That banana bread ate up valuable cookie time. What a fool I am.

It's mornings like these that I wished I lived in the middle of trees and had a big fireplace.

The Christmas baking has not progressed well (whoknewmusclestrainscouldhurtsomuch)... I regret to say that only Peanut Butter Blossoms, Swedish Tea Cakes, and two types of Fudge have been made(most by Mum). I usually make a crazy amount of Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Men but this year has not held that quota. Perhaps I still have time to make some of one of these today? Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, I realize, but there's still time!!!!!!!!

I just thought of this... hand knit oven mitts. Eh EH?! I don't even know if that would work and/or be safe but the image is where it's at.

Maybe a trip through Trader Joe's would inspire me more...

Holly Jolly OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!

I am getting really excited for Christmas.

So full of Holiday Spirit with my jingling antlers on!

 The best part of Christmas(HAM) is Christmas Eve(HAM). Sitting around my dining room table, eating non stop, and playing some sort of overly competitive game of... Scattegories, Boggle, Apples to Apples or one year Trivial Pursuit. Let me tell you Scattegories is always full of swear words and content that I am always surprised by coming from my very traditional Aunt Patty. Boggle is full of my Uncle Ray's amazing zillion letter word scores and me just trying to stay in second place. Apples to Apples is always a mix bag of happenings really. And Trivial Pursuit is basically my Mum and Uncle showing us how smart they are and feeble we must be for not knowing any of the crazy answers to crazy questions. I guess my Grandmother was very amazing at Trivial Pursuit too. I just wish I could fill half a pie, just half!! One day.

 Ham. Honey Baked Spiral Ham. Please Santa, Please.

I have been thinking about recipes and trying to decide what I will be baking this weekend with my Mum. Of course, Sugar Cookies... Fudge... Mum's Swedish Tea Cakes... Spritz Cookies (using my Grandma Musselman's ELECTRIC Cookie Shooter from the 70's?)... Peppermint Bark, maybe, probably, hopefully.

I try to make some sort of Candy each year but it's just so much to take in.



Pies. Cherry and I don't know what else yet. I know a little lady who may be getting a pie, because she asked so nicely via glittery Christmas card. I love it by the way.

"Kitty Treats"

"Kitty Treats" update: Miss Sue (beautiful black kitty) enjoyed my treats and I am very happy that she did. It made me feel like my crazy cat lady venture into making my own cat treats was less crazy... Mildly. I know.


PS: Please share any holiday recipes that are unique to you. I love baking different things. Eating them most of all : )

Kanoodling.... Yeah.... That's right.

IDEAS!
I think I may have come up with what direction I would like to take with this blog... An adventure is a'stewin and I hope everyone is on-board!

Hint - I really find pie making quite fun. 

I am snickering now. I'm not sure if it's from the lack of a regular sleep schedule or the excitement of a new fun idea... wouldn'tyouliketoknow : ) 





Good Night All 

Christmas Carols sung by barking dogs on a keyboard?

Happy Birthday to my brother Todd.
 
I didn't bake anything today... However, I did jam out on my keyboard with some Christmas carols. I feel my time spent keeping my hands busy, and festive, will prove helpful with all of the Christmas themed baking I will be doing this weekend with my Mum.

This day was not what I had anticipated, but I am thankful for Dolly and Marie (mafia wives...) from my schools Financial Aid Department for fixing my last term of Community College. If I had an excess of funds I think I would make them each a pie. Probably the top requested pie I have helped to make (one request from Miss April), Pumpkin Cream Cheese. 

Oh and I am glad for Counter-Strike Source with my mates : )

Random day, but good day = random post. So I will leave you with this last bit of randomness...Three is a Magic Number.

Pass the milk. These cat treats are dry.

Today I made my own "Kitty Treats," courtesy of www.healthyrecipesforpets.com.
I'm going to be honest, I tried one. It was dry with a hint of chicken aftertaste. I can see why my cat turned her nose up at them and where a look of, "You're insane, not only did you eat that, but you made that" came from. I just wanted a more wholesome option for my furry best friend to eat. I try to eat organic when I can afford to, and generally home cooked foods. Why can't my cat have that luxury too? 

So, I am passing on some "Kitty Treats" to a few mates to see what their furry pals think of them...
Aside from cat food (haha) I am still looking over the pie comments and keeping in mind what to try out next. I kind of need more funds to buy most of the ingredients for any pie, really, at the moment.... but it will be done!

I am tossing around the idea in my mind now of selling my baked goods. My friend Martin last night asked if I had ever thought about selling them over the internet. I really have not even considered that a possibility. I think if someone really wanted something I would love to make it for them... It's fun nonetheless to just think of such a possibility.

My first Challah

Thus far, I am comfortable with my bread making skills, some pies, some cookies... some cakes... I think if I had more practice and honest eaters of baked goods, maybe I would be more willing to give it a go. Oh and willing eaters and/or buyers to begin with. That may help out the process. I'm not really sure how well a homemade pie ships either...

Pie. It's what we want.

Blackberry
Pre-Oven - So Pretty!

I received three of my Grandmother's cookbooks for Christmas a few years ago. One of these cookbooks being, Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book, from I think the 1960's but I cannot find a copyright. This really inspired me to try out my Pie making skills. This brought on my very first Pie, a nice Blackberry. I got some good reviews on this pie. It pushed me toward a Marionberry Pie and Peach Cobbler (too sloopy).

 Thanksgiving brought on more Pie opportunities. I helped my Mom with two Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pies. I made a Cherry (from a can) and an Apple (from one online recipe and good ole' Betty - I just made it up really). I did however make the Pie Crust for all of them with an Awesome recipe from an Awesome lady (Jean).

Apple Pie Post Oven Shot - Lumps of Flavor

The next step and big question is...what Pie should I try next? Or should I try to perfect these Pies (and one cobbler that was not cobbler esc but cobblerish- It was an island of biscuits in a sea of peachy syrupness)? This brings up another good question, Tarts?
We shall see...

PS: Never ask about my first Chocolate Cream Pie. It never happened. Never.
Neitherdidthecaramelcreamwhatevernotevenclosetoapiepiewhichisatestamenttowhyyoushouldneverbakeinabadmood.

And away we go....

Hey there.
I'm really not entirely sure why I am compelled to start this blog. Maybe my love of random things and the ability to talk for hours has something to do with it? Either way, I am anxious to see what comes of this.