by MEK
As the Nest gets ready for the Holiday Celebration – there are several things that have been attended to:
Christmas cards – CHECK – thank you, Iteach
Christmas Music – CHECK – thank you, Bono
Christmas Party – CHECK - thank you, Shirley, Whabby, and Goldie
Christmas tree – CHECK – thank you Cpgem….
Now – we need to get down to the BAKING…….
Last week, I made fudge for Mr. MEK to take to work and baked chocolate chip cookies – (that is a story for another day). But – I found myself reflecting on the memories of all the goodies that we had growing up during the Holidays. My mom would bake chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, drop sugar cookies, fudge and the homemade donuts. She did it all by herself – she did not ask for help, nor did she want it when it was offered. There was a special medal tin for each kind of cookie, and every year the same cookie was always in the same tin. She still owns each and every one of those tins. The fudge never had nuts in it, because my father did not like it that way. We always had a huge plate of homemade donuts and donut holes on Christmas morning (and a plate was frozen for New Year’s Day). There were plain ones and the ones with powdered sugar; dad (again) liked the plain ones. It was just a given that donuts would be served. Oh and Santa would get a donut to go along with his cookies and milk on Christmas Eve.
Several years ago, I asked my mom if she would teach me how to make the donuts. I didn’t want that tradition to be lost in years to come. Her health makes it impossible for her to do all the things she used to do and that really bothers her. The making of the donuts is a J O B and I never realized how much work went into it. She still wanted to “do it all herself” – but I insisted on doing most of the work. They were just as I remembered them!! AMAZING!! We made most of them WITH the powdered sugar (dad wouldn’t mind)– we made quite a mess, but it was fun for me to spend the day in the kitchen with her.
Is there something special that you make every year? A special memory to go along with it?
131 comments:
1
Yay Kahonugrl!
Great blog MEK! I loved spending time in the kitchen with my mom. And now I enjoy spending time making yummy goodness with my kids. Surprisingly my son is more into it than my daughter.
All these posts keep reminding me how far behind I am on this Christmas stuff. I have bought......ONE gift.
Hey, if Santa can get 'er done in one day, certainly, I can make it happen in a week, right?!
Morning Glories!
LOL congrats on first Kgirl! Merry Christmas!
Lois one gift? Really? Wow you make me feel better. I have bought more than that but am still way behind. We have snow this morning so all of the things I had planned to get finished today seems to be on the back burner for now.
MEK you were so lucky! I don't have any baking memories for the holidays.
When the kids were little for many years our Christmas morning tradition after the gifts were open was a huge breakfast. I usually made homemade cinnamon rolls. We still have the breakfast but the cinnamon rolls have been store bought the last few years.
I loved reading about all the goodies your Mom made and I just kept thinking how wonderful and wow what alot of work that is. I did have one step Mother that would make homade donuts once in awhile and I do remember that it was an all day event. Notice I said one step Mother as I had several and that may be why there are no real traditions that were established when I was a kid.
Can't wait to hear everyones stories and baking delights.
my dad's fudge and my mom's tamales~ Have I learned to make either one? nope~ Dang.....I have to make a trip to CA~ Mek....thanks for the yummy memory~
Kgrl~ congrats on #1~
Good morning NN and LynnD~
Congrats on turtle:)
Good morning to you, Tina, Lynn and Lois Lane!
MEK, that was a great blog entry!! I am craving sweets now lol
I LOVE to bake, and can't wait to start some holiday baking myself... I watched SO many Food Network cookie shows in the last week!
I'm getting into the Christmas spirit by listening to the amazing music of Trans-Siberian Orchestra!
Here's a neat link for y'all with awesome light displays:
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Enjoy and have a great Humpday everyone..Can't wait for the party here! WOOHOO!
That should be FIRST in there also! lol
The new pic is of the ghetto fabulous Christmas Tree my brothers and I put up last week! haha
We had SO much fun..and it turned out cute considering what we had to work with;)
Most of my awesome decorations are in VA still!
Good Morning!
MEK: My mom went into a baking frenzy at Christmas. She not only made chocolate chip, oatmeal chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies..but those spritz cookies. The ones that look like flowers and Christmas trees. She'd put a candied cherry or a pecan on the flowers and those silver ball decorations on the trees. I loved those cookies. I would be at a friend's house, and could smell the cookies baking as I was walking home. I never once thought it could be someone else's mom baking..I always knew it was mine.
One year, in addition to the usual cookies, she tried all kinds of Russian cookie recipes...along with making divinity and fudge. My dad had to tell her to stop all ready!! Like your mom, MEK, she never wanted any help..except with the clean up.
The only recipe I have really carried over is her cheesecake..omg..so good. I only make it at Christmas though. One blueberry and one cherry. Yum.
Thanks for the great blog MEK.. and the wonderful memories!!
Oh Tina I want some of your Mom's Tamales! Hurry up and learn how!
Joey I think your tree is adorable!
Zona I love spritz cookies! Yum!
It is still snowing here. Looks like a day of cleaning and wrapping for me as I am not even going to try to drive in this.
Good Morning Hooters!
Congrats on 1st Kgirl and cant' wait to see you!
Like I said before, my father was a master pastry chef from Bavaria. He used to make all our Christmas cookies, Pfeffernuse and gingerbread and all kinds of goodies. Alas, I never learned the conversions (he did everything metric) and I never really had the interest when I was younger.
Our own family must have's though are the peanut butter with hershey kiss cookies (the boys), spritz (my fav), cinnamon sugar cookies (Mr. Goldies), pecan bars and the always fun round pretzel filled with hershey kiss and topped with m& m. I love, love, love them!
I actually got those made last night and Mr. Goldie and I are baking this weekend.
KGRL!!! Congrats on FIRST! I hope you have a wonderful time..and a safe trip! SWAK!!! :D
LL/NN: I sent out all of my cards for my firends..none for my family. Ooooops. I was gently reminded yesterday that I better get my ass in gear!! vroooom vroooom!! ;)
LYNND: Love the cinnamon roll and big beakfast tradition! It doesn't matter if the cinnamon rolls aren't homemade..they are served with love. That's what counts! :)
TINA: Love tamales..if your mom has extra, could you give her my address??
How was the pie received?? Did Mr. TINA lick the dish??
JOEY: LOVE Trans-Siberian Orchestra..and that light show is amazing!!
Turtle:
You Got First! Congrats!!
Now tell me is first better than 69, or is it the other way around..
Inquiring minds want to know...
Always good to see ya!
Here's a story for you. My mom loves Rum Balls and always makes them for Christmas. Well several years ago she fell and broke her elbow. So, she enlisted my nephew (then 15) and I to mix them up for her. She instructed and we made them. Well, she was f**ed up as Hogans goat on pain killers at the time.
Everytime she tasted them she would tell us, more rum. Then more rum, until finally I was sure the 15 year old was going to be drunk just from the fumes! When she finally proclaimed them to be just right we finished up, but she could not figure out why nobody took a second after having the first! We laugh about this every year. Now mind you my Mother does not drink Rum, she only drinks wine.
Lois:
Geez, Christmas is like 8 days away.. You will def need Santa's sled and the reindeer to pull you along.. Or you can just hop on Birdee's back and she will fly ya wherever you need to go...
:O)
Mek:
The memories of our childhood are just so very special, even tho your mom did it all my herself, she still instilled a memory in you, of Christmas Baking.
The donuts sound grand, and I am sure they tasted amazing.
I love your blog today, thanks for sharing a part of your life with us.
And loved all the Check's, you made your own blog kinda Christmas List.. :O)
Joey:
"Ghetto Christmas Tree"
You crack me up!
:O)
Goldie:
Oh my, have you brought back a memory.. Rum Balls, my aunt used to make them...
I don't know which is better.. being high on Pain Meds. or on Rum..
Sounds like you had some great holidays.. :O)
Waving at:
Turtle
Lois
Lynnd
TinaHO
Joey
Zona
Goldie
And anyone else who posts after me...
I have to get back to work..
See ya all later..
:O)
TinaHO!
I love Tamales, and not just the food kind.. ;O)
Thanks for the sweet comments about the tree y'all!
hehe Carol:)
Goldie, I had never heard that expression..Frickin' hilarious! "effed up as Hogan's goat"..Funny story too!
Thanks Zona!
Okay, I'll share my flickr pics of our Christmas Trimming with y'all..I just went and changed them to "anyone" can view instead of just friends/family! Enjoy lol
You will have to have a flickr account I think to view them..Read the funny notes too!
JOEY'S CHRISTMAS PICS
Don't work too hard Carol!
Feel free to add me as a contact/friend on flickr y'all!
I LOVE flickr! lol
21!! lol
I wished I was 21 again!
Thank you Lynn D! :)
Oh and MEK, we always took the easy way out making donuts with my Mom..It's the way Paula Deen makes hers..Canned biscuits lol
We'd flatten them slightly, then cut out the center with a bottle cap or something of the sort lol
Then fry them up in oil(the holes too-YUM) and roll them while hot in powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or dip them in chocolate! YUMMY!
Joey- we make those type of donuts too every year in the summer at the campground. We heat the oil in a cast iron pot over the fire and then "fry" them that way. We use cinnamon sugar, chocolate icing, etc. too!! They are delicious.
By the way- I liked your tree!
25!
One more! lol
Have y'all seen RuPaul dressed as Michelle AND Barack Obama?! LOL
Too cool!!
RuPaul as The Obamas
cool goldie!! Thanks!
I screwed that link up lol
Take 2:
RuPaul as the Obamas
Well, I guess I lost my touch! WTH!? lol
Take 3:
RuPaul as the Obamas
30!! Whew, about time..I have NO clue what I did wrong to make it add "blogger.com" to the beginning of the url lol
GOLDIE: My dad's grandmother was born in Bavaria and was a candy maker! I don't remember my grandmother making any homemade candy though. In fact, from what I understand..she cooked a minute steak for half an hour. ;)
I LOVE Pfeffernuse!! Not sure how to pronounce it though.
LOL @ Rumballs being too rummy!!
Wow, Zona, those sound spicy and good lol
Martha Stewart made one similar to that the other day!!
here's the recipe:
Pffernusse Cookie Recipe
CPGEM: LOL Tamales..just love the hot kind, do ya?? ;)
JOEY: Going to check out your pics now!
VIG: Funny how we were just discussing those spritz cookies!
Goldie loved your Mom's Rum Balls! LOL
Joey I think I could actually make those donuts! Hmmm
You guys are making me hungry and almost tempted to bake! LOL Almost as I seem to be out of eggs and can't get to the grossry store.
So I guess I have to use my imagination and keep reading!
One year when we were broke I did homemade chocolates and cookies and packed them like a candy box you would buy! I ended up with a migraine and 42 boxes of goodies about the size of a large shirt box. After that I said never again. LOL
Then there was the year I got receipes from a cousin to make Irish cream and Kahlua (sp) my friend and I decided to make them up for xmas gifts. Well we had to do some fast thinking as to what we should use for bottles. Lets just say that Mr. Lynn D and her husband at the time went through many cases of beer to get us those empty bottles! Then we had to find corks to seal them, that was another trip around Tacoma to finally find a shop that had them.
By the time we added up the ingredients and then how much we spent on the beer and the corks, the gas to find the corks we could have actually bought Bailey's and the real Kahlua! LOL
Mr. Lynn D did not complain once during that Christmas season. He did however have problems tieing his shoes, walking and talking coherently!
Good Morning! Ok MEK, now I am really hungry. I have a great idea for next year. How about all of you bakers make boxes of your goodies and send them to me and we will have a bake-off and I will be the judge. I can't wait to get MEK's donuts, ZONA'S 800 cookies, MARY/MI cookies, TINA'a pie, SHIRLEY'S peanut brittle, TINK'S famous buns, LYNND cinnamon rolls (homemade). Maybe you could all practice with these items on Easter and we will do a trial run of sending them to me. All of you up for it? :) yummy for my tummy
MEK: Nice blog. I used to do some baking with my mom but nothing that stands out. I also used to do it myself when my kids were young but not anymore. We did have a tradition though, we always went to midnight mass. My mom would go in the house when we got home first to be sure Santa hadn't come yet. I always told him to come late to our house. We would then have egg nog and fruit cake. Yup, you guessed it..I am one of those few fruitcake lovers.
My mom did make the best and I have never tried although, I do have her recipe.
I am up way too early but I told my DIL that I would come and watch the boys so she could finish her shopping. I think two of them are in school until 1:00..it is "early release day". So, I have a long drive ahead of me and a busy day as those boys are very different than the girls last night.
Congrats K-Girl. When do you go to Chicago? Brr, you better find some warm things to bring to our side of the country.
Ok everyone....get baking!
Good Morning Owls. I will be back after I feed my babies.
Congrats on first K-Girl
haha Lynn! They're easy!
Hey Tinka, Dianne, and all of the rest of you lol
I love the bake-off idea..My secret dream has always been to enter the Pillsbury Bake-off! Sigh...One day maybe!
I feel LINKY today haha..I guess y'all noticed!
Here is the recipe:
Easy Donuts
oh okay, cool Zona..When you get back, check out the recipe! I assume you may already have it lol
LYNND: I am laughing thinking about you and MR Lynn making all that kahlua and him not being able to tie his shoes.
I wanted to say good morning to:
JOEY
CAROL
ZONA
TINA
LOIS
K-GIRL
GOLDIE
It's not often that I am up to see you early birds.
JOEY: your tree looks nice. I will look at your other links later today. I never heard of making donuts with biscuits. I make them from a little joint called Krispy Kreme.
ZONA; I am adding blueberry cheescake to the list. Can you make a pumpkin one too?
Ok...I am leaving for real this time. Have a good day and btw BONO, it is already 22 here at 9AM..how is it doing there?
JOEY: thanks for posting that donut recipe...I will pass it on to my DIL and daughter.
Yes, one in favor of the bake off and me being the judge! Keep em' coming!
JOEY: Loved your Christmas tree! You're right, spending time together is what is important!!
GOLDIE: Are you able to get into MS yet? I have a question I need to ask you!!
DIANNE: But if I send you cookies, are they going to end up in the TV Guide?? ;)
I would gladly make you a cheesecake, but you just got all kinds of orange cookware..wouldn't you love the satisfaction of making it yourself?? I'll send you the recipe, if you want to try it!! :)
LYNND: LMAO!!!
Ok..I'm going to have to make spritz cookies now. I wonder if my mom's 1950's cookie press still works??
Good Morning TINKA!!
Good Morning Turtle, Lois, Lynn, Tina, Joey,
Zona-my-baby, Goldie, Dianne and Carol.
Mek - I loved your blog. I would like to know how to make do-nuts. I think I tried them once and they were so greasy. I start my Christmas baking every year with my mince meat and my dark fruit cakes. Since they take a couple of months to ripen I always do them the first week in November. I make my mince meat tarts a few days before Christmas. Our biggest tradition is my Christmas bread. I make it with spices and fruit cake fruit. I divide it into three pieces and make it into a wreath, (it's like making a pig tail out of a little girls's hair only you are using dough.) I ice it and put on a bow made of fruit and it's ready for Christmas morning. We always ate it after opening our stockings and before opening our other presents. I have been doing that for 44 Christmases. My back had better be able to handle the kneading of the dough this year because it wouldn't be Christmas without it.
I will be back to read the comments. The temperature is above freezing this morning and will get cold again later. I am going to try and get an appointment for my hair this morning. My hair looks pretty bad. I think I can drive in this slush. My back is a lot better today. Thank God.
Be back in a couple of hours.
Goldie: the always fun round pretzel filled with hershey kiss and topped with m& m. I love, love, love them!
How do you fill them with hersey kisses? Receipe please. I do like to dip the pretzles and roll them in goodies.
Dianne Mr. Lynn D thought that was one of my better experiments! The boxes of goodies not so much! LOL
My secret this year is a tiny little store in Rainier that opened 6 months ago that I am trying to get to if the snow quits. The store is of all things a cookie store! All they make are cookies fresh everyday! Shhhhh don't tell anybody! I am going to repack them in Christmas tins and tissue. Voila homemade cookies!
Sorry, I messed up the numbers again. I haven't time to fix them.
TINKA: Safe travels! Check in when you get back please!
LYNND: After baking over 1000 cookies in the last few days...I really, really, really like your idea! Shhhhh..won't breathe a word!! ;)
Good morning!
Congrats K-girl on first today!
Great blog MEK! I don't have anything I make every year. When my grandma (dad's mom) was alive, she made her Italian cookies every year. She made hundreds of them.
I wish I'd learned how to make them before she died, she didn't leave any recipes.
She also made Pierogis every year for Christmas. We would usually make them at my moms as she had a huge kitchen table.
Most years, there would be 4 or 5 of us around the table. It was an all day job, but so worth it!
I had planned to make cut-out cookies this year, but have run out of time.
Have a nice day everyone!
Joey, love your ghetto tree!!
Zona I have a very, very old cookie press too!
Tinka please be careful out and about today! We want that back fully mended!
Zona I want some of your Spritz cookies! Please Please Please! Just thinking about them has my mouth watering! Over a 1,000 cookies is bringing back nightmares of the cookie/candy boxes! Makes me want to run screaming! LOL
Hi EBJ!
You know this snow has me all out of whack! I feel about as organized as a box full of ferrets this morning! What should I do first???
Happy Wednesday, Owls!
Congrats on first, Kgirl. Were you awake really early or staying up really late? Happy last day of work!
MEK...yummy blog!!!! I very seldom bake for Christmas because I would also eat for Christmas!!!! Sometimes I make cookies but that's about it. One thing I have really realized from being on the blog and connecting with many Americans is how British Canada is. Most of the big Christmas treats around here have a British influence...shortbread cookies, mincemeat tarts, fruitcake, Christmas plum pudding. My Mom made all of those treats every year and it was a huge event and brings back great memories. Especially how the kitchen smelled..of cookies baking and cinnamon and nutmeg in the air. Thanks, MEK, for bringing back delicious memories!
Tink...it is raining really hard in my part of Victoria and seems to have washed away the ice. I think you should be okay driving. Call me if there is anything I can pick up for you when I am out and about today!
Zonawoman...tell me again what a spritz cookie is. Sounds delish!
Zona - yes, I can get in ms now.
Lynn, take the Herseys kiss' and place a round ring pretzel over them. Don't worry if it doesn't quite fit. Then put them in a low- 225 over for a few (5?) minutes or so until the chocolate is melty. Take out of oven and immediatly put a red or green m&m on top, this smushes the chocolate out and fills the ring. Put in the freezer or out in the garage if cold enough until chocolate sets. The most important part is use low heat on the chocolate and only keep it in there until it melts, or it will get hard to squish.
So easy, and you get that salty/sweet mixture and they are the first thing to go off the cookie tray!
225 degree oven that was supposed to say. And on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Still reading, but...
What fun, and perfect timing, MEK! I'm pulling out all the favorite family cookie recipes today. Not baking 'til closer to Christmas day, though, so I can overnight some to the family in NC for the Christmas to New Years week while they have 3 hungry kids at home. Also have to make enough dog biscuits for 5 hungry Labs!
Safe travels today, #1 Turtle~~ Looks like it could get interesting!
Great tree, Joey!
Dianne~~Went to bed early last night, when both the clock and the thermometer struck 9!! Awoke this morning to a balmy 24*. The "Big One" is moving toward us but not here yet. Currently around the Washington/Oregon border. No more bright, blue skies, but it's been so calm and dry that the 4" of snow from Monday morning is still as deep and powdery as when it fell.
bbl after some hot Oregon Chai tea latte.
Thanks Goldie! I will try those babies! I can even turn on an oven contrary to what some may believe.
Bon it is holding steady at 31 degrees at my house and snowing to beat the band! We have about an inch to 2 inches in the yard. I hate snow! I feel trapped! All the things I needed to do today and dreaded now seem imperative! I can't get out and the panic is setting in! Help Help Help! Now I want to go get pretzels and hershey kisses and make goldies pretzel delights and I can't get the car out of the driveway!
Ok I think I am losing it! Someone pass me one of Goldies Mom's rum balls! It could be a long day.
Family Favorite Christmas Morning Breakfast:
The sausage, egg, cheese & tater-tot casserole that you mix and refrigerate the night before, then bake Christmas morning while opening the presents....and Dutch Babies with whipped butter and powdered sugar. HEAVEN!
I think this year I'll celebrate Mom by making her traditional Christmas Fruitcake alternative. It's a tasty applesauce cake batter made with miniature gum drops instead of candied fruit. Bakes at 250 for 3 1/2~4 hours(!) When sliced, it's like a beautiful stained glass window.
EBJ: My mom made pierogis every year too, and now Mr. Z and I make them for Christmas Eve dinner. My hands cramp up after making 100..mom made over 200. I don't know how she did it.
LYNND: If the cookie press works, and I make them..you'll get some!! :)
VIG: Spritz cookies are like shortbread...they just melt in your mouth. So good.
BON'O: 3 1/2 to 4 hours!!?? Dang..we wouldn't have to turn the heat on if we had the oven going that long! Sounds good though! I love applesauce cake.
67 for spritz cookies!!
68 for chocolate chip!!
69~
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~
Thank you for your blog this morning. I love to hear about family traditions and different cultures.
I remember my mother's chocolate cake she made from scratch. (does anyone say made from scratch anymore?)My grandmother was famous for her prune whip. It may not sound too great, but it was so good.
Everyone have a safe and happy day. BBL
Zona, what I wouldn't give for grandma's homemade pierogis!
She was a tiny Italian woman but she was an animal, could whip out hundreds of cookies and a huge dinner in no time flat.
She made the most delicious cookies every year, and we really miss those too.
We would make hundreds of pierogis, and by the end of the day there was flour everywhere, we were worn out, but had the delicious "doggies" (what I called them as a kid!) to look forward to.
We had them with Christmas Eve and/or Christmas dinner.
VIG have a fabulous time south of the border! I'm jealous.
Sounds like you're flying today K-girl, safe travels to you wherever you're going.
I'm going in to work 1/2 day, so will check back later.
Hope everyone is having a nice day!
MEK: Two things! My Dad makes delicious shortbread cookies, and my sister Donna makes delicious Christmas cake!
The cake was originally made by my Aunt, who is 96 and no longer capable. She had passed the tradition on to her youngest daughter, but she was killed by a drunk driver several years ago, which is how the tradition passed to my sister.
I love the continuity... we still call it "Helen's" or "Cathy's" Christmas Cake!
VIG: That is SO true... the many British traditions and influences that are not part of US culture. In addition to the food, I love watching the Queen's annual Christmas Message on CBC.
How many US television stations carry that? LOL!
Hello Everyone!
Great blog MEK....I'm hungry just thinking about Christmas food...
This is just a quick fly by....I just got a HUGE order for jewelry made to order this morning and am quite literally breaking my back to get it done....Hope to be back later...
Eat something for me wouldja????
K-Girl, watch the weather. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the storm we are going to get has United Airlines already putting out a waiver warning. I don't know what you are flying- but check the weather in Chi-town before you leave!!
Bon Bon- what are "Dutch babies"?
Mr. Goldies grandma used to make a spice cake with something called "hard sauce" poured over it like a frosting kind of thing. Do any of you know or have a recipe for "Hard sauce"???
Goldie:
I leave Honolulu this afternoon and arrive in Chicago at 5:15 Thursday morning....I think I will make it in before the next storm hits...lol. I am so not ready for the cold, but it will be nice to see snow after 16 years....
Success!! Made it to the store before the storm, with only one teensy fishtail on an icy spot. I even got the mini-gumdrops, pecan bits (don't like walnuts),and white raisins for the cake. Somehow, having the oven on for four hours seems like a good thing!
Goldie~~Here's a pic (might need to magnify) of a Dutch Baby. They're somewhere between a crepe and German pancake or sweet Yorkshire pudding. You melt butter in a cast iron skillet in the oven, then add the batter and bake. They puff up and then collapse into a bowl shape. Yummy with powdered sugar and/or berries, baked apples or poached pears!
Goldie would this be anything like the sauce recipe you were looking for? I found some other that you had to cook, and still others with more ingredients in them. Some had flour and egg whites.
Hard Sauce
Ingredients:
1/2 cup soft butter
1 1/2 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract OR 2 tablespoons rum or brandy
Preparation:
Cream butter with confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla extract or rum or brandy.
Hard sauce recipe serves 8.
Congrats on 1st Kahonugrl and safe travels!
Good afternoon/evening No Newz, Lynn D, Tina, Joey, Zona, Goldie, Carol, Dianne, Tinka, EBJ, VIG, Bon'O, Lani, Whabbear and Scirish!
Great blog Mek! Lots of fun and yummy traditions!
My mum use to do a lot of baking for Christmas. She would start in mid November with the light and dark fruitcakes. Then she would make pound cake, cherry cake, gumdrop cake, pumpkin loaf, date'n nut loaf, banana bread, lemon bread, shortbread cookies, sugar cookies, uncooked chocolate cookies (we use to call the shitball cookies)peanut butter ball (plain, rolled in chocolate and rolled in chocolate and coconut),vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter and brown sugar fudge, brownies, halfway squares, honey graham wafer square, nanaimo squares, date squares, and rockyroad squares. We use to have a big flour tin (the size of an outdoor garbage can)in the pantry and when mum was finished baking that would be full.
She use to make up plates and take them to people who worked at the bank, the credit office, Sears the Post Office, Town office and the grocery store. They loved seeing her come! Of course we weren't allowed to eat any of it until Christmas eve.
Afternoon all!
Kgirl safe travels! Don't know why you would leave Hawaii for Chicago in the winter? I figure it must be very important!
I actually got something done today and just finished making a vat of Chili for dinner.
Might take a little nap and then on to more chores!
1 mix of Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownies
1 cup chocolate chunks
2-4T 100% seedless raspberry jam, slightly melted in microwave for about 30 seconds give or take a few seconds.
Dump brownie mix into bowl. Toss chocolate chunks with 1 Tablespoon of mix. Set aside. Make brownie mix according to package directions. Fold in chocolate chunks. Bake according to directions.
After brownies have baked and are still warm, using a fork, gently poke holes over top of brownies. Spread softened jam over warm brownies. Let cool completely. Garnish with shaved chocolate. Serve with milk.
Hey thought I would share this receipe with everyone. It was posted on a political blog I read! I am definately going to try it!
LYNND: OMG!! That brownie recipe sounds delicious!
SHIRLEY: Your mom sounds like quite the baker!!
TINA: LOL..now THERE'S a recipe for contentment!! ;)
BON'O: NO fishtailing please...
LynnD
All of the family is in Chicago, and I will also get to see my nephew who is getting the hell outta Iraq finally! He will be home on R&R.
And yes VIG I was still up packing...that's the only reason I got 1st today...lol.
And Carol sweet Carol....nothing compare to a 69, but it's a close second...lol.
Now you all keep your feathers crossed that I don't get delayed or sent to another airport to land. Apparently Goldie was correct, but I am hoping that I get in prior to the second storm.
Mele Kalikimaka and Hauoli MaKa Hiki Hou to you all~ Wishing all a holiday season filled with family, friends, laughter and love~ and all your favorite wishes and presents too.
KGRL: I will be praying for a safe, uneventful flight for you!! A straight shot to that cool, sweet spot in Illinois! SWAK!!
MEK, My Mother used to make home made doughnuts. I tried it once, it was a disaster! When you get a chance can you send me the recipe?
I know a big part of it is the frying part. Did you use a special fryer? I think my Mom just used a kettle. I forget what kind of stuff she use to fry, oil/Crisco?
She used to make tamales too.
I have been gone all day again. I had lunch with my ex co-workers, and a little shopping. The roads around here were not the best. We are expecting a lot more tomorrow night.
MEK, Has it snowed there yet? ;-)
I'm off to read the comments.
KGRL~ latest system weather update:
SYSTEM UPDATE 1700 EST
05 WINTERY WEATHER IMPROVING ACROSS THE NORTHEAST
06 SECTOR. BOSTON CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE DEICING DELAYS.
07 ATC DELAYS CONTINUE FOR BOS/EWR/JFK/PHL WITH DELAYS
08 AVERAGING 60 MINS OR LESS. WEST COAST CONTINUES TO
09 EXPERIENCE RAIN SHOWERS AND SNOW MOVING THROUGH
10 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INTO ARIZONA. OCC/ROC JHALL
.....the flight coming into HNL is a half hour late....but your flight is still running on time....looks good girl~
Zona and MEK~ SNOW IN ARIZONA....how south do you think it will get? :D
HI MARY!
TINA: All I know is it better not snow at my house..we're flakey enough! ;)
delete was mine..lately it seems I do that at least once a day..along with everything I'm forgetting, I'm a little worried! ;)
Been running all day--first chance to hop into the nest!
Congrats on first, KGirl! It's great to see you! Have a safe and happy holiday with your family.
MEK, great blog! Baking is one of the best things about the holidays. A couple of years ago I saw Rachel Ray make some easy fudge wreaths and I decided I'd try it. I ended up making about 10 of them and gave them to friends, neighbors and still had some here at home. My kids still laugh about all the fudge we ate that year.
I hope everyone has a nice evening. Sorry I can't say hi to everyone separately~
Happy Wednesday Owls.
I have been busting my hump cleaning today and this is the first break I have taken.
MEK, Love your blog today. Traditions and making memories are so important, IMHO. My Mom used to make these Italian cookies that were shaped a little like a pretzel and deep fried. Then she would dip them in warm honey and sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans on top. They were so good, almost addicting. I have the recipe, but I have never been able to duplicate hers exactly, even though I helped her many times.
K-Girl, Congrats on first. You were up really late. Praying for a safe journey to IL and wishing you all the same things for the holiday.
LynnD, That brownie recipe sounds good, but I think it is missing one 'special' ingredient.
Zona, have you got all those cookies packed yet?
I better get back to cleaning. If I take too long a break, I just won't get back.
Waving wildly at all the other Owls. Wishing you all a great day/evening.
sacbarb~ you've been humping your what? :)~
TURTLE!!! Congrats on first!!
MEK - Luv your blog!! My best friend's Mom always made homemade frycake donuts...the absolute best!!! I really miss them. She isn't able to do much for herself anymore due to alzheimer's.
After my Mom died I decided to ask my brother and my Dad what their favorite cookies that she made. I now make Hermits (a very spicy raisin cookie), Amish sugar cookies, and it wouldn't be Christmas without Chow Mein Candy. Some people call them haystacks. They are butterscotch chips melted with peanut butter mixed with chow mein noodles. You drop them on wax paper in "stacks" til they harden up. TOTAL YUMMO!!!
GOLDIE - My grandma made Pfeffernuse too!! My dad always teased her and called them "heifer nuts"!!!
JOEY - Triple luv Trans Siberian Orchestra!!! That is the video I sent to people as a Christmas card last year!!!
I haven't been home long enough to catch up on all the comments and I have to made dinner now.
I hope everyone has a great night!!!
I just noticed I have QOTD! Thanks Carol!
SACBARB: The cookies have left the building... ;)
JODI: Please send me the recipe for Chow Mein candy!!
OMG, OMG!! I just checked my "classic lotto" ticket! I drew 5 out of 6 numbers! I think that is about $2,500.00!! I'll be back, I have to have some air before I have a stroke lol!!!
VIG: Two more sleeps!! :D
MARY: Congrats!... now breathe...breathe..
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100!! For MARY!! woohoo!!
Shirley thanks, but I think Mr. Goldie did say she cooked it on the stove.
I would have loved to see your mom coming too with all those goodies in her hands!
Bon Bon-YUMMY
Safe travels K-girl, boy are you in for a shock when you get here!
zona- no mail yet.
OMG Mary- congrats!!!
Kgirl so glad you get to spend time with the family! Give your nephew a hug and thank him for me!
Mary you are the luckiest person I know! Would you send me some of you hair for a good luck charm? Holy cow! Congrats!
It is snowing again and I am just giving in and going to lay down! I think I will read for a bit.
(((Hugs))) to all of you Holiday Bakers!
Zona, Goldie & LynnD Thanks!
I only started playing it because Mr Mary said the odds on winning on that game were better than the reg. lottery game. I will have to do something nice for him ;-)
although if I know him (and I do)He would prefer $$$ He knows he can get "that" anytime lol!!
Jodi, my Mom used to make those chow mein candies, too! I haven't thought about those in years! She made butterscotch and chocolate ones. We called them "ting-a-lings."
I keep forgetting...
Safe travels KGRL! I wish I could slip down to Chi Town. You will be so near and yet so far!!
Happy Wednesday Evening..
Sorry I was MIA today - LONG day and I have ALOT of catching up to do!!
SO - i will go start reading!!
hope everyone has had an excellent day!!
:-)
GOLDIE: Bummer...I may have to have a talk with Mr. Z about his trip to the post office.
LYNND: Happy reading!! Stay warm!
MARY: We have that lottery game here..I think I see a ticket in my future!! LOL @ Mr. Mary wanting the $$$!!
MEK: Thanks for the great blog today!
VIG: Step lively!! :D
I think there's a crescent roll in the fridge with my name on it..time for dinner!! Have a good evening everyone!
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Just got in from dinner with the fam.. My youngest nephew turned 23 today.. so we celebrated with good ole Italian food, at a wonderful Italian restaurant...
Good times..
:O)
I can't believe I have been away from the computer all day. It went so fast. The rain washed all the ice away just in time for me to go out and get my hair done. I wasn't home 15 minutes when the temperature dropped two degrees and we are back to snow. It has been snowing here since 2:00.
VIG - Thanks for the offer to pick things up for me. I don't know if the roads are going to be good enough for you to come and see me tomorrow. I hope they will.
Zona - Sorry I was so long in checking in. I just saw your note.
Mek- Another great blog today. Cookies aren't my specialty but I make pretty nice mince tarts.
I am off to bed. I hope to make my light fruit cake tomorrow. It doesn't need to ripen.
Stay Safe and God Bless.
Love, Tinka
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Hello Holiday Hooters!
Kgrl Congtats on #1. Were you up that early or did you just stay up all night?
MEK Great blog today! Don't you just LOVE holiday cookies and treats? I guess the cookies my mom makes that my brother and I can't get enough of are called Spritz cookies. I never knew that until reading it today. We can never have enough of those. I especially like the chocolate ones. Christmas is the only time of year that we get to have those, which makes them even more special. I also love my mother's fudge. We usually also have sugar cookies and the peanut butter/ Hershey kiss ones. Mom used to make chocolate covered cherries that were to die for and some other things but she has cut back now that she is older. She will definitely still be making Spritz cookies and the fudge. I'm going to try my hand at sugar cookies and maybe the peanut butter/ kiss ones.
I was out running errands today, including getting my nails done. This is a relatively new indulgence for me and I love it.
I could not get my hands warm all day. There was ice on our roofs this morning.
Carol Italian food rocks!
J/L:
I was wondering where ya were, I was just going to send out a APB.. :O)
Glad you did something for you today..
I am beat.. Long day...
Off to bed for me...
Mek:
Thanks again for todays blog.. I see you had a long day too...
Tinka, I am so glad the roads cleared up enough to let you go to your hair appt. I think there was a little divine intervention!
They are talking of a possible 14" of snow tomorrow night here in Mich.!
Carol wow 23, I almost remember being that age lol! How nice that you all spent it together. I love Italion!
LynnD~Do you want the part that is turning gray, or the nice auburn one lol!!
Carol Sweet dreams!
Tina Every Christmas we get lots of tamales from my DIL's mother. I know it is a lot of work to make them but boy are they delicious! It's such a treat!
Thank you for all your kind words and responses to my blog today!!
i have enjoyed reading everyone's stories...... good, bad, happy, sad.....
I didn't take notes - (sorry) -
cpgem - :-)
mr. mek is off until the New Year - I have NO idea what I'm going to do with him!!
:-)
For those wondering about our weather....
this morning, at 4a.m- outside had an eery calm to it - it was beautiful and NOT cold - which surprised me (and YES, i was out the door and on the go THAT early).
anyway - as the day went on - the wind blew and it was chilly..
our weatherman (and the scroll on the tv) says that we are under Severe Winter Storm Advisory..
SO - Mary - my hiney is NOT safe yet!!
Mary -
I'll send you the recipe - but here's an add on to the blog..
when I asked my mom if we could make the donuts - her first response was..
"the recipe is in the cookbook"
Like i was just supposed to know HOW!!! SO, I insisted that we do it together....... and. lo and behold - the recipe was right there in the old betty crocker cookbook!!!
i'll find it for you though......
AND - I must tell you all - that IBB got the baking gene in our family - she inherited our grandmother's cookbook and all the recipes that were added into it- and she is the BEST!!!!
yes, cpgem - LONG DAY - alarm went off WAY too early -
i wish I could respond to everyone - but my brain just won't allow it!!
Thank you again - each and everyone of you...... you have put a smile on my face tonight!!
:-)
Congrats on first K-Girl!
Great blog Mek. My aunt used to make homemade donuts. They were so good!
I got back from the Nutcracker just a while ago. It is so beautiful! Such a fun thing to do during the holidays. There was this cute little girl behind us that just was enthralled and she said the cutest things. My daughter and I went to the Old Spaghetti Factory beforehand and it was so delicious! I love Olive Tampanade. I have never had it before. Yum!
Well, I am tired and I need to get up and go back to work tomorrow. tAke care all and Sweet Dreams!
Bebbi - that sounds like a great evening..
K'girl -safe travels.. hope the weather doesn't delay your flights.
MEK Thanks. I would like to make them and have hot chocolate!
My Mother had the old Betty Crocker book. I think it was a thick white/yellow hard cover. My younger sister took it when my Mother passed away.
I just watched your weather map. It def. looks like kissy hiney is coming lol!! I think I will just blow you the kiss if you don't mind. I will tell you when to "bend over" bwah ha ha !!
I am heading to bed. I have to finish my shopping tomorrow in the big city . I have to beat the storm that is coming. I'm not looking forward to the cold 14 inches!!
Sleep tight all!!
I want to say hello to..
K'Girl
Lois
Lynn D
Tina
Joey
Zona
Goldie
Cpgem
Dianne
Tinka
EBJ
VIG
bono
Lani
Whabby
Scirish
Shirley
Mary
Sandie
SacBarb
Jodi
Just lin
bebbi
MO
Ronnie
Iteach
Birdee
and to ALL a Good Nite!!!
I hope everyone has an excellent Thursday!!
:-)
Mary - congrats on winning the lottery!!
Glad you checked my weather map!!
:-)
I'll be sure to "flip clip" the snow!!! when it finally starts!!
okay - NITE!!!
Good night MEK, Mary and Bebbi!
Kgrl Safe travels!
MEK: Hello!
k-girl: OMG, when I read that you're going to Chicago visions of the "200 degree club" entered my head.
That's the elite group of humans who have gone naked from their 120 degree sauna at their Antarctic research station into the -80 degree outdoors! Imagine!
Bear OMG! That sounds dangerous. Hope their feet don't stick on the ice!
Hello anyone still up and early morning readers. I am also on my way to bed as I get to have my nails and pedi done tomorrow and then tomorrow night I am going with two friends to see Jersey Boys. I can't wait. I was at Target last night and the soundtrack was on sale for $10 and of course I had to buy the newly released DVD of MaMa Mia...four of them!!! (then I wonder why my bill is so high) I got one for my granddaughters and they were with me. They said "they would do their surprise face" when they opened it. Actually, they thought they should put a lot of things in the basket for the "surprise face."
MARY/MI: 14" of snow. You can keep that over there.
Dianne Sweet dreams! LOL @ surprise face! Been there, done that!
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