December Daily-Cocktails and Cookies

Sprouts had beautiful and delicious blackberries ridiculously cheap so I decided to use some of them in the weekend's cocktails.  Friday I made what sorta resembles the Blackberry Bourbon Smash.  I used a sugar cube and lemon juice because I didn't have any plain simple syrup or limes.  I muddled the sugar, lemon juice and blackberries together then added bourbon, crushed ice then topped with a craft soda I had handy cause I didn't want to open something else.  I also didn't have mint, so there was no garnish or extra flavors.  It was very tasty so I made myself a second one-cause that's what you do right?!

Yesterday I muddled the blackberries and topped with prosecco, it really didn't need anything else. 

Today we Mary, Katie, Polly and I gathered at Karen's to bake lebkuchen and exchanged cookies.  The holiday favorites were well represented with the candy cane cookies, orange balls, short bread snowflakes, orange spice cookies, spritz, oatmeal/cranberry, rugelach, gingerbread, hay stacks, chocolate bark, and M&M cookies.

While our family has always exchanged cookies during the holidays last year was our first year to bake the lebkuchen together. 

Charlie also joined us this year and I think he enjoyed "shopping" for cookies to take home!  

And as always there was great food and company.

December Daily-The Weather Outside's been Frightful

Doing a little catching up.  Saturday Mary and I met up for a bit of knitting, catching up and coffee.  My "game" plan for the rest of the day was to get started on my baking and lounge around. However, my other SIL Karen wanted to get together to watch the MLS Championship game, so off we went to what's becoming our favorite Mexican restaurant to watch the Atlanta United defeat the Portland Timbers-it was so exciting and the company couldn't be beat!  Ron is holding the white scarf-then Steve, Me, Karen and Pedro.  I'm knitting Essex- a Berroco pattern out of stash yarn; I was really in need of a new project, and  12" of ribbing is perfect for watching a soccer game.

Sunday was a full day of baking and addressing Christmas cards.  I got about half way through both tasks and will have a bit more to do between now and Saturday.  I doubled the recipe for the spritz cookies so there would be enough to send to Andrew-by special request!  Our sun porch is proving to be a great place to cold store items.

As far as the weather, we are NOT enjoying the cold wet weather we've been having the last few days.  Walking Sophie has required rain boots, an umbrella and a towel.  I can't believe Christmas in in 2 weeks!  Andrew will be coming in Christmas day for a few days so I guess I need to get a menu together!

Happy Monday-even if it's been a bit wet

December Daily-Holiday Baking

When I was a kid we didn't bake cookies at Christmas in fact we didn't have much by way of traditions except for putting up a tree. Since Steve and I have been together we've continued the tradition of his family of baking and sharing cookies using family recipes.  Needless to say over the years I've made a TON of cookies.  One year I made 17 different kids of cookies, but in recent years I have scaled way back on my baking.  Today was day 1 of holiday baking and I started with gingerbread.  I used Southern Living's gingerbread cookie recipe and I'm pretty pleased with the results.   I also took the time to measure out the dry ingredients of the rest of my baking which will include spritz [special request by Andrew], chocolate bark, oatmeal cranberry cookies [half are for a co-worker as her Christmas gift], gingerbread biscotti, and Karen's pecan/cheesecake bars that she made at Thanksgiving.  I may add one or two more cookies to the rotation, but we'll have to see.

This is what happens when you can bear to roll out the scraps and use one more cookie cutter, but you can't stand the idea of wasting the dough!  They do make great nibbling.  Are you baking anything this season?  I look forward to sharing cookies with our new neighbors.