Christmas Cookie Trays - what do you make ahead?
lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan
3 years ago
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lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan
3 years agoRelated Discussions
What do you always serve Christmas and Christmas Eve?
Comments (9)My husband's parents used to celebrate the English way, or what they thought was English (they're from Hong Kong). A full dinner at 6p on Christmas Eve, putting up the tree, opening presents at midnight, and then eating a full meal AGAIN at 2am in the morning Christmas Day! This really wasn't very enjoyable for me, and since my MIL worked it was pretty stressful for her, too, doing all that stuff! They would make roast leg of lamb (Chinese will eat meat in huge quantities if they can afford it!), shepherd's pie, several Macanese (Portugese recipes adapted from Macau cuisine) dishes, and one little lonely package of Green Giant creamed spinach for 8 people. Eventually over the years, they stopped doing these parties, due to ill health and just getting tired of all the work involved. I was secretly relieved, although my husband STILL misses opening presents on Xmas Eve, LOL! My family of third-generation Asian Americans, celebrates Christmas Day. We never have a set menu, as all of us, including my now-grown-up nephew and niece, are dynamite cooks and love to experiment. Although we do a mostly traditional Thanksgiving, Christmas is always different. Sometimes we do "theme" ethnic cooking; sometimes we do more traditional stuff. This year it's slow-roasted salmon and prime rib, because my nephew is anxious to try cooking his first Big Piece of Red Meat :)) I make a smoked salmon sushi appetizer that the family really likes, so I offered to do the hors d'oeuvres this time. My BIL is vegetarian so he'll do a Greek salad and we'll have a couple of desserts -- probably a tiramisu and a fresh strawberry tart with lemon curd filling. My sister is in charge of the starch this year, could be pretty wild as she approaches cooking as a science experiment! New Year's we celebrate individually. My sister and her family do a buffet drop-in. My husband and I usually make ourselves a nice festive brunch -- blueberry French Toast or Chocolate Pancakes, and then maybe rack of lamb or filet mignon for dinner....See MoreThinking ahead....Christmas cookie walk help
Comments (22)Here is the Lemon Cranberry Icebox Cookie recipe: 1 cup butter, softened at room temp 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown sugar, packed 2 large eggs 1 t grated lemon peel 2 TB fresh lemon juice 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped roughly 3 1/2 cups a-p flour 1 t baking soda 1/2 t salt 1.Using an electric mixer at medium speed (or by hand) beat the butter and both sugars until fluffy. 2.Add the eggs to the creamed mixture one at a time, beating well after each. 3.Add the grated lemon rind and lemon juice to the creamed mixture and beat well. 4.Add the dried cranberries to the dough and mix until well blended. 5.Combine the flour, soda and salt in a bowl. Slowly add a portion of the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and blend just until well combined. Add the rest of the flour mixture and beat until well blended. Do not over beat. 6.Divide dough into 3 equal portions. 7.Take each portion of dough and shape it into a log about 12-inches long. Form the log into a round by rolling the dough back and forth on lightly floured parchment or was paper. 8.If you plan to bake the cookies right away: double wrap each log in plastic wrap; chill until firm, about 4 hours (or freeze about 2 hours). Preheat oven to 350F; line a baking sheet with parchment paper; unwrap dough log and using a sharp knife, cut each log into 1/4-inch slices. Rotate the dough log 1/4 turn after each cookie is cut - this will help keep the cookies round. 9.Place each slice 2-inches apart on the paper on the sheet. 10.Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. 11.Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. 12.Repeat the process for the next batch of cookies to freeze the dough 1.Wrap the plastic wrap dough logs in freezer paper, or put them in a freezer zip bag. Be sure to label and date the logs of dough. Remove as much air as possible from the zip bag. Store up to 4-6 weeks in the freezer. 2.Thaw log of dough in the refrigerator for 4 hours or more before slicing and baking. source: 30 Delicious Icebox Cookie Recipes, Lori Burke, Kindle Edition...See MoreQuick question about make ahead cookies
Comments (2)joanm, I freeze the dough in ziplock bags, I don't even roll them into balls first because the dough is pretty soft and kind of mushes back together a bit. I roll in sugar after they are defrosted, because the sugar just kind of sinks in and doesn't stay crunchy if I roll them before freezing. Annie...See MoreAre you making Christmas cookies?
Comments (15)My mother wasn't a baker - she was too impatient - but I'm the opposite. The weeks of marathon baking, candy making, caramel corn, fruit cakes (dark and light), pound cakes, party mix (and other snack-mixes), and any number of other assorted goodies I once loved doing are officially over. I honestly don't think I could afford it anymore!!! It was one time of the year we could share our bounty with others. The dining room table was filled with plate after plate, bag after bag, box after box, of goodies distributed far and wide. Now you have to worry who's gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, sugar-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free, low-carb, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, and cross-contamination....and it takes all the fun out of it. Years ago, this was about the only time we had these kinds of goodies, and now we are all trying to avoid them (LOL). I remember gallon and 1/2-gallon jars filled with those tiny little Peppernuts. Then there were pressed cookies, thumbprint cookies, whole wheat sugar cookies, gumdrop cookies, snickerdoodles, rosettes, Christmas mince bars, chocolate pixies, turtle cookies, shortbread, ginger creams, spritz, chocolate and almond teacakes, glazed fruit bars, peanut butter oatmeal cookies..... It was great fun to get the whole family involved in production because we always talk about those memories of all the things we made in our dinky little kitchen. How hubby's famous microwave peanut brittle took up the whole kitchen table to cool. Now all fond memories.... :-)...See Morelovemycorgi z5b SE michigan
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