Christmas Cookies... When Do You Start Baking? Question And Vent...

[MELSMICE]

I usually bake so many cookies that I start weeks in advance. I store them in tins or tupperware containers in our garage. We are in the Buffalo, NY area & it is cold here, so no problem with storage.

I have always taken them to my dance studio & even after the holidays I take the leftovers there. They remain fresh in the containers.

I probably make well over 50 dozen cookies & never have a problem with them remaining fresh. Just make sure there in an air tight container in a cool place.

Edited to add: I bake now like C. Ann used to! Dozens & dozens of cookies & have never had a problem.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Thanks, everyone! Looks like everyone has lots of baking to do this week!

I thought you'd all like to know that she added another comment, "You must have LOTS of HUGE airtight cookie jars to keep that many cookies fresh?l

She asked me to make her favorite peanut butter cookies, but after her snide comments, I don't have the heart to give her any. When she asks why, I'm going to tell her they were a week old and I didn't think she wanted them, but my friends gladly accepted the treat.

 

[SaraJayne]

She asked me to make her favorite peanut butter cookies, but after her snide comments, I don't have the heart to give her any. When she asks why, I'm going to tell her they were a week old and I didn't think she wanted them, but my friends gladly accepted the treat.

I'm sure your MIL will appreciate your snide comments.

How old are you again?

 

[AKL_Megs]

I'm sure your MIL will appreciate your snide comments.

How old are you again?

What does my age have to do with it? Why the hell does it always come down to "how old are you"?

My MIL is 50... Shouldn't SHE know better?

You tell me why I should waste time, energy, and money making something that won't be "good enough" and results in rude comments? I have plenty of other people who look forward to my cookies?

 

[lil mermaid]

I'm sure your MIL will appreciate your snide comments.

How old are you again?

Agreed. The OP seems to be one of those people who goes looking for drama, or to be offended. And then posts about it on the DIS.

 

[SaraJayne]

What does my age have to do with it? Why the hell does it always come down to "how old are you"?

My MIL is 50... Shouldn't SHE know better?

You tell me why I should waste time, energy, and money making something that won't be "good enough" and results in rude comments? I have plenty of other people who look forward to my cookies?

Because it's pretty obvious to those of us that are "older and know better" you are very young and immature in how you deal with people in your life.

And you seem to love to create drama where none needs to exist.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Because it's pretty obvious to those of us that are "older and know better" you are very young and immature in how you deal with people in your life.

And you seem to love to create drama where none needs to exist.

Anyways... Are you saying that, in my shoes, YOU would take her comments and go ahead and spend an extra hour making her special batch for her to criticize and complain about?

I'm sure, once I am old and smart, I'll see the common sense in that.

And this is a message board. I come here to complain to blank faces on a computer screen. You don't know a damn thing about me in REAL life, but thanks.

I would never stoop to my MILs level and comment back, but I WON'T be making her special cookies.

 

[SaraJayne]

Anyways... Are you saying that, in my shoes, YOU would take her comments and go ahead and spend an extra hour making her special batch for her to criticize and complain about?

I'm sure, once I am old and smart, I'll see the common sense in that.

And this is a message board. I come here to complain to blank faces on a computer screen. You don't know a damn thing about me in REAL life, but thanks.

I would never stoop to my MILs level and comment back, but I WON'T be making her special cookies.

I think I just heard a foot stomp.

 

[sunnyday123]

Anyways... Are you saying that, in my shoes, YOU would take her comments and go ahead and spend an extra hour making her special batch for her to criticize and complain about?

I'm sure, once I am old and smart, I'll see the common sense in that.

And this is a message board. I come here to complain to blank faces on a computer screen. You don't know a damn thing about me in REAL life, but thanks.

I would never stoop to my MILs level and comment back, but I WON'T be making her special cookies.

Gonna jump in here.

Yes, I would make her those special cookies. She's your MIL, the Mother of your Husband, and will be the Grandmother to your baby. Don't create extra drama where it isn't needed-whether you like it or not, she's family. She might think she's being funny, who knows.

And you basically ARE stooping to her level by not making the cookies.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I think I just heard a foot stomp.

I was serious when I asked your opinion. WWYD, then? I'm just curious.

Gonna jump in here.

Yes, I would make her those special cookies. She's your MIL, the Mother of your Husband, and will be the Grandmother to your baby. Don't create extra drama where it isn't needed-whether you like it or not, she's family. She might think she's being funny, who knows.

And you basically ARE stooping to her level by not making the cookies.

This is true. But, especially with having a baby, I need to nip her rude comments (no, she was not joking) in the bud. Do I say nothing?

 

[MELSMICE]

Thanks, everyone! Looks like everyone has lots of baking to do this week!

I thought you'd all like to know that she added another comment, "You must have LOTS of HUGE airtight cookie jars to keep that many cookies fresh?l

She asked me to make her favorite peanut butter cookies, but after her snide comments, I don't have the heart to give her any. When she asks why, I'm going to tell her they were a week old and I didn't think she wanted them, but my friends gladly accepted the treat.

I wouldn't take these comments as rude. I would answer with "yes, I do have enough".

I would also make her the cookies & tell her you know they're her favorite & you hope she enjoys them. Be the bigger person. I think you're turning this into more than it is.

BTW.......every year my IL's make a ton of Christmas cookies. I am in charge of Christmas desserts every year. I also bring cookies even though I'm told not to. I finally told my MIL & SIL's that I'm an admitted dessert snob & only want to eat my own cookies. Now that's something to be offended by but they laughed it off & it's a big joke now.

 

[snowywhite89]

How early do YOU start your Christmas Cookies?

I swear, with my MIL, it's like two steps forward and three steps back.

We WERE making progress with our relationship, and there she goes again with the criticism...

A bunch of my friends were baking today, so we've been posting pictures on Facebook as we baked. It's been fun to see the different cookies!

Well, MIL has to comment that my cookies will "never stay fresh until Christmas."

Funny... I've been making them for about 10 years the week before, and she's always loved them. I have a feeling she won't touch them this year! Oh well, more for us!

So, who else has started baking?

I baked all of mine the first week of December. All of mine are stored in the freezer. My Grandmother, who was an excellent cook and baker, always said to only keep cookies out for a week and to keep the rest frozen. Cookies thaw very quickly.

Thanks, everyone! Looks like everyone has lots of baking to do this week!

I thought you'd all like to know that she added another comment, "You must have LOTS of HUGE airtight cookie jars to keep that many cookies fresh?l

She asked me to make her favorite peanut butter cookies, but after her snide comments, I don't have the heart to give her any. When she asks why, I'm going to tell her they were a week old and I didn't think she wanted them, but my friends gladly accepted the treat.

Grow up. She made two comments that IMHO are not nearly as bad as your not making or letting her have any is.

What does my age have to do with it? Why the hell does it always come down to "how old are you"?

My MIL is 50... Shouldn't SHE know better?

You tell me why I should waste time, energy, and money making something that won't be "good enough" and results in rude comments? I have plenty of other people who look forward to my cookies?

If she is 50 then you are about 25. You are old enough to know better.


Why make them.... Because she is your DH's mother. Your DH is an only child so she only had him, you and your little one. I am sure she will help you when you need a baby sitter so treat her nice now. Make her cookies a day or two before Christmas.

Your not working so you could make time.

Anyways... Are you saying that, in my shoes, YOU would take her comments and go ahead and spend an extra hour making her special batch for her to criticize and complain about?

I'm sure, once I am old and smart, I'll see the common sense in that.

And this is a message board. I come here to complain to blank faces on a computer screen. You don't know a damn thing about me in REAL life, but thanks.

I would never stoop to my MILs level and comment back, but I WON'T be making her special cookies.

YES

Don't worry you are not stooping to her level you are passing her by at a very high speed.

I was serious when I asked your opinion. WWYD, then? I'm just curious.

This is true. But, especially with having a baby, I need to nip her rude comments (no, she was not joking) in the bud. Do I say nothing?

See above. I would make her cookies and make them the last ones I made.

You do not need to nip her in the bud but control how you respond. Yes you say nothing. Your DH can talk to his mother IF he thinks she was out of hand.

 

[BroganMc]

I was serious when I asked your opinion. WWYD, then? I'm just curious.

This is true. But, especially with having a baby, I need to nip her rude comments (no, she was not joking) in the bud. Do I say nothing?

I think the counterpoint is that you are letting yourself get dragged into a drama that may or may not be there. Her first comment could easily be seen as critical and therefore offensive. Her second one, however, makes one think she is not so harsh but rather doesn't realize she does not sound funny. It's so hard to tell with text, especially Twitter-sized comments.

I have a SIL who continually pushes my buttons. She responds to a family email with the slightest off color inflection and I go nuts. I can't change her anymore than I can stop myself from feeling what I do. She thinks she is being helpful by sharing her advanced knowledge and honest in her criticisms. I think she's being hurtful. And the whole family gets dragged into the war of tension. (Seriously we almost didn't have a Christmas one year because this SIL and I were fighting in email.)

The most mature thing to do (and the hardest) is to grow a bit of a thick skin and assume ignorance. Maybe when you see her in person you can honestly tell her that her comment came off as insulting to you. Tell her you hoped you guys could at least be friends so anything hurtful was disappointing. The last thing you want to do is go nuclear and turn it into a war of personalities. In that case, it is the families that always lose.

If it hadn't been for concern for the children in the family and my mom's teachings to put family above self we would not have had a Christmas celebration that year. I would have spent it alone and my sibs' families in their own little compartments (we always gather at my house for Christmas).

At the end of the day we're only talking about baking cookies. No one's dying here. No one's stealing money, using drugs or having affairs. No one's getting whacked upside the head. If it seems high school petty then it probably isn't worth the time.

I'll be baking cookies all weekend myself. Wish I could be as fancy as some of the ones I've read about here, but my chocolate chips will taste as good as any.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Geeze, good memory SnowyWhite89! Wow! LOL

If you all had to deal with my MIL (or one like her) you'd understand. LOL

I'll make her her cookies tomorrow or Sunday, as that's the last chance I have (I actually DO work next week... Got bored, starting early.)

I'll be the bigger person and ignore her... Again. She just drives me NUTS. I don't think she does it on purpose, but boy, do I let it get to me...

 

[BroganMc]

I'll be the bigger person and ignore her... Again. She just drives me NUTS. I don't think she does it on purpose, but boy, do I let it get to me...

Join the club. I think everyone has "that" family member. My mom had hers although the rest of us thought she was making mountains out of mole hills. Sometimes people honestly don't know they offend.

Glad to hear you're getting over it. In decades to come you'll be able to laugh about it.

What are these peanut butter cookies you make?

 

[Minnie]

I'll make her her cookies tomorrow or Sunday, as that's the last chance I have (I actually DO work next week... Got bored, starting early.)

That is the right decision IMO.

The best way to handle these type of people is too be nicer then you think you need or should be..... works every time

 

[AKL_Megs]

Join the club. I think everyone has "that" family member. My mom had hers although the rest of us thought she was making mountains out of mole hills. Sometimes people honestly don't know they offend.

Glad to hear you're getting over it. In decades to come you'll be able to laugh about it.

What are these peanut butter cookies you make?

It's good someone can relate. If you don't have do deal with someone like that, you just don't get it.

The cookies? They are just these peanut butter chocolate cookies with chocolate drizzle. They take FOREVER to make.

 

[snowywhite89]

That is the right decision IMO.

The best way to handle these type of people is too be nicer then you think you need or should be..... works every time

We all have somebody who likes to push our buttons. All we can control is how we react. I just don't let it get to me when that person in my life did this. Made my life so much simpler.

 

[BroganMc]

It's good someone can relate. If you don't have do deal with someone like that, you just don't get it.

Just a word to the wise, if your DH is anything like the men in my family you'll never get any sympathy. I find men generally do not grasp female personality conflicts. The one thing that helped me get over it this year was a different SIL who saw what I did. Getting validation helped me not feel so crazy and thus temper my reaction.

These are times when I really miss my mom. She was the best friend I ever had and helped soothe all the rough points in the family. She'd share her tales of woe and we'd end up laughing about how ridiculous it all was. She's gone 6 years now and I still wonder how things would be different if she was here.

Good thing for you is that by posting here you saw a lot of validation on your baking methods. That had to help.

The cookies? They are just these peanut butter chocolate cookies with chocolate drizzle. They take FOREVER to make.

Oh yummy. I used to make chocolate pizelles. My own modified recipe. This year I'm going back to sugar cookies. My niece talked me into making a batch on Thanksgiving so I have a hankering for it. My sister wants to try her hand at stained glass cookies this weekend. (Sugar cookies with jolly rancher candy fillings in the gaps.) I'd love to try it but that's her thing and she has the two boys to mash up the jolly ranchers for the mix. I don't see me taking a hammer to my front step on this cold weekend.

 

[MichelleVW]

I slice, bake, cool, put icing on, then eat....no drama!!