Any bakers out there?

[Marilyn]

Anybody really into baking?

Just asking because today is my holiday baking day. I've made 13 fruitcakes so far, and there are 4 more in the oven. 8 more to bake. I started cutting up the ingredients last night & chopping the nuts. Premixed the dry ingredients so this morning I could get up and get going.

Also mixed up a batch of Springerles (German cookies). The dough has to chill then is rolled and cut & set out for the surface of the dough to dry for 12 hours before baking. Will bake them tomorrow after church services.

My husband made a batch of fudge for a widow from church & a big pot of chicken soup for us. His chicken soup is the best!! Our daughter made a pot of vegetable soup.

Good thing we have a big kitchen. It's been a wonderful day so far. I'm getting a little tired of fruit cakes though .

Daughter just left for a concert in Corpus Christi. She went shopping with a friend last night in Houston and to a concert there. Where we live, Houston, Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Austin are not too far away, the the young people have entertainment options even though there is not much happening right here. Corpus and Houston are not bad drives at all because it's 4 lane divided highway the entire way.

Next weekend will probably make the decorated sugar cookies. Those are my husband's favorite.

Oh, and I'm baking a New York Style cheese cake Monday night for our church holiday party which is Tuesday evening.

Love this time of year. It's cool outside and nice time to be in the kitchen.

[Miss_Sara]

yay!
I LOOOVE to bake
I have like no idea how to bake a lot of things
but I really like to bake!!!

it sounds like you've been having fun with Holiday baking!
and it sounds yummy and makes me very hungry, so you're in trouble!!

I think when I'm much older and a stay at home mom I would like to work part time in a bakery lol.

[Janet]

I don't mind baking, it's just when I do, I want to eat the stuff. Not good when you're trying to take weight off.

I LOOOOOOVE baking but unfortunately I have to bake gluten free booo.... It's so different and I have to experiment way too much to get things to taste "edible".... I miss my "wheat-cooking" days! Oh I LOVE this time of year too...my parents' and grandparents' houses smell so yummy

[Willow]

I love to bake!!! I bake cookies and cakes for my skin family, and I bake tons of treats for the furkids!!!

Of course, the furkids treats are always gone first...and then I have to bake some more!

[Gina]

I love to bake too, I will start my baking next week. If I bake ahead of time I will have none for Christmas , my family will eat them. I make all sorts of cookies ranging from butter cookies, seven layers and much more. So I try to get my presents brought and wrapped so I can devote the next two weeks to baking.

[Marilyn]

Would like to work part time in a bakery, too, to learn more techniques. Especially cake decorating. However, will have to wait until I retire. Oh, well, we are never too old to learn.

I have a friend who grew up helping her best friend's mom who was a professional caterer. She learned how to make the most beautiful decorated cakes. I can bake well, and ice cakes so that they look nice, but not professionally decorated with all the pretty frills. I did make a Wilton cake once shaped like a girl mouse, where you decorate the cake with icing stars. It was kinda paint by number style, but turned out really pretty. It took all day to make, though. It was for a long ago birthday party.

Janet, I know what you mean about not baking because of the calories. We are all so bad here. If it is sweet and it's in the house, we are going to eat it, quickly!! I don't bake often because of that. Usually when I can take it somewhere. Most of the fruit cakes are to be given away and a few are being sold. I have to bake some around the holidays though. There are just some baked items that are part of holiday memories....and we have to carry on some family traditions.

[DianaB]

I don't do nearly as much baking as what you're doing Marilyn. I've really cut back since my kids have gotten older and even more since my husband found out that he's diabetic. Even my regular recipes have become lower sugar recipes. I'm planning on having a cookie decorating day with my grandchildren and make a few candy recipes for Christmas. My husband will just have to resist the temptation!!! It's not Christmas without fudge!!!!

[Kimberley]

Marilyn, I think I'm coming over to your house! LOLOL!

I don't like to cook much but yet I collect cookbooks and recipes.

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by Kimberley

Marilyn, I think I'm coming over to your house! LOLOL!

I don't like to cook much but yet I collect cookbooks and recipes.

Hey, come on over. The more the merrier. I may put you to work though.