I used to give food away to my next door neighbors in Venice who were Loyola Marymount students and would eat just about anything. In return, they invited me to their parties, which I enjoyed but Kevin did not, since his bedroom was on the side of the house next to theirs, and their parties could get loud and lasted quite a long time. We used to sleep with our windows open during warm weather, as we did not have A/C in Venice (and really did not need it), and so that did not help. We rarely had nights that were too warm not to close the windows, and we did have ceiling fans.

I would love to be able to exchange food items with neighbors, but that doesn't really happen for me anymore. I do give away apples and dried apples to my next door neighbors in L.A. who look after our yard and house while we are away. I've been thinking about giving them bread as well, but it hasn't come to that yet. I'll have to rethink that.

We exchange little food gifts with neighbours. I'm making mince pies for them this year - they won't know what they are so I'll have to add a list of ingredients in case of allergies.

Those bagels look very good!

One of our neighbors and I have shared a number of goodies since she first moved here. She's a good neighbor, but she's also someone who has been hosting gatherings with unmasked guests, having unmasked workers, etc. We're concerned, but just don't go there when talking to her - which has been infrequent and distanced.

I normally share gifts of Christmas cookies with her and our neighbors across the street too, but all that's on hold this year 😞

Islay, I'd love a mince pie, yum.

Lars, I can see how a loud party right outside your bedroom window could tend to make a person a little cranky. Poor Kevin. As for a gift, I think homemade bread is something pretty much everyone likes.

Carol, the neighbors who are getting the cinnamon rolls on Wednesday are a family of five kids, with two parents. The father is a State Trooper, so sees LOTS of people on a daily basis, and none of them wear masks anywhere. They attend church services in person at one of those unmasked mega-churches, go to the grocery store, visit with friends and family, and have one of those "Faith over Fear" signs in their yard.

Elery jokes that our town has a new realtor, Faith Overfear, he sees her signs everywhere, LOL. We did have a friendly discussion about masks with the family once, and agreed that, although I believe masks are necessary and are showing respect for other people, I won't criticize them. In turn, they will not lecture me about "being a sheep" or explain how a politician or television personality is more qualified to give them medical advice than doctors and scientists. And they won't say anything about my mask. I believe that people can disagree without being disagreeable and that just because I disagree doesn't mean I don't like you or respect you.

I will take a pan of rolls as far as their front porch and will not enter their home. I'll do it on Wednesday because her sister and family will be arriving on Christmas Eve to spend the holiday there and it will give them a nice addition for breakfast or snacks. They are good neighbors and nice people, in spite of our differing political opinions and so they get homemade cinnamon rolls, a big half sheet pan full!

Annie

Annie, that is just beyond impressive!

Gorgeous bagels. I like when the middle holes puff and fill.

One neighbor is a chocolatier. Lucky us. I do savory so it is a welcome trade. I'm gifting my crackers again this year. The gluten-free/dairy free. Like RainCoast crisps but not so hard. Mine are more tender but crisp/flaky. Seeds, no nuts. Nutritional yeast.

All here seem to be very cautious at least nearby neighbors. All masking as well as all delivery folk. Both extended families are taking this' science serious'. Dad is a scientist but is a bit forgetful. He is still swimming everyday at 92. Senior hour so pretty much has the pool to himself. (Why we are not visiting). He grocery shops so often for just a few things.

We've already baked and given away 24 dozen Rock Buns. In our neighborhood, cookies are a thing. Three neighbors have already dropped off gingerbread Santas, trees, and snowpeople.

The first two photos are our Christmas cookies - Lime Coconut. The second two are Colorado Christmas cookies for our adult friends who partake - Lemon Lime Mint Zingers and Lime Ginger Coolers.

Everything looks lovely!

It's not that I'm trying to be cautious - tho I am - more that I'm just not making the volume of baked goods I normally would. Trying to take care of 2 households and wrangling my 90 yr old stubborn mom who has dementia while working part time remotely is taking up most of my energy.

All of the pictures of the baked goods look fantastic. I can almost taste them!

I'm not much of a baker anymore but I did make a triple batch of Chex mix yesterday while watching football and will take some to my neighbors on either side of us along with a 2 lb. tube of hamburger. Both families get most of the gifts from me in the form of veggie starts in the spring and fresh garden veggies in the summer.

I intended to make my favorite milk chocolate and nut topped Toffee Bars as well until I found that the brown sugar I have had petrified ( did I mention that I don't bake much anymore?). Dollar General didn't have any so I'd have to drive 20 miles to the nearest grocery to get a new bag. Maybe Wednesday.

Hey LoneJack - here is an article with some tips on how to soften brown sugar:

https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/articles/how-to-soften-brown-sugar

I wish we would! This Thanksgiving a neighbor delivered delicious pies from a little farm/provisions place down the road, to a bunch of us. Surprised the heck out of me. I was thinking of sharing some holiday baking but this far it’s lacking in quality, and I don’t know how people would react to homemade food with the virus and all.

FOAS, if people are comfortable with take out food, I don't see why they wouldn't be even more comfortable with your homemade stuff, at least they KNOW who is handling it!

Colleen, congratulations on your continued employment! See what a few good cookies can do? The power of sugar and butter, LOL.

Jack, I've been known to put petrified brown sugar in the microwave. It'll harden right back up, but stays soft enough to make quick batch of candy or cookies. Toffee sounds good, yum.

Ricky, I'm sure your cookie recipients are going to be very happy with those, and they look very festive!

Carol, I know what you mean about your Mom, mine is 85 and very stubborn and has "slight" dementia, which mostly means that even when she's clearly wrong, she's going to dig her heels in. (sigh) I made her peanut butter fudge, though, her favorite. At least it used to be her favorite yesterday, I don't know if it still is today, she's very.....changeable.

sleevendog, it's pretty obvious I don't make a lot of bagels, or I'd know how to keep those holes in the middle! More practice, maybe? Your crackers look much better than anything available commercially, so nice and crisp.

Chloe, not all that impressive. They are not difficult, just time consuming, and it gave me the opportunity to experiment a bit. One recipe called for an overnight starter, one wanted a poolish then an overnight rise and one wanted the bagels formed and then refrigerated overnight. Good thing it's cold here, the garage became my "second refrigerator" for all those bowls and sheet pans, LOL.

Annie

Annie and carol - Thanks for the tips on softening petrified brown sugar but I'm afraid it's too late as it went out with the trash yesterday. There was only a couple cups left anyway. I'll try to remember those tips for next time it happens.

I should have remembered to buy some more. I used some of it a couple months ago when I smoked a batch of pork belly burnt ends and noticed it was starting to get pretty hard.

You can substitute white sugar for brown you know. I do that often and add a tsp. or so of molasses when I want the brown sugar flavor.

I was serious about the lack of a hole in your bagels. Means you have a good rise. I always look for the smallest hole. Here is the famous Russ and Daughters, link HERE since I pinched their pic...

The plain ones have shut holes. The everything one on the side has a tiny hole.

I've never made them but may soon. Not had one in over a year. This is the recipe I have bookmarked. HERE (too bad it is a Facebook video)

Thanks, sleevendog, I thought I just didn't make the hole big enough and messed them up!

I used the recipes from King Arthur flour, the Martin's Bagels, the Asiago Cheese bagel and the Chewy Bagels here: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/chewy-bagels-recipe

I did not have the malt powder so I left it out. No one seemed to care, LOL.

Annie

Big day of gifting neighbors. Warm loaves of bread. We rarely argue but DH insists it looks good...I think too dark/crusty. 😂. First loaf we will keep for us. I've been watching the next 5 loaves like a raven/hawk, 😜

Way too dark for a gift....me thinks

Annie, you need a baker’s rack!

Are bagels actually boiled?

John, bagels are actually boiled first and then baked. They get a dunk in simmering water with baking soda and a tablespoon of brown sugar, about a minute per side, and then their time in the oven.

A bakers rack would be lovely, except I have no place to put it, Elery says I could open my own kitchen supply store, LOL.

Sleevendog, the bread looks good to me. I like dark crunchy crusts and my toast nearly burnt.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Annie