HOLIDAY BAKING AND CANDY MAKING
Two dozen years ago or so my cousin did the wisest thing. She decided something in her Christmas preparations had to go. It came down to writing those infamous Christmas letters or baking cookies. In keeping with our family, she chose the baking experience. I took that decision as my own and gave up the Christmas cards immediately. I do enjoy getting them but I really can’t give up the baking.
As the years went by my baking included cookies of every kind; quick breads; yeast breads, candy, and the family favorite Chex Mix. I didn’t work much out side of the home during that time and gave myself over to endless days with my Kitchen Aid mixer. We became very close and I still find myself fondling it as I pass by.
Nine years ago I started back to work full time and my baking became few and far between. I missed those days of yore when the neighborhood kids would lurk outside my kitchen waiting for a reject cookie that didn’t quite turn out.
So this year I was determined to relive the experience. I got my recipes together, bought all the supplies, made lists upon lists of what to do and when to do it. I spread flour on cutting boards which went everywhere including up my nose. I mixed in that mixer til the motor was smoking. I creamed butter and sugar together; chopped nuts and chocolate into small, bite-sized pieces. I greased bread pans; got out my candy thermometer and spread sprinkles around the kitchen.
I baked 6 dozen cookies, made 12 loaves of bread, a batch of fudge and enough Chex Mix to feed the masses. I would like to tell you I cleaned as I went, but we all know that didn’t happen. The sink was full along with the counters. The dishwasher was humming, the oven heating and mixer gyrating. It was all coming together.
Baked goods cooled on racks, and candy was cut into pieces. I made individual boxes with goodies galore for friends and family.
As I looked around I smiled contentedly, happy with the outcome. I coughed, and blinked and it was at this point I realized this was all but a dream. None of it happened and there I was napping on the sofa with all of it yet to accomplish. And I was exhausted because, basically I had worked my entire nap.
The question now remains, will I actually do this in real time? Will I bake and mix and stir and make my kitchen a war zone? Or, instead, do I taking a relaxing bath, with a facial mask, scrub my skin til it’s polished, lather on the body cream, put my feet in fluffy, warm socks and read a good book. Stay tuned for the answer in the next post.
magicalmess 