Christmas baking and cooking thread. Watcha making?

[jeepcurlygurl]

Saria, you can send those hideously ugly, poorly executed caramel wrapped marshmallows to me and I'll hide them for you so no one will see. : )

speckla - those savory muffins look and sound fantastic.

[thelio]

Originally Posted by Saria

Oops, here are some that I (badly) managed to wrap in caramel. It's too thick, but since it was a bit too firm, I can't flatten it more.

Attachment 28535

I'll eat them!!!

[rouquinne]

speckla...

[spring1onu]

Mr. Spring handed out goodies yesterday and several people asked for the recipe today. There really is nothing that makes me happier than when someone eats something I made and they like it enough that they want it again. It honestly makes me beyond ecstatic and my heart happy.

[Saria]

Here is the orange and almond bread I mentioned.

I did two just so I could do two shapes: one four strand braided rosette and a six strand braid. I wanted to do a different six-strand braid, as well, but I didn't want to end up with really tiny loaves by splitting the dough into three.
Each strand is filled with frangipane and orange marmalade and the dough was made with orange zest and milk steeped with toasted almond meal.

[jeepcurlygurl]

^^ that bread is so beautiful

[CurlyCanadian]

I made butter pecan & chocolate/walnut fudge tonight.

Tomorrow going to do a few types if bark and shortbread!

[Layali]

This is what was on deck for this year's holiday baking:

Red velvet shortbread (half-dipped in white chocolate and topped with chopped pistachios), 4 dozen

Coconut Almond cookies, 6 dozen

[Starmie]

When DS1 was a littley he had a book called Jolly Snow, which was a story of a toy giraffe called Jolly Tall, I can't remember the story now but I think that the other toys in the book made "snowflake" biscuits to remind Jolly of the first time he saw snow. My son wanted me to make some and stars were the best we could manage, we made them several times. After seeing and hearing about all your cookies, I suggested to him that we make some for Xmas, he said "what on earth are snowflake biscuits?" I was so sad that he'd forgotten what was a happy memory for me! Anyway we made some today, and inspired by those of you who have done pretty iced cookies I thought I'd have a go (I usually just sprinkle them with icing sugar). Sadly I was thwarted by a too thin and then a too wide icing nozzle - evidence exhibit a:

[IMG][/IMG]

Gave up and resorted to icing sugar - exhibit b:

[IMG][/IMG]

They look nearly as sad as my mince pies.
And apologies for the story, I've been drinking!

[Saria]

Originally Posted by jeepcurlygurl

^^ that bread is so beautiful

Thanks. My mom was already looking forward to eating it with her coffee the next day as she ate some.

Starmie, they look good to me, and that's a sweet story!

[spring1onu]

Apparently it seems Christmas day will also be known as "The Day of Pork". Here's what I finally decided on for nibbles:

-Sausage cheese balls

-Baked ham and cheese sliders

-Ham roll ups (the kind with cream cheese and sweet pickles)

-Baked crab and brie spinach dip (recipe calls for lobster, but I'm feelin' the crab instead)

-Puff pastry cheese straws

-Spicy craisin nuts

-Caramel heavenlies

And I've told the neighbor to bring over whatever flips her skirt. I mentioned to her that it seems like we need a vegetable in there somewhere and she replied "It's Christmas, we don't need vegetables."

I'm still trying to figure out what to make for Mr. Spring and I for Christmas Eve dinner. I know it will involved ham, just not sure what else.

[OBB]

Originally Posted by spring1onu

Got the work goodies all done! Thank MERCY Mr. Spring emailed to tell me I only had to make 8 instead of 12 because I swear this seriously took me ALL darn day between the baking and printing all the labels and getting it all gussied up.

This stuff smells so good baking, it's killing me I don't have a test loaf. (and also makes me nervous I don't have a test loaf)

The fun starting!


Apple pie quick bread with pecans and craisins and baggies of homemade hot cocoa mix.

why are there no OBB on any of the packages. it makes no sense

[Saria]

I think you should make chard empanadas (you can go Spanish style and make one large one).

#wtfvegetablesaredelicious

[Starmie]

spring1onu - don't suppose that recipe for the crab, brie and spinach dip is online is it? Sounds good.

[curlysue21]

Originally Posted by spring1onu

-Caramel heavenlies

Oooh! I nixed the fudge idea after I realized every recipe I found was far too sweet. These sound great and really easy! Would you mind sharing the recipe you use?

[Saria]

Fudge is just very sweet. It's candy, after all. You won't find less sweet recipes because the sugar is necessary.
You can always make dark chocolate fudge. The chocolate cuts some of the sweetness.
Chocolate marshmallows are some of my favorites to make for this reason.

[curlylaura]

I'm going to make more mince pies tomorrow. It should be hilarious as I'm off drinking tonight and will be hungover.

[Saria]

Friends don't let friends drink and bake.

[curlylaura]

[curlysue21]

Originally Posted by Saria

Fudge is just very sweet. It's candy, after all. You won't find less sweet recipes because the sugar is necessary.
You can always make dark chocolate fudge. The chocolate cuts some of the sweetness.
Chocolate marshmallows are some of my favorites to make for this reason.

Well I am not a big fudge fan but I know other are. However my husband made some fudge last week and after trying some, I thought my mom and grandmother won't like how sweet it is. I found a great recipe posted on the Huffington post that stated it wasn't too sweet, but it is a British recipe and I didn't want to substitute the ingredients and have it come out terrible. I am also trying to avoid any nuts too as I am making two things with nuts also. I think I am being too picky.

This is it here. Cookie Crumb Caramel Microwave Fudge | Cook Republic