Holiday Baking

So it's usually about this time of year I get really worked up over the holidays. I know that everyone will attest to my obsession with Halloween but I really kind of kick into overdrive over Christmas and Hanukkah. Our family celebrates both, not out of some sort of capitalist drive to receive more presents but rather because I like to celebrate with as many people as possible and enjoy the traditions of both. So my house is this insane blitzkrieg of Christmas trees (which btw are a pagan thing, not a Christmas thing) and Hanukkah's menorahs and dreidels and all sorts of other holiday glitter and gloss.

I really enjoy holiday baking. I plan it out, picking recipes for celebratory meals and most importantly for baking goodies to give people. This all started in effort to overcome my paralysis of fear when it comes to baking. I can cook like no one's business but baking is really something I have had to apply myself to learning. Baking isn't quite as free form as I like my cooking to be, I like to look at a recipe as a general outline from which to take it to where I want to go that day. Can't really do that when your recipe includes things like yeast or baking soda or whatever.

I try to kind of have a theme each year. Last year I had them of reds and whites with my baking. Year before it was all chocolate and so on. This year, I'd like to make different traditional European holiday cookies. BUT, last year I also made like twelve DIFFERENT kinds of cookies. I want to keep it to between 4 and 6 different baked goods this year. Keep in mind, I have Christmas meals and Hanukkah meals to prepare also, so there's just a lot of cooking thats going to go on this year.

Here are the contenders for Holiday Bake-Ganza this year. Hopefully you're not on my naughty list, but rather, my nice list because that means for your gift this year from me you could very well get a plaate full of goodies courtesy of me!

-The Choices-

-Pfeffernuse or Pepparnodder (German/Danish spice Cookies)
-Rugelach or Kolaches (Polish/Eastern European jam filled cookies)
-Cherry/Date Chewy Twists (French/Germanic cookies)
-Buttered Rum Shortbreads (Twist on Scottish shortbread)
-White Chocolate Macarons (French)
-Chocolate Gelt Cookies (Jewish/Eastern European)
-Gingerbread cupcakes (they just sounded good)
-Espresso caramel brownies (ditto on sounding good)

Guess we'll see what I end up making. Now, who wants to come hang lights at my house? I'll post other menus as I finalize them. Back to watching Celeb Rehab and studying for finals. MUAH!

Peace out yo-

Chatterbox Sara