I was very happy this year, that we could get our tree lit. I couldnt afford the bucket so I had to hope that last years lights at the top of the tree would work. Luck was with us and they did go on when tested. The rest of the tree however needed patch work. My nephew and I added about sixteen hundred lights, took down a few dark cords and it ( Read more... )

The second attempt at a "new" cookie went much better. I used some extract with the fruit and nuts let them cook a little longer. I measured the apple this time too, not just using all I had prepared ( Read more... )

So an unofficial goal of this weekend was to invent a oatmeal cookie. Nothing too new,but a mix of apples, blueberries and oats. My first attempt isnt quite sweet enough for universal popularity. I like them,but I like the contents. I can fix this batch without too much problem. I have a good recipe for a glaze made with powdered sugar and fresh ( Read more... )

I have 14 patterns right now, for pumpkin carving. I'll probably still weed out a couple. Maybe I'll put a few aside as extras if I have time. I only have about one fifth of the candy bought, I am shooting for around 600 candy bars. I have checked all the lights and decorations,but none of them have gone up yet. My next step is to cut the stencils ( Read more... )

Today we decorated the gingerbread cookies. There were a few dozen gingerbread men and we always make trees too(those are easy to decorate I do them)

( Read more... )

( I started baking yesterday )

( So you'd think a bone marrow test would be the anxious part of my day )

OK here as promised are cookie pictures. This is Alyce putting together two trays for gifts. We do at least fifteen just like it.

( COOKIES! )

Today I made double batches of sugar cookies with really great colored sugars, snickerdoodles, chocolate chips, oatmeal raisin, and molasses cookies. Nearly eight dozen of each type. I'm kind of tired. Its the standing around the mixer and the stove that can wear you out. I'll probably make a few sour cream cakes tomorrow, and then we have a big ( Read more... )

I finished the cutouts today. I do a butter cutout cookie rather then the sugar cookie most people do. Its kind of tricky, easier to burn them, and keeping the formula just right so they taste like butter cookies can be tuff too. Alyce decorates, I do some of the simple designs, and I roll and use the cookie cutters and then do the baking too. We ( Read more... )