So with this weekends official kick off to the holiday season I have started thinking about Christmas gifts and plans, menu ideas and treats, and have put up my decorations. I made homemade pies, biscuits and cookies for the first time ever from scratch this year. They werent perfect..but they were good, and I know where the improvements need to be made. I have also learned some new recipies that I am waiting to try.
I made a maple pecan pie that was really good, and gingerbread biscuits that were also yummy.
I have a recipe for Cinnomin Roll Milkshakes that I am dying to try, and I want to try (again) to make pralines like my Grandmother makes.
I have ordered some new cookbooks that I am looking forward to getting in the mail and I have a new Salsa recipe book that I am gonna use to can my own batches of salsa.
I have been doing good on my weight loss and have lost 10.5 pounds so far. So I am having just as much fun discovering wonderful new things to cook and share as I used to pigging out on junk.
What kinds of treats and delicious things are yall cooking up in your kitchens this holiday season?
Wow, you are ambitious crunchy! I used to love to make christmas cookies and bake up a storm, but just haven't had time lately - and not enough energy either. I did make two pies the other day. One was for Thanksgiving, the other is in the freezer for Christmas, unless I can't stand it and have to bake it sooner!
Gingerbread biscuits? That sounds tasty - what goes into them?
I have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten - the protein in wheat, rye, oats and barley - so home baking is a must. Thankfully gluten free flour and mixes are easy to come by nowadays.
So far this season I've made a double decker chocolate cake with marshmellow fluff frosting, "apple pie" muffins and chocolate biscotti.
I'd like to get one of those bundt pans in the shape of a christmas tree, or maybe even the castle, and make that for my neice and nephew this year. (I always get big ideas in November, come December 24 I'll be up baking cupcakes! Crunchy....are you going to post the gingerbread biscuits recipe? Or email it to me on myspace?
Crunchy, I think you are enjoying this stay-at-home stuff. My big ambition was a homemade apple pie. I didn't do anything right on it and I don't think the kids ate any of it. But I demolished it.
I love cooking. But it has become really hard to do. That seems totally unfair. Finally the time to do it and it's really hard to do.
You enjoy those new recipes. You can find dozens online.
I will post the biscuit recipe tomorrow...I dont feel like getting up off the couch...I gotta get some sleep...the alarm is going off in 2 hours (uurrrgggghhh!)We go to my sister's house on Thanksgiving so we do not end up with leftovers. So yesterday, I made a Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings.
Now I can turn my attention to Christmas. However, for reasons unrelated to this disease, I have cut back what I do for Christmas. It makes for a much more relaxed holiday which is what I need. I enjoy it more.