The romance of "taking a break to take photos and blog my progress" from day one is gone.
I am now knee deep in day three. The number of cookies is up to 652. YEAH. Have already delivered 372. Working on the rest now. THIS IS CRAZINESS. Crunch time is upon me. I've restocked baking supplies three times. I've "restored" my kitchen countless times, finishing dishes, cleaning off cupboards, etc.
It's go-time. Making up the last 7 double batches of dough now, will do deliveries and then come back to finish baking and delivering. By this time tomorrow they will all be gone. Gone to happy families. Happy mouths.
I am pretty sure I won't be baking cookies for a couple of weeks.
whew.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Baking cookies update...nearing end of day one.
Today was day one of my cutout cooking baking marathon. I have approximately 400 decorated cutouts due for pickup or delivery by Tuesday afternoon. Today was a big baking day. And I had a blast. Started later than expected...after church, made a nice dinner for the guys and then did the dishes and cleaned up before getting started.
Finally started mixing up dough about 1pm today. After 6 hours of mixing, rolling, cutting, and baking, I made it through 12 batches of cookie dough. Just what does that mean you ask?
1 1/2 lb butter
6 cups shortening
12 cups of sugar
30 cups of flour
2 dozen eggs
12 tsp baking powder
6 tsp vanilla
12 tsp salt
About a third of the way through the day's baking....
1 1/2 lb butter
6 cups shortening
12 cups of sugar
30 cups of flour
2 dozen eggs
12 tsp baking powder
6 tsp vanilla
12 tsp salt
This is the LARGE "thats-a-bowl" from tupperware... this is 8 batches of cookie dough...
The 12 batches of dough made approximately 250 cookies. I'll know for sure once I frost, decorate, and pack them in the morning. No counting until then. I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised, with a number a little higher than that. THAT would make a good day.
The large hearts are for a fundraiser, for the Children's Miracle Network!
So before I sit down to frost and decorate for the next couple of hours, I thought I'd take some time to update you all on my progress. And share a few pix. Happy Baking!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Baking cookies!
When we were first married, my new husband informed me that I had to get a certain cut-out cookie recipe from his friend's mom. I did, and use it to this day - 17 years later. And I'm known for my cut-outs, made for every holiday and special event in between. Nice and thick and chewy...mmmm.
When I was working in management, I started a fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network, selling heart "thank you" cookies that were delivered across the company. Every year we sold HUNDREDS.
I was lucky enough this year to be hired to bake the cookies for their fundraiser, even though I no longer work there. Between the fundraiser, and personal cookie sales to friends, I have over 32 DOZEN cut-out heart cookies to bake and decorate this weekend. Almost 400 cookies! TEN double batches of dough.
Gonna be a cookie-bakin' fool tomorrow. And I can't wait. I love baking cookies, and sharing with people. Especially for a good cause. :-)
When I was working in management, I started a fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network, selling heart "thank you" cookies that were delivered across the company. Every year we sold HUNDREDS.
I was lucky enough this year to be hired to bake the cookies for their fundraiser, even though I no longer work there. Between the fundraiser, and personal cookie sales to friends, I have over 32 DOZEN cut-out heart cookies to bake and decorate this weekend. Almost 400 cookies! TEN double batches of dough.
Gonna be a cookie-bakin' fool tomorrow. And I can't wait. I love baking cookies, and sharing with people. Especially for a good cause. :-)
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Life in a Northern Town.....
Life in a Northern Town, the original version, is one of my all time favorite songs. Born and raised in Wisconsin, I lived for about 5 years in Nebraska, and then moved back. Now, I live in a SMALL northern town, where life is accentuated not just by being in the north, but by being a town of 800 people.
We get a lot of snow where I live. Not outrageous, but a lot. Enough that some kids ride snowmobiles to school when able. And tonight, we had friends stop by on a snowmobile. We live a block away from the trail, so they hopped on up to our house and hung out for a visit.
I just think it's cool. As stupid sounding as that might be, I think that the ability to hop on a snowmobile at your house, ride along a river, through the woods, and some ditches, and end up at a friend's house is a pretty cool concept. And I love that we have friends that do that.
So tonight we hung out - after a snowy day - with the fireplace going - chatting with good friends while they warmed up from their ride.
I'm known to enjoy life's little moments. And tonight was one of them.
We get a lot of snow where I live. Not outrageous, but a lot. Enough that some kids ride snowmobiles to school when able. And tonight, we had friends stop by on a snowmobile. We live a block away from the trail, so they hopped on up to our house and hung out for a visit.
I just think it's cool. As stupid sounding as that might be, I think that the ability to hop on a snowmobile at your house, ride along a river, through the woods, and some ditches, and end up at a friend's house is a pretty cool concept. And I love that we have friends that do that.
So tonight we hung out - after a snowy day - with the fireplace going - chatting with good friends while they warmed up from their ride.
I'm known to enjoy life's little moments. And tonight was one of them.
A domestic week...or two!
The deal with being a substitute teacher - is that I have no control over my schedule sometimes. And these last two weeks have been SLOW. So I've enjoyed a chance to be domestic - baking, cooking, freezing meals, and getting the house back in order.
Today I decided (it being cold and snowy) that it was a good day to bake some cutout heart cookies - to surprise my confirmation class and Bible study group tonight. So while doing laundry, and picking up the house, I baked a few dozen cutouts and decorated them, and made yummy porcupine meatballs for the family for dinner.
I have been able these last two weeks to make sure all of our leftovers are getting eaten in lunches, or used in meals. Both yesterday's turkey tetrazzini and today's meatballs cleaned out partials from the fridge - making me feel good to be preventing food from going to waste.
One of the first things I notice in weeks when I work a lot - that we end up having food get buried in the fridge and going to waste. So this week has made me happy - as I make sure that waste doesn't happen!
Time to get the dishes done - and get ready to teach confirmation. I have LOVED these domestic weeks.... it's been such a nice break. Granted, the money will be missed, but money isn't everything. :-)
Today I decided (it being cold and snowy) that it was a good day to bake some cutout heart cookies - to surprise my confirmation class and Bible study group tonight. So while doing laundry, and picking up the house, I baked a few dozen cutouts and decorated them, and made yummy porcupine meatballs for the family for dinner.
I have been able these last two weeks to make sure all of our leftovers are getting eaten in lunches, or used in meals. Both yesterday's turkey tetrazzini and today's meatballs cleaned out partials from the fridge - making me feel good to be preventing food from going to waste.
One of the first things I notice in weeks when I work a lot - that we end up having food get buried in the fridge and going to waste. So this week has made me happy - as I make sure that waste doesn't happen!
Time to get the dishes done - and get ready to teach confirmation. I have LOVED these domestic weeks.... it's been such a nice break. Granted, the money will be missed, but money isn't everything. :-)
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
For the love of my freezer....
I am lucky enough to have a chest freezer. Not a huge one, but one large enough to allow me to shop smarter, cook ahead, and freeze lots of goodies from my garden. In the long run, it saves us a TON of money.
I had no idea today what I wanted to make for dinner. After the whole NOLA weekend, yesterday was ring bologna, potatoes and corn. Just wanted something simple. So I had NO idea today. So I took laundry down to the basement, and stopped at the freezer on the way. Frozen turkey left from Christmas dinner! Perfect start for Turkey Tetrazzini... dinner dilema solved. Pulled a container of frozen strawberries out too, just for a treat. On a cold day like today, with the snow blowing, a little taste of spring/summer is just what the doctor ordered.
I recieved an amazing Taste of Home cookbook from my big sister this Christmas, and looked there for a recipe, finding a traditional from scratch tetrazzini. The recipe called to make a 9x13 pan, but when I got done, I realized that it was WAY more than my family of three could eat, so I prepped 3 smaller pans, one for tonight, and two.. you guessed it - went into the freezer!
There are SO many benefits to having a chest freezer. I can shop sales. It is an outreach of my pantry. I can buy in bulk, and separate. ALL saving me money. I can cook ahead for my family, again saving money, but also providing REAL food - even on those crazy weeks - simply by pulling a prepped dinner up from the freezer to thaw and cook.
So today - is my "ode to my freezer". One of my most important appliances!
I had no idea today what I wanted to make for dinner. After the whole NOLA weekend, yesterday was ring bologna, potatoes and corn. Just wanted something simple. So I had NO idea today. So I took laundry down to the basement, and stopped at the freezer on the way. Frozen turkey left from Christmas dinner! Perfect start for Turkey Tetrazzini... dinner dilema solved. Pulled a container of frozen strawberries out too, just for a treat. On a cold day like today, with the snow blowing, a little taste of spring/summer is just what the doctor ordered.
I recieved an amazing Taste of Home cookbook from my big sister this Christmas, and looked there for a recipe, finding a traditional from scratch tetrazzini. The recipe called to make a 9x13 pan, but when I got done, I realized that it was WAY more than my family of three could eat, so I prepped 3 smaller pans, one for tonight, and two.. you guessed it - went into the freezer!
There are SO many benefits to having a chest freezer. I can shop sales. It is an outreach of my pantry. I can buy in bulk, and separate. ALL saving me money. I can cook ahead for my family, again saving money, but also providing REAL food - even on those crazy weeks - simply by pulling a prepped dinner up from the freezer to thaw and cook.
So today - is my "ode to my freezer". One of my most important appliances!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Our NOLA celebration!
Being from Wisconsin, the super bowl wasn't as meaningful this year, with our Packers not playing. But my long time readers know that New Orleans is VERY close to our hearts. We have dear friends there, and have visited multiple times, and love the cuisine. With the super bowl in NOLA this year, it was my chance to put on a true NOLA feast!
About a week ago, I started building the menu, realizing that if it was only going to be my husband and I, all of the hard work would be wasted. So we invited a few friends over, and preparations began.
I hit more than one road block, as I started looking for some of the ingredients. Note to self: on my next trip to New Orleans I need to hit up a grocery store and stock up on the local ingredients! Luckily, I'm enough of a cook, that I can improvise. I knew what flavors I needed, and wanted, and I did the best with what I could find!
I started the day making fresh beignets for my family and a few friends who stopped by. We enjoyed the fresh and hot fried pillows of dough dredged in powdered sugar over cups of chicory. The only thing missing was the noise and bustle of the people going past the Cafe du Monde patio.... Such a yummy treat - and making them with my son made it all the better. He loves to cook and bake, so when my friends arrived, he allowed me to sit and chat with them, while he continued frying them and replenishing our supply. What a sweetheart. A truly great way to start our day!
While the beignets were frying, I started making some baguettes. One of my favorite sandwiches from the south is the Muffaletta. I had seen a recipe for a muffaletta dip, a deconstructed sandwich, and loved the idea. Rather than follow the recipe though, I did my own version - using what I had available to me. I created a muffaletta bruschetta - served on fresh baked baguettes. And it turned out amazing!
I couldn't have a NOLA feast without a poboy sandwich. The traditional sandwich of New Orleans, steeped in history, I tried to make our southern friends proud. I mixed up a spicy remoulade, fried up some breaded tilapia fillets, and served up a sandwich bar for people to make their own.
Jambalya was also on my mind, a simple version though - with only andouille, rather than three proteins. By the time this was cooking, the house was smelling amazing...
Of course there could be no other finale than a traditional King Cake. While making the yeast dough for the cake, I was shocked that it took over 6 cups of flour. If I'd read the recipe, I would have seen that it made TWO cakes. So, my dear son was able to take a King Cake to the party he was attending also. All good! The cake turned out perfectly - light, tender, and wonderful. Although I did make one huge mistake - in that I forgot to put the baby in the cake. Frustrating, to say the least, but it tasted the same. Just no fun in finding who would find the baby!
With everything baked, I dug out our stash of beads from Mardi Gras, and decorated the house. We had beads hanging from the ceiling fan, decorating the tables, and of course, decorating our guests.
Then I mixed up a pitcher of hurricanes to chill, and we were ready for the big game.
We had three friends over to enjoy the feast, and watch the game, and it was a perfect night. We enjoyed great food and drink, and laughed until we cried. We had a blast watching the game (and of course the commercials).
I love cooking, and more than that, just love having over the people that mean so much to me in this world. No better way to end the week than combining the two - and having a wonderful dinner party. Life is good!
About a week ago, I started building the menu, realizing that if it was only going to be my husband and I, all of the hard work would be wasted. So we invited a few friends over, and preparations began.
I hit more than one road block, as I started looking for some of the ingredients. Note to self: on my next trip to New Orleans I need to hit up a grocery store and stock up on the local ingredients! Luckily, I'm enough of a cook, that I can improvise. I knew what flavors I needed, and wanted, and I did the best with what I could find!
I started the day making fresh beignets for my family and a few friends who stopped by. We enjoyed the fresh and hot fried pillows of dough dredged in powdered sugar over cups of chicory. The only thing missing was the noise and bustle of the people going past the Cafe du Monde patio.... Such a yummy treat - and making them with my son made it all the better. He loves to cook and bake, so when my friends arrived, he allowed me to sit and chat with them, while he continued frying them and replenishing our supply. What a sweetheart. A truly great way to start our day!
While the beignets were frying, I started making some baguettes. One of my favorite sandwiches from the south is the Muffaletta. I had seen a recipe for a muffaletta dip, a deconstructed sandwich, and loved the idea. Rather than follow the recipe though, I did my own version - using what I had available to me. I created a muffaletta bruschetta - served on fresh baked baguettes. And it turned out amazing!
I couldn't have a NOLA feast without a poboy sandwich. The traditional sandwich of New Orleans, steeped in history, I tried to make our southern friends proud. I mixed up a spicy remoulade, fried up some breaded tilapia fillets, and served up a sandwich bar for people to make their own.
Jambalya was also on my mind, a simple version though - with only andouille, rather than three proteins. By the time this was cooking, the house was smelling amazing...
Of course there could be no other finale than a traditional King Cake. While making the yeast dough for the cake, I was shocked that it took over 6 cups of flour. If I'd read the recipe, I would have seen that it made TWO cakes. So, my dear son was able to take a King Cake to the party he was attending also. All good! The cake turned out perfectly - light, tender, and wonderful. Although I did make one huge mistake - in that I forgot to put the baby in the cake. Frustrating, to say the least, but it tasted the same. Just no fun in finding who would find the baby!
With everything baked, I dug out our stash of beads from Mardi Gras, and decorated the house. We had beads hanging from the ceiling fan, decorating the tables, and of course, decorating our guests.
Then I mixed up a pitcher of hurricanes to chill, and we were ready for the big game.
We had three friends over to enjoy the feast, and watch the game, and it was a perfect night. We enjoyed great food and drink, and laughed until we cried. We had a blast watching the game (and of course the commercials).
I love cooking, and more than that, just love having over the people that mean so much to me in this world. No better way to end the week than combining the two - and having a wonderful dinner party. Life is good!
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