Apron's On

I’m a sugar baby … I will almost always choose sweets over salt.  Chocolate, cookies … yup … This time of year is a danger zone for me … Chocolate orange - yum … Turtles … yes please (read: anything with caramel) … Cookies - especially sugar, shortbread and ginger … heaven.  

I also enjoy baking - especially at this time of year.  

My body - well, it doesn’t love these foods as much as I do.  Sighs.  Will I still do holiday baking?  Yes.  Will I keep what I bake?  Hard no.  

I need to grab some tins from the dollar store so I can package up the Christmas cookies - I want to deliver them with cards to a few of my neighbours. 

I’m not sure why I enjoy baking - I just do.  Baking for other people is the best part of baking - I experiment more.  Christmas cookies fill the kitchen with the most amazing smells - I think it’s the cinnamon and nutmeg … they are warm … They are the smells I associate with Christmas, with fall and winter if I’m being totally honest.  I think that’s why I love those cookies - they are Christmas in my mind.  Not really sure why - I don’t remember having them when I was little. 

This year I have a helper.  My niece has asked if she can help make and deliver the cookies.  It’s been a while since I had someone making cookies with me.  I like having helpers, it adds to the chaos, the fun and the overall experience.  I also like that she wants to help me deliver.  She’s like her dad - very social, very chatty, talks to everyone … it will make the deliveries less awkward I think.  I fully expect she’ll also want to be involved in the tin purchases … but time will tell on that one. I’ve told her dad he can have the cookies we don’t deliver.  That way they are not tempting me with their gooey goodness.  

It’s probably good my sweets are on hiatus at the moment.  The holidays means lots of parties and events and lots of sugar at my fingertips.  The “just say no” to sugar … I’m fine if I don’t start - but if I have one, having no more becomes challenging.  Read: impossible.  

I can’t be alone in this?  Maybe not with cookies, but insert another sugary or salty treat?  Any takers?

I certainly don’t help.  I bake, I buy chocolates - although good quality chocolate I can have one of and be ok … I know, right?  I buy them as hostess gifts, stocking stuffers … they are easy.  As I write this - I’m surrounded by scotch mints and chocolate I have yet to wrap or package up as gifts for my aunt and my sisters family.  

This is the sister who doesn’t actually like chocolate - I know!  She’s a salt kid and isn’t really into sweets. I mean she does like the odd ice cream but as a general rule - isn’t human and can actively and easily just say no to sugar.  

The two people I know like this - blow my mind - but also make me feel better about my sweet tooth when I watch their salt tooth … I don’t know that that’s a thing, but we’re making it one.  Their weakness is salt … one likes her nacho chips - every night before bed and the other her potato chips.  So - maybe they are human after all.  

I need to do an inventory of my recipes - I suspect I will need some flour, sugar, molasses and maybe cream for the sugar cookies.  Which means I need to do a shop for baking supplies.  Which - in truth - is my least favourite part of baking.  I don’t love the grocer … the parking lot is madness, the store is crowded, people stroll.  Why do people stroll?  That’s a whole rant for another time … needless to say strolling has no place at the shops.  Obviously I minimize the number of trips I make there and usually plan to go early in the morning, during the week, before work, when it’s not remotely busy.  

At least I have recipes I like to use - says every baker … but I trust the recipes I have and the cookies turn out well. I always worry less about the ginger and sugar cookies - they are difficult to mess up.  Shortbread … Well, people who like shortbread are often particular about their shortbread.  Good shortbread is an artform.  It really is.  

Now I’m curious about the history of shortbread and how there are so many variations on the recipe.  My recipe book has about four variations and the differences are relatively significant - which is odd given they are all shortbread.  I find this fascinating.  

I feel like some of my neighbours are particular and I will hear if they did or did not like something.  Upside - I’ll know what to include or not include next year.  

I’ve procrastinated long enough … I need to make a list and do a shop … That way I’m ready for the fun part … putting our apron’s on …