Started Holiday Baking!

[KarenC]

Well, since I'm home, I decided to get started on my holiday baking. I can't lift more than 10 pounds, so I had my DH drag out the KitchenAid mixer this morning. I started out by making the homemade dog treats that are in the Susan Branch Christmas from the Heart of the Home cookbook. Needless to say, the dogs were VERY interested in that project! Each of them will get a big squirrel cookie on Christmas morning. Then I made some bone shaped and fire hydrant shaped cookies that will go to our friends with dogs. They make the house a little stinky though, so I've got the candles going.

Next I'm going to make spritz. I figure those will keep pretty well in the freezer. By the time I go back to work, I should have quite the cookie assortment. And my daughter will have cookies to bring back to school when she comes home for Thanksgiving.

I keep looking for the bright side to being sick...maybe I found it...if I don't wear myself out again!

 

[mickeyboat]

You are certainly ambitious! Hope you continue to feel well. Don't ovedo it and get lots of rest!

Denae

 

[huckster]

good idea have fun .. i think i should start too.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Mmmmm nothing is nicer at Christmas than the scent of cookies and other goodies baking in the kitchen.

Yummy!

As for the doggie cookies, I'd love to bake some cookies for mine. Are they really that stinky?

Have fun!

 

[DiaDeGuadalupe]

I've done a little bit of "warmup" with a few things, but DSil will be visiting from the east coast over Thanksgiving, and we're going to spend the Sunday after doing nothing but baking

She goes home the day after that, so she'll have a nice tin full of goodies to take with her, and we'll have some for the house, and to send off to friends, etc.

As long as I don't eat a whole lot, I should be ok for the upcoming WDW/cruise trip. Hmmm, maybe I should pack some bigger clothes just in case?

 

[tkyes]

Would you be willing to share the doggy treat recipe? That might be nice to throw in a gift basket for our neighbors.

Thanks -

Tamie

 

[KarenC]

Doggie Treats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. powdered dry milk
1/2 t. salt
1 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. onion powder
2 t. brown sugar
1 t. granulated beef bouillon
6 T. meat drippings (I use bacon grease)
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. ice water

I use a food processor to complete these steps:

Combine first 7 ingredients. Cut in drippings until mixture resembles cornmeal. Mix in egg. Add just enough ice water to make mixture form a ball. Pat dough to desired thickness (recipe says 1/2" thick, but I make them a little thinner) and cut into desired shapes. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake 25 to 30 minutes. (The thinner they are the less they need to cook.) Cool before "serving".

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Thanks for the recipe. I might have to make some of these for our families pets.

 

[missypie]

I have a couple of zip lock bags of cookes and some applesauce bread in the freezer for the holidays. I figure with that, if I get super busy I can get out that stuff and make a couple of the super easy recipes (like the one where you stick the mini peanut butter cups into the purchased cookie dough) around Christmas.

 

[tkyes]

Thanks Karen - exactly how bad is the smell? Just curious

I wonder if turkey drippings would work? I could just save some from Thanksgiving.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Oh my puppies are going to be so happy that you shared that recipe.

Thank you so much.

 

[KarenC]

Originally posted by tkyes
Thanks Karen - exactly how bad is the smell? Just curious

I wonder if turkey drippings would work? I could just save some from Thanksgiving.

It's not that bad of a smell. It's kind of meaty. Probably not much more than if you cooked a roast in the oven. I guess it's just not the baking smell you expect when you're making cookies! I just lit a Yankee Candle and the house smells fine.

I bet turkey drippings would work fine.

I haven't met a dog yet that didn't go crazy for these treats. Wasn't sure if our new puppy would like them, because this is the first time I've made them since we got him, and he devoured the sample I gave him.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I attempted to start my holiday baking, but DH and my 2 DS's found the cookies!!!!

They finished off 4 dozen before I got home one evening----ARGH!!!

 

[KarenC]

Originally posted by JessetheCowgirl
I attempted to start my holiday baking, but DH and my 2 DS's found the cookies!!!!

They finished off 4 dozen before I got home one evening----ARGH!!!

My guys better not do this. Actually I trained them a few years ago to keep their hands off. After Thanksgiving I'll start to bring a small plate out after dinner. They just don't understand how hard it is to be able to come up with just the right cookie assortment!