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

[AKL_Megs]

BroganMC, I am so sorry your mom isn't here for you. My mom is also my best friend, and I would be lost without her. I know it must be terribly hard at the holidays. Hugs to you.

Have fun making your sugar cookies! I love a good sugar cookie, but didn't make them this year. Those stained glass cookies sound too complicated... LOL... like a disaster waiting to happen, at least in my kitchen!

 

[AKL_Megs]

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

Drama is my middle name, apparently I save the drama for my mama (in law)...

 

[SaraJayne]

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.

Most everyone has "that person" in their lives.

But most people learn to ignore that person and their baiting and go about their lives without it bothering them.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Most everyone has "that person" in their lives.

But most people learn to ignore that person and their baiting and go about their lives without it bothering them.

I guess I don't see the harm in coming to a message board to vent? What is so terrible about that?

 

[Meriweather]

I start right after Thanksgiving......freeze most of them and then slowly bring them out.
But the baking goes all month pretty much.
When the kids were small we used to get together and have a cookie exchange...about 3 moms and 6 kids....on Veteran's day. All the baking at my house since I had 2 ovens. It was a lot of fun.

So....been baking in Nov. for Christmas for over 30 years....no one has ever complained about my cookies

If she doesn't want to eat yours, her loss!

 

[arminnie]

DGD and I will be baking tomorrow - late for us!!

When I used to bake hundreds and hundreds of cookies (literally - family & friends requested tins full every year, as did all of the employees where my late DH worked), I started on December 1st and baked for 3 weeks straight.. All of the cookies were stored in tin containers (with Saran wrap placed on top - before the lid) and stored in a bedroom in our house that was very cold.. Not once was there ever a "stale" cookie..

I had a friend that went by the same schedule I did - and baked just as much as I did.. She stored hers in a similar fashion - out on her enclosed front porch that had no heat.. Again - never a stale cookie..

Actually none of our cookies started tasting a tad less fresh until New Year's Day.. It's all in knowing how to store them..

My mom always started her baking the day after Thanksgiving.. No stale cookies then either..

Keep them sealed tight - somewhere as cool (or cold) as possible and they'll be fine.. Promise..

---------------------------------------

I used to make dozens and dozens of sugar cookies that people still beg me for. I had a huge upright freezer. It was nothing for me to start making those cookies in September!

 

[MIGrandma]

I cheat, I buy our cut out decorated Christmas cookies from the confectionary shop in town. They're only $7.50/dozen, and they use the melted candy wafer things to "frost" them with and really decorate them up very pretty.

I bought 3 dozen on Thursday, for Christmas Day. They will still taste fine. Christmas cookies keep well, and if you're in doubt, freeze them then thaw the day before.

Sorry your MIL rained on your parade. That's the kind of comments MIL's should keep to themselves.

 

[Anne MN]

not to hijack- lol

I can't find my 1960's betty crocker with ALL my extra cookie recipies!!

I wanted to make the sugar/PB cookies with the hershey's kiss on top

anyone have a recipe they want to share?

I finally have a little time off (16 days to be exact, but who's counting)

and I can bake this weekend with "help" from my teens

 

[C.Ann]

Drama is my middle name, apparently .

No.. You've got it all wrong.. It's only "drama" if it's someone other than the person accusing you of creating "drama" or being a "drama queen".. When they're posting about their issues, then it's only a "vent".. Got it?

Come on kid - get with the program.. You gotta keep up here - all day morning sickness or not..

 

[AKL_Megs]

No.. You've got it all wrong.. It's only "drama" if it's someone other than the person accusing you of creating "drama" or being a "drama queen".. When they're posting about their issues, then it's only a "vent".. Got it?

Come on kid - get with the program.. You gotta keep up here - all day morning sickness or not..

C.Ann, you are a breath of fresh air!

I'm a mess of hormones, allow me this one slip up!

... And thanks!

 

[BroganMc]

I guess I don't see the harm in coming to a message board to vent? What is so terrible about that?

Oh I have no problem with it. Kinda refreshing being able to vent in a place where you can get out your feelings without the need to justify every syllable as you're uttering them. (The justification comes later when people pick apart each and every word AND how you spelled it. Typos are capital offenses to some. ) The trouble comes if the person you are venting about happens to read what you said on the message forum. Then all hell breaks loose. (Been there done that, have the night terrors to prove it.)

FWIW this thread of yours served exactly its purpose. Got a bit of feedback from others on acceptable baking/storage methods, a bit of advice from folks who had similar venting issues and helped you meter your response so you didn't go all ballistic.

So how did the cookie baking go today? I tried my hand at several dozen chocolate chips and a couple dozen drop cookies. Roped my dad into helping me. (I'm disabled so cooking and manual labor is not my forte.) Halfway through my dad declared he'd never baked cookies before and was actually enjoying it. Tomorrow I hope we can tackle some more sugar cookies (the cut out ones) and some oatmeal chocolate chip.To finish off our day we wrote out Christmas cards while watching It's A Wonderful life. My dad gets all misty with that because that is his generation, more or less.

It was nice doing stuff with my dad I used to do with my mom. We always baked cookies for Christmas, did the decorating and card sending. If I was more physically able I'd do more decorating. As is I'm more the planner and director while enlisting as many able hands as possible to help me. You should see the beautiful Christmas train garden my niece and nephew helped us assemble this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiR4s-nJ8yM&hd=1

 

[BroganMc]

not to hijack- lol

I can't find my 1960's betty crocker with ALL my extra cookie recipies!!

I wanted to make the sugar/PB cookies with the hershey's kiss on top

anyone have a recipe they want to share?

I finally have a little time off (16 days to be exact, but who's counting)

and I can bake this weekend with "help" from my teens

Is this the recipe you're talking about?


PEANUT BUTTER KISS COOKIES
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 egg
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Combine ingredients. Roll into balls, roll balls in sugar. Bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Top with chocolate Kiss immediately upon removal from oven.

Not my recipe. Just something I googled.

 

[Anne MN]

something like that
thanks!!

I have dozens of cookies to make today and still looking for my cookbook!
I think DH hid it on me
planning to make 10 different kinds and DH has been on a diet

that was the only one I couldn't find-
Have the sugar cookies, gingerbread men, kumkaka(or however you spell it- swedish cookie made on the stove with an ancient iron) PB and a few others
might try divinity, but no one here will eat a lot, and peanut brittle
the finish butter cookies rolled in nuts(won't even try to spell) fudge

 

[NAB]

You should see the beautiful Christmas train garden my niece and nephew helped us assemble this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiR4s-nJ8yM&hd=1

Wow that is beautiful! Wish I had room and storage to set a village up. Love the fireworks in the background.

Sounds like you made memories with your dad this year making cookies. Cherish those moments.

 

[pigletgirl]

I start today! DF is gone (he notoriously likes to 'pick' at the dough -- can be highly irritating at times) and I can get them done quick. My mom will be helping me too.

It'll be nice to cook in a place that is bigger than a shoebox - aka - my apartment.

 

[4nana]

I'm sorry your MIL obviously enjoys rattling your cage to see your reaction . Sometimes rising above and no comment will tame people of this nature. Take care of yourself and baby, don't let her dampen your spirits.

Baking here doesn't start until a week or so before C'mas. Last week was loaves/muffins of banana nut, pumpkin, gingerbread and apple cinn. This week-end is fudge and chocolate covered oreos. Will be baking cookies all week and and I hope to try makng red velvet/crm cheese balls dipped in chocolate. Then will have the grands over for their usual bake fest soon as C'mas vacation starts.