too. I am ready to, open another bottle of red. It has been a long night.

Trailrunner - I am honored to stopped by to view my post! I have cooking envy for every dish you prepare. The breads are banana, no nuts because of food allergies. So far I have made sugar cookies, M&M cookies, Spritz, chocolate crinkles topped with peppermint Hershey Hugs, and banana bread. The house smells wonderful.

Sparklingwater - I am rolling on the floor laughing. Told my husband about your comment about being a neat cook. He just looked at me. :-) We love the kitchen; thanks for the compliment.

Schoolhouse - no, I wash up after everything is done. Well, maybe I run hot soapy water and let it sit overnight and get scummy. DH loves it when I leave water in the sink! Santa is a gift from my MIL 30 plus years ago.

Springoz - the pan is Pampered Chef. I have become quite fond of stoneware. Love how it bakes cookies.

Cathy725 - I use it for gifts, too! Love that pan. It was sent to me in error in a PC ordered years ago. The consultant told me to keep it! Took me years to use it and now it is a favorite pan. I have another one that belonged to my MIL; it is metal.

This post has taken so long I have an update on all the kids. My son will soon be rescued. He will not make it home to his family, but that's okay There was a school bus the first responders were trying to get out of a ditch and the kids safely back to the school. The nephews are safe at a fire house. When I get the message my son is safe then all will be right in the world. I am going to open another bottle of wine.
stacieann63
11 years ago
Did your son message you yet to say he is safe? Hope so!
gr8daygw
11 years ago
So sorry your family is having this terrible ordeal in the snow. How awful. Hope everything gets back to normal soon for them and you.

Baking is good therapy. Have been making cookies for a couple of weeks off and on. it was so much fun with the new things in the kitchen. I really love the creativity of decorating sugar cookies. This year one of my best finds was a Silpat. Makes baking cookies nearly fool proof. You can also roll out dough on it but I just use my granite because it keeps the dough cool and easier to use cookie cutter. Also found a better tasting and easier to work with sugar cookie recipe on Our Best Bites website. Also made some bourbon balls for the neighbors who are some of the only people I know who really love them, lol.
User
11 years ago
I hope your son is safe and sound and gets reunited with his family asap. Glad the rest of them are OK too and hope they get home soon. You are sweet to compliment my efforts !! Thank you .

gr8day...funny you should say "baking therapy" ..that is what DH calls it as he heads into the kitchen to bake biscotti !! It sure does sooth the soul to have the lovely mindfulness that comes with mixing, shaping and baking.

What a nice post . c
motherof3sons
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you everyone! He made it safely to the local warming center. A big thank you to all the first responders and volunteers. It was so bad last night the Sheriff's office was calling for snowmobiles to help rescue people. My son reported a bulldozer was clearing the road to get the people out of cars. The operator was probably a local that volunteered his equipment and services.

Baking is therapy for me too! I am going to start up the ovens soon. I love my silpat so much I asked for more for Christmas.

KAW - Baking Christmas Treats!

Comments (13)

rosylady

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KAW - Baking Christmas Treats!

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