AM I WEIRD?

The things that make me different are the things that make me.

Winnie The Pooh

This week has been mostly a baking week. Carrying on traditions.

My Grandmother

The one thing I remember she always made at Christmas was Vanilla Fudge. (Not to be confused with Divinity Fudge-my mother made that.) I loved it. Sadly I can’t make it. How I wish I had her recipe. And none of my relatives have it. I doubt she even had it written down. All in her head. Pity.

My Late Husband’s Grandmother

An outstanding baker. I remember her telling me that she taught cooking for a while at a school for the deaf in Ontario (her words). She especially made scrumptious pies. One of my sons loved to put his fingers in them. Maybe that’s where his love of pie originated.

My Late Husband’s Mother

She made lots of sweets. Different ones than what my mother made: Mocha Cakes, (the ones my children called “Mocho Cakes”) Hello Dollies, Cherry Balls, Date Balls, Rum Balls, and Peanut Butter Balls, (apparently she must have liked balls) just to name a few. She also made The World’s Best Cookies to which, after eating one, my pie loving son responded, “You’ve got to be kidding Grammie.”

My Mother

Every Christmas she baked a ton. Enough for my family, my brother’s family, and her. One year she even baked for my best friend’s family. That was her. Always looking after others. And that’s the baking that we all remember. Every fall she’d have me sit with her and pour over cookbooks/store recipe booklets looking for a few new ones to add. Then after Christmas she’d decide if any new ones were ‘a keeper’. A few that she made were Scotch Cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms (my daughter’s favourite), Peanut Butter Balls (one son’s favourite), Marshmallow Squares – Confetti Squares (other son’s favourite), Spider Cookies, and Butter Tarts. So many more. Too many to name.

So that’s been my week.

A bit of nostalgia, remembrance, tradition, honouring my past, and creating future memories, especially for my grandson. As I age the importance of these grows.

Yesterday was a great day for baking. There’s something special about a snow storm day. Knowing you can’t go anywhere and feeling snug and warm inside. Perfect baking conditions.

Now here’s what’s weird.

This week I suddenly realized what the first thing is that I always do when I start baking. Even before getting out the ingredients, mixing bowls, pans, utensils, etc. I ready the sink with detergent and hot water. Weird? Maybe. I never really thought about it before. Just occurred to me this week that it’s something I always do. And it makes sense to me. In go the dirty dishes as I use them. Then while items are baking I wash the dishes readying them for what comes next.

What about you? Do you have a specific baking routine?

In Mom’s memory I tried a new recipe, Almond Joy Cookies. Oh my. She’d call these ‘a keeper’. They taste like Hello Dollies without the graham cracker crumb crust. Simple to make. Yummy to eat.

Thus ends this year’s Christmas Baking. Eleven recipes completed.

Today’s song selection is for my grandson (and you). He was singing Jingle Bells when I visited this past week. And since we all love The Muppets this is perfect.

Jingle Bells – Andrea Bocelli and The Muppets

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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