Story: Christmas and baking just go together. My mother used to do copious amounts of baking on Christmas Eve. Mrs. Brinkley and Kizzie used to stop by sometime before Midnight...and we'd still be up baking and decorating. This happened as far back as I can remember. It used to take us ages to get all Mom's animated decorations down from the attic, let alone the Christmas tree, bulbs, lights and ornaments. We'd start early...but never early enough! Christmas for me smells like Doll's Poundcake, Mom's Red Velvet Cake and Black Bottom Cupcakes - Pine tree is not Christmas-y! I've certainly carried on the baking tradition...maybe one year I'll get into decorating more than just a tree!
For Christmas, I like to bake lots of different things, assemble plates and give them to friends. This year I did Red Velvet Cake, Lemon Bars, Chocolate Chip Cookies and Brownies. I will admit the brownies were from a box, but that was a last minute addition because SOMEONE ate some of the Choc Chip Cooks that were for friends....IRV!
Red Velvet cake is courtesy of Bakerella, as are the Lemon Bars. The Chocolate Chip Cookies are a secret recipe of mine using raw caster sugar instead of white sugar, I swear it makes them taste better!
http://www.bakerella.com/red-velvet-cake/
http://www.bakerella.com/lemon-bars-and-a-little-helper/
Maybe I'll think ahead for next year and get some nice Christmas plates for 2011.
- MLM
Story: Thanksgiving is a huge tradition in my family. It has been since I was little and I have carried the tradition on since I've been married. I remember the first Thanksgiving - we had a 3lb bird, blow up furniture and I used sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated milk in the homemade macaroni and cheese!!! Every year after that got bigger and better, as did my cooking.
Another successful Thanksgiving is under my belt! This year was maybe the best ever. We had a ton of people over, and most importantly Auntie Brenda and Auntie Emma. Not that the girls really noticed any of us adults, not with the other kids to entertain them.
I did a lot of prep work the day before...which saved a ton of time on the day of. However, I still was flat-out on T-Day! I could not believe it! I had great timing with the Turkey and subsequent sides needing to be cooked. Everything was delicious...except the ham. I just can't cook ham!!!
I wish I had taken pics of the food when EVERYTHING was ready, because there was sooo much more. Everyone brought a couple dishes and a couple bottles. I even made punch! Alcoholic of course :)
Menu:
Turkey
Ham
Mashed Potatoes
Stuffing
Gravy
Green Bean Casserole
Roasted Carrots
Cole Slaw
Potato Salade
Candied Yams
Squash and Peas
Cheesy Polenta
Fresh Spinach and Walnut Salad
Rolls
Pecan Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Pavlova with Cream and Fruit
Dumplings with Cream and Fruit
and MORE.....
Here are the pics of the food I made....
- MLM
