mistressofmuses: Image of nebulae in the colors of the bi pride flag: pink, purple, and blue (Default)
mistressofmuses ([personal profile] mistressofmuses) wrote2023-12-23 10:22 pm
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Baking!

I wound up not doing the cranberry-orange shortbread. It sounded so very good, but the more I looked at it the more complicated it seemed. I don't mind doing a step "the hard way" if I lack a gadget to make it easier (like... I didn't have an electric mixer until a couple years ago, so I am used to mixing e v e r y t h i n g by hand.) But this one would require *three* "the hard way" steps, which just seemed like way too much. Maybe someday!

However, I did get the other two things baked!


Yule log cookies! These I baked yesterday.

I actually succeeded in NOT giving in to the temptation to make a double batch, which I am very glad for. Every year, I read the note I left for myself on the recipe that says "The temptation to double the recipe is a lie, just say no!" and every year I go "...but surely it's worth it for more cookies?" LIKE AN IDIOT. This year I listened to myself, and just did a single batch. I upped the spices again, though I *still* think more wouldn't hurt.

I did oops and poured in more rum than I meant to when I made the frosting, so it didn't set very well. Tastes good, though.

Alex was happy with them - they're apparently still his favorites.


Kolaches!

This year I made them with peach and blackberry fillings. I *mostly* succeeded in rolling the dough thinner, which prevents them from unfolding. I got impatient on the last tray and rolled the dough a bit too thick (though "too thick" is 1/4 inch, which is what the recipe calls for and calls "thin." Something closer to 1/8 or 1/6 honestly works a lot better.) About half of those unrolled, but shhh. I got enough nice ones to gift, lol.

The dough did fortunately work out fine, despite the issues I had yesterday. I'm guessing I miscounted the flour. (It wanted 2 1/2 cups, and so I was adding in 1/2 cup increments... I must have thought I'd done five while I was actually on four.)

-

Tomorrow I have a half day at work, which I am VERY MUCH hoping will be very slow. We have no classes and all of our instructors took the day off, so I will be the only one in the office at all. I hope everyone thinks we're closed and so the phones are quiet. I'll do corporate training videos for four hours, lol.

(Today was better than yesterday, though still a mess. So many people have taken the last few days off, it's hard to keep up with stuff. Especially when I'm the only one doing the online support, the main inbox, the voicemails, and the new validation task. Overwhelming, but it could have been worse. We also had a class close, but with only 10 students, it went easily and smoothly.)

I'll go over to my mom and Taylor's after work tomorrow, where we'll probably bake more. And maybe finish Usher. And maybe play more FFXIV.

It may be another day or two before I have a chance to get caught up on DW. Holiday baking always takes me forever, and I run out of time for anything else, even with fairly simple recipes... maybe it'd help to invest in a second cookie sheet so that I can do more than one at a time, haha.

In case time gets away from me tomorrow, I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas if they celebrate it. If not, I hope it's a rad Monday anyway.
raistrykes: (Default)

[personal profile] raistrykes 2023-12-24 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
Wow! Your yule logs and kolaches look absolutely delicious! Also happy holidays, I hope you have a good one! :D
raistrykes: (Default)

[personal profile] raistrykes 2023-12-31 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
Aww thanks they definitely went well for the most part! I hope you have fun New Year's Eve!<3
raistrykes: (Default)

[personal profile] raistrykes 2023-12-31 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
No prob! (^_^)b
I hope so as well! lol.
vriddy: Cute dragon hatching from an egg (Default)

[personal profile] vriddy 2023-12-24 07:44 am (UTC)(link)
Absolutely lovely baking pics!! :D Happy holidays!
cosmicjellyfish: A keyboard with little weeds sprouting between the keys. (Default)

[personal profile] cosmicjellyfish 2023-12-24 11:59 am (UTC)(link)
Oooh, those look so good! Happy holidays to you, too.
rafiwinters: (Cook All The Things!)

[personal profile] rafiwinters 2023-12-24 12:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I so understand the urge to bake. And to make lots of baked stuff. Also, the irritation when there are steps that you have to kind of improvise when (like me) you don't have a electric mixer. (We periodically think about getting one, but I never feel that I'll use it enough to justify the expense... sigh...)

I'll be making clementine cake and cranberry-walnute bread today for Christmas dinner with friends tomorrow.
rafiwinters: (Cook All The Things!)

a fairly inexpensive electric mixer

[personal profile] rafiwinters 2023-12-27 12:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmm. Hmm... maybe... OH GO AHEAD TWIST MY ARM...

My chief problem with getting one before we bought this house was lack of storage space in the kitchen. There still isn't room to keep it in this new kitchan. BUT! There is a lot! of storage space in the basement, and we're already keeping some kitchen things down there, stuff we do use but just not very often. This is making me think about said electric mixer.

If we get one, it'll be totally your fault.
rafiwinters: (Default)

Re: a fairly inexpensive electric mixer

[personal profile] rafiwinters 2023-12-28 12:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Ba ha ha ha ha!
spikedluv: (winter: hot cocoa candy canes by candi)

[personal profile] spikedluv 2023-12-24 02:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay for cookies! I hope today is quiet for you and that you have the best holiday. *hugs*
spikedluv: (winter: mittens by raynedanser)

[personal profile] spikedluv 2023-12-27 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! I just opened your card, as well, though it might have been in the mailbox since Saturday. o_O *g* Thank you!
umadoshi: (Christmas - cookies 01 (leesa_perrie))

[personal profile] umadoshi 2023-12-24 02:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Baking victory! Hooray!

I hope it's a quiet half day at work today and flies right by.

Merry Christmas!
olivermoss: (Default)

[personal profile] olivermoss 2023-12-24 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Those cookies look great, as always!
scarlipswolfwife: (Default)

[personal profile] scarlipswolfwife 2023-12-25 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
The cookies look delicious! I get it, though - some days you want to cook or bake something, and then you just don't have the energy for it, esp when there are complicated steps or something. I don't blame you. You can make them another time - maybe after the holidays when you're a little more rested.
adore: (hot chocolate)

[personal profile] adore 2023-12-25 08:42 am (UTC)(link)
the kolaches look delicious! peach and blackberry fillings sound like a great balance of sweet and sour.