Monday, November 26, 2007

Christmas baking by the numbers

[edit: now with 100% more babies eating chocolate from spatulas!]

Well! My sister and her oldest son (R, 12) came on Saturday to kick off Our Fun Old-Fashioned Family Christmas on the Breach. We pooled our resources, divvied up the recipes, lugged provisions home from the grocery store, and marked off our sections of countertop. We baked. All day.

Break it down!

84: dollars spent on sugar and fat and sprinkles and candy canes
3: number of dollar store reindeer aprons my sister brought with her
2: dollar store aprons proved to be defective in craftsmanship
4.5: pounds of butter consumed in our baking frenzy
6: varieties of seasonal treats created
84: number of Russian teacakes each dipped in icing sugar, hot from the oven, by me
2: hours it took for my fingers to regain feeling
5: hours spent standing in the kitchen, whipping softened butter together with icing sugar
4: packages of caramel Chipits melted in the soup pot
1: rolling pins destroyed by being used to pulverize candy canes and almonds, for bark
2.5: length in hours of Munchkin's nap, while baking was going on
13: number of months since Munchkin last had a nap of similar duration at home
7: number of Christmas CDs loaded into my iPod and shuffled on the kitchen stereo
27: years I have been making Russian teacakes
4: recipes provided by our mom, that we ate every Christmas in childhood
76: kilometres travelled by sister and nephew to use the Big Kitchen to cook in
9: time when, exhausted and sore, I went to bed that night
2: secret hiding spots where cookies are kept from Pynchon's midnight raids

Phew. All that typing made me hungry. Now, where did I put those cookies ...

26 comments:

Chef Shuli said...

Weirdly Fantastic!
Shuli

Kyla said...

You've been making teacakes longer than I've been alive. LOL. I bet everything turned out deliciously!

Nina said...

great blog!
if you are at all interested in music, check mine out: http://hellopeppermint.blogspot.com/

feedback is GREATLY appreciated!

Marion said...

Hello

it sounds that you 3 had a great day.

I have loaded christmas hits on an USB stick for my kitchen musicbox.

How do you make Russian Teacakes. I haven't heard of it yet, we make in Germany other cookies.

Have a nice day.

Marion

Amy Urquhart said...

Mmmm, sounds yummy. You are so on the ball! It's not even December yet.

I made "Chewy Spiced Molasses Cookies" last night as a trial run and they turned out really well.

Kristy said...

just wondering, what code did you use to get your comments link to say "peer over the edge" thanks for your help :) nice blog by the way ;)

cinnamon gurl said...

Mmm... I think I want to come visit you. ;)

Unknown said...

wow - can't wait for picture!

Christine said...

man! you are one ambitious lady!

and (as you once said to me about my prof freind) you've got your christmas going ON!

Running on empty

Beck said...

You should send your Russian tea cakes recipe to me and I'll post it on my food blog! (unless it's a family secret.)
I'm holding off on all CHristmas things - no decorating, no baking - until the start of Advent this weekend and I am driving my kids NUTS.

Jenifer said...

Yes, send the recipe to Beck...I am curious what they are, I have never heard of Russian teacakes.

You do it right I think. I always bake a bit here and a bit there. I like the idea of do it all in one day, trash the kitchen once and just go for it.

You must share what the other things you made are as well...caramel Chipits - yum!

CP ~The Day Fobbit said...

What do I have to do to get that recipe for Russian teacakes?

I've never had them.

:o)

Badness Jones said...

Wow - I haven't even started baking yet! What's a Russian teacake? Sounds yummy though, wanna post the recipe?

Great blog!

NotSoSage said...

6: times that I've considered starting the Christmas baking, despite a personally-imposed ban on all things Christmas in November, while reading this post

CP ~The Day Fobbit said...

Heyas....

So, it's out of sheer boredom that I'm tagging you for a meme.

Because I don't know you and you don't know me...and that's a GREAT place to start.

Not-to-mention that I'm new to this blogging thing and I only read a total of 4 other blogs....

:o)

Don't feel obligated.

Not that you would...it's a blog, not a job interview! :o)

CP ~The Day Fobbit said...

Heyas....

So, it's out of sheer boredom that I'm tagging you for a meme.

Because I don't know you and you don't know me...and that's a GREAT place to start.

Not-to-mention that I'm new to this blogging thing and I only read a total of 4 other blogs....

:o)

Don't feel obligated.

Not that you would...it's a blog, not a job interview! :o)

Lawyer Mama said...

Wow! That's ambitious! I'm impressed. Now pass me a cookie.

Kyla said...

Cuuuuute chocolaty baby. Or should I say toddler?

kittenpie said...

Wow. That is quite the baking frenzy! Sorry I missed out on all the melty goodness...

Suzycaseycreates said...

Mimi ... I just discovered your blog and if you don't mind, I would like to add you to my blogroll. I love your post about the parent visit and the cookie baking! How much fun you and your sister must be ... how many giggles were accounted for in the cookie making? plenty I am sure..

Jenifer said...

Oh the photo...the cuteness...the chocolate. Sigh. Mmmmmmn.

NotSoSage said...

Oh, look at her...I think I have that look on my face when I eat chocolate, too.

Christine said...

she looks chocolate-drunk!

test said...

bonjour

SeryaDuntrune said...

I discovered your blog the other day and this post inspired me to head to the store to stock up on baking supplies. My rotten week is going to be greatly improved by making a huge mess (and a bunch of cookies) with my kids this weekend.

Thanks for the inspiration and the laughs, I'll be back to read again!

crazymumma said...

Holy chocalate rush Batgirl! That kid is RIPPED on sugar and chocolate...