Christmas....

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