Baking cookies or another holiday treat, prompts 7.
For years and years I have baked my way through the holidays. My parents were snowbirds, gone for the winter, so my holidays were unfettered by expectations or obligations. This led to a pattern that continues even now.
I’d prep hors d’oeuvres to munch on each day and then I’d light the candles, drink the drinks, turn up the music, and bake. All kindsa cookies, and cakes, and breads. For days.
People came and people went, randomly.
For certain people, I fashioned to-go boxes. For other people I shipped, or stopped by to drop off goodies after Christmas.
I very much enjoyed this. It was peaceful and relaxed.
People asked me, “But don’t you get lonely?”
Oh, People, No.
I have plenty of fond memories of Christmases with extended family, where I’d play chase with my cousins and devour sections of a cheeseball every time I ran through the room. Remember when Mary Ann was learning to read and she thought the book title was “How to Attack Birds?” Remember when Barbie and He-Man had a war under the pool table?
There are photos of me, pajama-and-slipper-clad, sat at the organ.
Doesn’t it look like I was having a good time?
Many times, the baking has been a family thing:
In the course of 21?22? years, I’ve also taken some years off…
So some good times were also had skiing, playing poker (again in pajamas, maybe also drunk and flashing people) or in Florida, caroling on a golf cart — and as wonderful as those times were, I still prefer being home, baking and having people stop by.
Who wouldn’t want to be The Holiday Oasis of No Expectation? Wouldn’t you like to take a break and head to Joey’s for a snack? She’ll have tons of yummy savories, plus an open bar, and fresh, hot coffee. And her kitchen will look like a bakery.
Pajamas and slippers optional.
joeyfullystated 
Sounds delicious!
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😀
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Sounds great, although you might prefer me with pajamas at my age.
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Fair enough, I’ll be in mine.
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No jammies, or anything else, is for a younger crowd.
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LOL I wrote pajamas and slippers optional, not nudity optional! Prankster!
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I know the feeling – my holiday baking blitzes are a fave in our family and it’s just plain fun for me too.
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Oh I’m glad you do the same! Yes, it’s the best! 😀
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Oh yes please. I would love to pop into Joey’s Oasis. I will even dress. Maybe if I had stayed married to one woman or not traveled so much I would have some sort of routine. Oh well. Wait. Day 7. Have I missed some days?
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No, I’m not doing them all, so I’ve done 1 and 2 and 7 so far. I think. No matter 🙂
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Well you have to be careful jumping around like that. You know old dude,lost time etc.
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Haha! Just assume you get them all. You’re so frequent, I’d notice if you were missing 🙂
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I’ll be starting my baking frenzy this weekend. I’m behind the eight ball this year. I might consider not doing as much as I normally do if I wasn’t visiting family, but they’ll be expecting my treats. And just seeing people’s eyes light up when they dig in makes it all the more special, doesn’t it?
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Ooh, and another person who bakes like mad! It really is satisfying 🙂
Enjoy your bake-a-thon. Carrie!
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Thank you, I will. You too! (And yes, I too love the alone time it offers.)
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Sounds pretty wonderful to me! Love the pictures! 🙂
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Thanks 😀
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You look so adorable Baby! As you know, I do not partake in the making of the yummies, and the world thanks me for that. I have always enjoyed the music blaring and the dancing that ensues in the kitchen. You remember me and Sissy shaking our groove thing in the kitchen? What am I saying? Of course YOU remember. They are great memories. I only hope the little ones look back on those memories as fondly as we do.
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Me too ❤ Fanks!
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Dang! I love the idea of watching someone else bake while I drink wine!! I only make as many cookies as I have to in order to satisfy my Christmas cookie fix (as reported in my Day 7 post), and to stop my kids from whining. Let’s just say I love the idea of baking just not the actual process.😊
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You were an adorable kid.
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Thanks!
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Head for Joeys? For baked goods? You wouldn’t have to ask me twice.
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Yes, please! I’ll be right there. 🙂
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The baking smell ❤ It has almost a healing and refreshing touch to it! Delightful Christmas times..
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Sounds like you do the holidays right!
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I’ll be right over. In my jammies! 😀
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Sounds perfect! 🙂
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I started baking tonight. I made cookies. They didn’t rise at all ;-(
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What? Did you not use all-purpose flour? Did you need extra baking powder? What kind of cookies?
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I made them exactly the same as always and they were a runny mess. They were oatmeal snickerdoodle type cookies. I even had the right size measuring cup this time! Is there a way to know you need extra baking powder by looking at them?
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Well if they don’t puff up, more baking powder can help. Try another 1/4 tsp per batch. If they’re runny, then add more oats or flour. If it calls for butter or lard, make sure it’s not too warm — there are so many variables.
Have you had success with this recipe before?
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Thanks, I’ll do that next time if it looks off. I make these cookies every few months or so and they always turn out great. But I did completely nuke the butter in the microwave this time instead of just melting it just most of the way. Fucking butter, I think that’s why the danish turned out off too.
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Yeah, that’ll do it. Sorry. If you buy salted butter, you can leave it out without worry, k?
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Ding dong. I’m here!
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making cookies -always fun! Thanks for visiting my blog!
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