Wow, what a day…not done yet. Yesterday Don stood and hand-chopped everything that goes into his antipasto. Believe me, it is long, hard work but oh so wonderful to eat. It took 3 1/2 hours. We had a friend who sat and ate one whole jar at one sitting a couple of years ago.
Today, he made the mixture for his Tourtiere…again, masterpiece. Ask any of his kids..and family….extended family….friends….acquaintences….get the drift? I have been using the oven all day, so he is waiting to make his pastry to finish that chore.
This morning I started with my new, most favourite shortbread ever. It is called “another shortbread” on this site. Believe me it is fantastic. Don was stealing cookies off the tray before I could put them on the racks to cool. OMG, Try it.
Then I went to making cheese shortbread, whipped shortbread, pumpkin loaves and pumpkin tarts.
I learned a very valuable lesson this morning. I wanted to make my black and white bark. Couldn’t find the cookies that are needed so thought I could use some cookie crumbs for making pie crusts (you know the type), put in my chopped pistachios and best white chocolate. Lo and behold…the crumbs were so stale it all had to be thrown out. Lesson learned…ALWAYS make sure ingredients are fresh. What a waste of time! What a terrible taste.
Earlier this week I made Gumdrop cake (one of my favourites at this time of year), my “new Christmas Cake”, Raspberry Meringues and a Blackberry Orange Tea Loaf. I also made mini Quiche Lorraine tarts for our upcoming wine and cheese evening in December. More on that later.
The rest of this week, I have to make YET, marshmallows, Holiday Shortbread, Pecan Shortbread, Lemon Shortbread, Madeleines, Santa’s Balls, Salted Chocolate Cookise, Citrus Cocada, Blue Cheese Cookies with Pistachios.
I still don’t have any nuts or truffles on the list yet. Shoot!
This is our 26th November 11 bake-a-thon. Sure do love the results..dishes on the other hand…….
Wine please …oh better yet, make that a double…
Christmas Is On Its Way
We live in a small community in southern British Columbia and, as of yesterday, lights are adorning the yards, stairs, roof lines started sparkling around town . As if someone pushed a button, you can see the lit Christmas trees in the windows as you drive on the different streets.
When out walking, you can start to enjoy the smells of baking wafting throughout the neighborhood and you almost wish you knew who lived there and invite yourelf in for a coffee and closer smell.
Due to the fact my sister and I used to race to see who could have all the gifts bought and wrapped before Hallowe’en, leaves me to be disliked by those who leave it until 6 p.m. Christmas Eve. I can’t help it, it still happens in our house to this day. In September, while visiting Don’s daughter and family, we took their gifts (all wrapped) to keep until Christmas, and also those gifts for our friends in the City where we used to reside.
As mentioned before we do all our Christmas baking on November 11 and then I started….slowly……sneaking a little ornament here and a new wreath or two on a couple of windows, all the while wrapping more gifts as they were available.
Oh yes, Christmas letter is done and cards were addressed, stamped and ready to go out next week.
Then, I had to figure out what the colour theme is going to be this year….it is never the same and we always try to make the table a joyful site to sit at, enjoy our traditional dinner and talk about everything and nothing for hours with family.
Boxing Day more family arrives and we do it all again. What joy to be able to sit down and enjoy another feast.
Christmas is also time to sit back and reflect on seasons past with family members who are no longer with us, the joyful times, the silly games played or stories of long ago and, if you are like me, a slow smile crosses your face and you do feel good, even though you wish for all you can, that they were, once again, sitting at your table. Oh yes……..
Most of all, going to Church and never forgetting the real reason for this special time of year…..singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and being so thankful for all in your life.