Christmas Baking 2012

[toobusy]

If I start my christmas baking, then I start my christmas eating. Going to put it off as long as possible.

sigh. Me too. Unless I get back to work and then I can take it and dump it!

I know that I will be making some fudge and sugar crack regardless, and the kids want to make stuff so I will give them some recipes and say Go.

[scrumhalfgirl]

I was thinking I wanted to try making nanaimo bars. Anyone have a favourite recipe to share?

[gnu]

I will probably end up making my usuals (candy canes, slice-and-bake Christmas trees, hazelnut crinkles) but I also want to make gingerbread cut-outs this year, and a couple of gluten-free choices as my boss's wife was just diagnosed Celiac and is feeling overwhelmed by it (probably simple stuff like chocolate dipped pretzels, meringues, and flourless chewy chocolate chip cookies).

[FishPants]

I was thinking I wanted to try making nanaimo bars. Anyone have a favourite recipe to share?

I made a PB Nanaimo bar one year that was to die for. I have packed all my recipe books, but I could try and find it online.

[La]

I will probably end up making my usuals (candy canes, slice-and-bake Christmas trees, hazelnut crinkles) but I also want to make gingerbread cut-outs this year, and a couple of gluten-free choices as my boss's wife was just diagnosed Celiac and is feeling overwhelmed by it (probably simple stuff like chocolate dipped pretzels, meringues, and flourless chewy chocolate chip cookies).

Do pretzels have gluten?

[Jwolf]

Aren't pretzels made with wheat flour?

[IronColl]

Snyders makes some gluten free:

http://www.snydersofhanover.com/Product ... /Prid/318/

Glutino brand as well:

http://www.glutino.com/ca-en/locate-a-retailer/

[kab]

Snyders makes some gluten free:

http://www.snydersofhanover.com/Product ... /Prid/318/

Glutino brand as well:

http://www.glutino.com/ca-en/locate-a-retailer/

The Glutano ones are really good. I haven't tried the other ones.
My SIL makes truffles for me every year since I have Celiac disease and can't eat any of the goodies. I spent $18 on a small gluten free fruit cake last year that was very good. It lasted until the summer. It is the one thing that I have always missed at the holiday season and I love to take a bit when I go XC skiing or other cold weather activities (I'm sure it has a million calories per square inch).

[Tisha]

We decorated a ginger bread house today, does that count.

Oh, Susan, that is cute! I used to buy the house kit every year we had the girls for Christmas (alternated with Mom and step-dad). I never eat the darn things and they eventually hit the garbage but the girls always had so much fun decorating it. Now the girls are older and not around until January ... I think I'm going to pick up a kit anyways and keep the tradition alive. Dad and I have fun watching them get icing everywhere!

[Tisha]

I haven't 100% decided on a) whether I'll bake this year, and b) what I'll make. My usual is shortbread cookies. Last year I made some yummy meringues, that I think I'll make again. One batch with dark chocolate chunks and dried cherries, and the other with dried cranberries and pistachios.

Mmmmmm ... those meringues sound so good ... cranberries and pistachios ... what a great combination!

[Tisha]

I have no clue what I'm going to bake this year. Seeing as the girls are both spending the holidays with their boyfriends' families I don't know if I need to bake. We are thinking of inviting both DH's and my family over for Christmas dinner though. Maybe I'll just do a dessert for Christmas Day and not put temptation out for DH and I to induldge in (me more so than him).

But ... I have done homemade turtles for gifts in the past. I'm having difficulty thinking of something for my sister and brother-in-law ... oh, boy ... guess I'm baking ...

Must not eat ... must not eat ... must not eat ...

Do you think I've convinced myself yet?!? Me neither ...

[Miss*Smiles]

Last night I made candy cane bark.
White chocolate melted with crushed candy cane added in and a drop of peppermint extract. I wanted to swirl in the red food colouring but I didn't do it quite right and it's all pink now oops

[La]

Last night I made candy cane bark.
White chocolate melted with crushed candy cane added in and a drop of peppermint extract. I wanted to swirl in the red food colouring but I didn't do it quite right and it's all pink now oops

What I would suggest for next time is pour out about 3/4 of the melted white chocolate onto your cookie sheet, add the red food colouring to what's left in the bowl (mix thoroughly), then swirl that "red" chocolate in with the the white chocolate that's already on the sheet. Comprend?

[Miss*Smiles]

Last night I made candy cane bark.
White chocolate melted with crushed candy cane added in and a drop of peppermint extract. I wanted to swirl in the red food colouring but I didn't do it quite right and it's all pink now oops

What I would suggest for next time is pour out about 3/4 of the melted white chocolate onto your cookie sheet, add the red food colouring to what's left in the bowl (mix thoroughly), then swirl that "red" chocolate in with the the white chocolate that's already on the sheet. Comprend?

That's what I did (although I clearly didn't explain that it is what I did, I see now I made it seem as though I tried swirling in the food colouring on its own)

[La]

Last night I made candy cane bark.
White chocolate melted with crushed candy cane added in and a drop of peppermint extract. I wanted to swirl in the red food colouring but I didn't do it quite right and it's all pink now oops

What I would suggest for next time is pour out about 3/4 of the melted white chocolate onto your cookie sheet, add the red food colouring to what's left in the bowl (mix thoroughly), then swirl that "red" chocolate in with the the white chocolate that's already on the sheet. Comprend?

That's what I did (although I clearly didn't explain that it is what I did, I see now I made it seem as though I tried swirling in the food colouring on its own)

What did you use to swirl it with? Usually if you just draw a knife blade (just a regular dinner knife) through it it should swirl properly. Maybe it was still too liquidy and you should have waited until it firmed up a bit.

[Miss*Smiles]

Last night I made candy cane bark.
White chocolate melted with crushed candy cane added in and a drop of peppermint extract. I wanted to swirl in the red food colouring but I didn't do it quite right and it's all pink now oops

What I would suggest for next time is pour out about 3/4 of the melted white chocolate onto your cookie sheet, add the red food colouring to what's left in the bowl (mix thoroughly), then swirl that "red" chocolate in with the the white chocolate that's already on the sheet. Comprend?

That's what I did (although I clearly didn't explain that it is what I did, I see now I made it seem as though I tried swirling in the food colouring on its own)

What did you use to swirl it with? Usually if you just draw a knife blade (just a regular dinner knife) through it it should swirl properly. Maybe it was still too liquidy and you should have waited until it firmed up a bit.

FIrst a toothpick (that's what I normally use) but it wasn't swirling so I used my spatula.

Good thing it will still taste yummy!

[gnu]

Snyders makes some gluten free:

http://www.snydersofhanover.com/Product ... /Prid/318/

Glutino brand as well:

http://www.glutino.com/ca-en/locate-a-retailer/

The Glutano ones are really good. I haven't tried the other ones.
My SIL makes truffles for me every year since I have Celiac disease and can't eat any of the goodies. I spent $18 on a small gluten free fruit cake last year that was very good. It lasted until the summer. It is the one thing that I have always missed at the holiday season and I love to take a bit when I go XC skiing or other cold weather activities (I'm sure it has a million calories per square inch).

My dad likes the Glutino ones as well - I couldn't even tell that they were gluten free. Last year I bought a bag and dipped them in chocolate for my dad.

[Habs4ever]

All the smarties are now missing from the gingerbread house. It looks a bit bare.

[Samantha]

http://www.annies-eats.com/2012/11/30/n ... nut-fudge/

[NewFinnLoper]

All the smarties are now missing from the gingerbread house. It looks a bit bare.

We usually do one every Christmas and yes, it's pretty bare by the time Christmas actually arrives...the cookie part is always intact though...

[Tisha]

All the smarties are now missing from the gingerbread house. It looks a bit bare.

We usually do one every Christmas and yes, it's pretty bare by the time Christmas actually arrives...the cookie part is always intact though...

Funny how that seems to happen here as well ...

[Habs4ever]

Skor triangles made. They are for tomorrow night. The conversational English class I help with is getting together to decorate a friend's home and tree and eat Christmas baking.

[QuickChick]

Oooh.... The creme a sucre I made last year is going to be a "for sure" next weekend at the Christmas baking day.
Pat has requested balls. Chocolate ones. How funny would it be to find a chocolate salty balls recipe... I bet they would actually be good! I made salt and pepper chocolate cookies a couple of years ago and they were surprisingly delicious. I do have a great peanut butter chocolate ball recipe though, and it's pretty sure to please.

[ultraslacker]

Lisa, if you want to try something new, I can post my buckeyes recipe... Basically pb , rice krispies, icing sugar balls dipped in chocolate. So yummy!!


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[Hammie]

I'm still without an oven, so I found some stovetop cookies to make for work tomorrow (cookie day!). Haystacks - just butter, sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract heated up in a saucepan. Simmer 5 min, then stir in coconut and quick oats. I used a melon baller to scoop up the mix and make evenly sized haystacks on a cookie sheet, then cooled in the fridge.

Thank goodness they're going to work they're much too easy to eat every time I open the fridge.