# Christmas Baking in the MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [December 13, 2021, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979 "2021-12-13T11:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/1 "2021-12-13T11:45:13Z")
Is there something you only bake this time of year? Is there a reason you don’t make it in, say, July? Or do you have a recipe you would love to share? Let the food-related comments begin! Happy Moanday!! ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/2 "2021-12-13T11:58:14Z")
First! It’s good to be juvenile! Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. _YAWN_ 'Tis 40 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of \< snerk \> 69! \< snerk \> and N.O.S. for the day. I plan to sloth the day away pretty much. I’ve had stuff to do three days in a row, so I deserve a day of leisure. Sup shall be poke roast which I shall heave into the slow cooker in a bit. Side matter TBD. I don’t do any specific holiday bakin’ other than the makin’ of the feast. So nuttin’ specific for the time of year. Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Happy Moanday Y’all! ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/3 "2021-12-13T12:30:35Z")
Well, good morning. It’s currently 37 degrees and raining. High of 42 and just rain in the forecast. I don’t really do any holiday baking anymore. When the kids were little, I baked some German cookies that I now can’t even recall the name of, and that I grew up baking every holiday season. Something with almonds, butter cookies, and a few others. I also made fudge. I don’t bake anymore for the holidays unless I’m bringing something to a potluck and since those don’t happen anymore, I won’t be doing it this season either. I am going to bake some real German lebkuchen sometime though. Now, I just buy the Elisen Lebkuchen (my favorite), but they’re spendy. Every year I say I’m going to get my butt in gear and get the stuff I need to bake them, and then time gets away from me. It’s too late for this year; maybe next year. Another busy day of work awaits. At least I’m off all next week except for Monday. I might ask to take Monday off though because it just seems silly to not take the whole week. I need to order the prime rib roast so I can pick it up on the 24th. Mmmmmm, I’m so looking forward to the prime rib soup I make with the rack. The roast is awesome, don’t get me wrong, but really my soup with the carrots, celery, onion, barley, egg noodles, and meat from between the bones and along with some other tender meat is just the best part of the holiday food for me. The kids have already reminded me to put aside a container for them. Well, it’s time for the next cup of coffee. Onward with the day. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/4 "2021-12-13T12:39:34Z")
My mom still bakes like crazy - as in thousands of cookies in many varieties. She then puts a mixed selection on platters and gives them as gifts to all and sundry. The rest live in cans at her house and come out whenever anyone drops in. Some traditions never die… I did buy a bag of chocolate chips, so they may go into cookies eventually. Or not. Haven’t decided. Having sweets around here is dangerous - they get inhaled till they’re gone, and neither of us need that. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/5 "2021-12-13T12:46:27Z")
Good morning! Yes. I do quite a bit of baking for Christmas. I give out a goodie bag to a few friends. They look forward to it. LOL So, it’s a given, that I do it. As of yesterday, and Saturday, I baked M&M cookies (Toll House recipe, only with M&Ms, rather than chocolate chips), Gingersnap cookies, Plain Krispie Treats, and Chocolate Krispie Treats, Peanut Butter Blossom cookies, Zuchinni-Nut Bread (Three loaves), a huge amount of Chex Mix, and Peanut Brittle. I also made a tasty cheese spread, too. That also went into the goodie bags, along with a sleeve of Club Crackers. The bags were delivered, and everyone is happy. I’m glad I’m done with this crap, though. That two days of nearly constant kitchen work, just about wore me out! My daughter is waiting for me to make a batch of Baklava. NOT today, though. Probably closer to Christmas. Today, I will sloth, for the most part. Maybe do up some laundry. Or not. We’ll see. Have a good day, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/6 "2021-12-13T12:51:16Z")
> [@nonacetone](#): > > a batch of Baklava. My spousal unit loves the stuff, but I’ve never been motivated enough to make it, and I don’t think there’s any place in this county where one can buy it. My MIL used to make a variant of Rice Kripsie Treats that included crunchy peanut butter and chocolate chips and butterscotch chips melted together, then spread on top. _YUMMMMMM!_ I dare not look up that recipe. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/7 "2021-12-13T12:55:17Z")
FCM, Baklava is really simple to make! The hardest part is separating, and buttering each layer of pastry. That’s it, though! The rest is easy. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/8 "2021-12-13T12:59:13Z")
Mornin’ all! I think I need to re-arrange my morning routine. A neighbor has recently gotten a dog and he’s started taking it for a walk at 7:30 every morning. I’m usually making breakfast at that time, and Cinnamon is out in the yard. Cin must yell at the neighbor dog, well, he yells at everyone who walks by, but if’n I can take out a known yelling session, that would be good. I don’t really bake anything special at christmas time, although I may help my mom if I’m at their place when her holiday cookie session happens. Now onwards! I should go to the shop and be productive, but I donwanna. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/9 "2021-12-13T13:15:13Z")
Afternoon, mumpers! It’s mild and cloudy over here today, suits me fine as I am not going anywhere until tonight when I shall be venturing into the nearest big city to see Myles Kennedy on his “Ides of March” tour. I don’t really bother with holiday baking any longer, I used to make a batch of mince pies for mum when she was still alive, she liked mince pies but didn’t care much for the mass-produced shop ones as their pastry was too sweet. I used to make her a few and then also made some for a couple of her friends too. That was the extent of holiday baking for me. Nothing much planned for the rest of the day, I should be doing hexmas shopping and stuff but I am largely uninspired, as usual. Really don’t get excited by it any more. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/10 "2021-12-13T13:53:15Z")
Morning all. Used to bake brownies for work group “pitch-ins”, but I don’t do it just for me so outside of frozen Cheese Bread now and then baking is not done in this establishment. Did see a lovely Cinnamon Roll at Cracker Barrel yesterday… Awake at 3am to empty bladder and spent the next 4 hours tossing and seeming to empty all stray thoughts from my brain in 3-second dreams so didn’t sleep well. Shopping is on the agenda today and tomorrow, but did get my last Xmas stuff Saturday so all of that is good. Heading for 60F today and supposed to reach 70F by Thorsday, but then rain for the weekend. OK, onward into the day. Everyone have a great week. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/11 "2021-12-13T14:19:55Z")
I used to bake a handful of cookies but no longer do anything. I have the makings of oatmeal scotchies which is the barn manager’s favorite so I might do that. My mom used to make 2 types of cookies, both of Swedish origin. Spritz, a butter cookie pressed into circles and squiggles, and icebox, which I cannot describe except as excellent. My mother was an excellent cook and baker, except she wasn’t fond of baking. HER mom was not a good cook, but an excellent baker. Exciting weekend for me. I occasionally have bouts of elevated heart rate which resolve within an hour. Friday I had 5 hours of tachycardia which resolved, but started up again Saturday morning so I drove to the ED. The MD was minutes away from a medical conversion when my heart converted on its own. I have an appt with a cardiologist December 28 and until then I have beta blockers and strict instructions from the ED staff to get my butt over there if it happens again. And my therapist, who I saw Thursday, texted me Saturday that she tested positive for COVID. We both have had the vaccine. I am scheduled to test later this week but irk says I can go to irk. I have no symptoms. Ariel gets her feets done today. Farrier Matt is wonderful and I’m giving him a B.A. Christmas tip. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/12 "2021-12-13T14:34:56Z")
I still make batches of my mother’s Christmas cookies which include what most people call Mexican wedding cakes, but she called ‘almond balls’; another cookie has lemon and orange zest and walnuts; and of course the ever-popular spritz. I made mince tarts a couple of years ago and liked them. The Ms isn’t fond of them, but I may try it again this year. Wednesday is tree acquisition day, after which the baking will begin. We went to see the Christmas train last evening. It’s a bunch of train cars hauled by an old steam engine, all of which are decorated with lights. They have Santa on board for the kiddies and it chugs up and down on the weekends about a mile or two blowing that marvelous whistle. Then we drove around the neighborhood looking at the lighting. People seem more in the mood this year. We hauled five bags full of clothing to the Transition Shelter a few days ago and still have a large pile to sort through. At least someone will get some use out of all this 30-year accumulation. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/13 "2021-12-13T14:58:39Z")
I bake a buttload of almond shortbread and Mexican wedding cakes. My family tends to pass down recipes as heirlooms, so I have my great grandmother’s recipe for said wedding cakes, which is the only one I’ll consent to using. The almond shortbread I created by tinkering with an existing shortbread recipe. We also do the spritz cookies, mostly for the kids - they love using the spritz gun and my daughter is the only one who can do it properly. Oh! We also make Chex mix for Christmas. No idea why it’s just for Christmas, but we use a modified version of my grandmother’s recipe. One thing I’ve noticed about the older recipes from my family that shouldn’t be surprising - the quantities they make is about half of what current recipes make. Today is bright and sunny and set to be unusually warm again. I’m technically off work, but it’s more like light work today (maybe) - I’ve got a meeting I can’t miss this morning and I’ll be spending the rest of the day erranding and hopefully finishing off my Christmas shopping. It crept up on my again, darnit. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/14 "2021-12-13T15:57:53Z")
The wife normally bakes gingerbread cake (not cookies) from scratch this time of year. Why only this time of year? Well, for the last few, we’ve been trying to eat better, and we know that’s not going to happen for the two weeks from just before Xmas to just after New Years, so it’s an allowable drift. Secondly, it’s truly from scratch, so a lot of effort in grinding spices, etc. So it’s amazing (and when baked in loaf pans and sliced thin, you can even use it to make French Toast to double up on the good [and bad] elements) but just a bit too much for any other time of the year. Same reason I only make from scratch eggnog those two weeks despite loving the damn stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/15 "2021-12-13T16:01:31Z")
Happy Moonday! Chilly 28 degrees at the park this morning. Only two people and three dogs. The tension at the park may be waning. Barky wasn’t so barky last time she was there, so I don’t feel like I am waiting for an explosion anymore. I think I have a sinus infection. Not much to deal with when I read what others are going through. I took off irk for the entire weekend. Something I seldom do, but I was feeling way too miserable and grumpy to deal with people. I used to do all the holiday cookies. Then my niece took over. Now my son does a bunch of the baking. Although I don’t know if he will this year since he is irking overtime. I need to get my Christmas cards done. I think I need stamps. Since the post office is near the grocery store, and we are picking up groceries tomorrow, I need to have the cards done by then. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/16 "2021-12-13T16:13:18Z")
Morning, Mumpers! I love the smell of flop sweat in the morning. Smells like…Finals. 2 of my girls in 1st period brought me a Christmas basket filled with toys for the cats, chocolate for me, a couple of tchotchkes and a quite warm microfleece blanket for all of us. Luckily they both have 95+% in class, otherwise I would consider it a (very nice) bribe. Clear-ish today, but tomorrow is predicted heavy rain all day and freezing temps in the AM. Ought to be fun. The only “special to Christmas” baking I do is my mother’s recipe Shortbread Raspberry bars. Which I really should get to baking so I have some to take for presents. Stay warm and dry, peeps! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/17 "2021-12-13T17:19:58Z")
I’ll add that I always think of my sister at this time of year. She used to make hundreds of dozens of cookies every year and give them all away in decorative tins. Woe to the person who didn’t return the tin! I honestly don’t know how she managed it, even with her daughter helping out. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/18 "2021-12-13T17:32:22Z")
I’m weepy today for no other reason than someone did something nice for me. My on demand water heater was only warming the water so I called the company I bought it from a year ago, a national propane company. I had complained before so they sent the ops manager. He poked around outside and came in and out and finally found the problem is my kitchen faucet. Don’t ask because I don’t understand it either. While he was poking around downstairs I told I needed to get rid of the old rusty ass conventional water heater. He did that for me. It’s at the road and didn’t charge me a penny. He knew my hubby and said he’d done many favors for him. And now I’m crying like a blubbering idiot. My son will be here shortly and can install a new faucet once he goes to get one. The house the realtor was going to look at yesterday changed their ad taking away a $7000 roof concession and all offers were due by 6pm yesterday. She called and I told her I’d already seen the bait and switch and not to waste her time. She thinks they had multiple offers and blah, blah blah. I hate ppl sometimes. My ankle decided to swell up and hurt really bad so I figure I must have twisted it some way during my fall. Why it took days to start hurting I don’t know. As far a holiday baking nope. Nothing but all y’all’s goodies sound so good. I have recently fallen in love with football. I watched two games yesterday. The Washington game and Tampa. And Buffalo and LA. I was rooting for the Washington team. Why didn’t they get a better name after getting rid of the Redskins name? Told Sonny boy to grab them some lunch as I didn’t prepare any. The good news is my car was picked up on Sat and I got an email with a tracking number that my check is on the way. Full price I assume since they didn’t say otherwise. $10,844 for a car with 107K miles that I originally only paid 19 something. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/19 "2021-12-13T18:06:36Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > She used to make hundreds of dozens of cookies every year and give them all away in decorative tins. This blows my mind [in a good way] I make between 400 and 600 cookies and mini cakes (financiers and madeleines) as well as a couple dozen mini fruitcakes (3X4” size) and these are my gifts to coworkers (and ex-coworkers and some friends) as well as my contribution to the office potluck. This takes me about three ten hour days in the kitchen, not counting the chopping and soaking of the dried fruit. Your sister must be a professional level baker. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979/20 "2021-12-13T18:23:06Z")
> [@Buttercup\_Smith](#): > > Why didn’t they get a better name after getting rid of the Redskins name? I think they’re still working on coming up with one, so in the meantime… Bummer about the house. I’d recommend looking in the neighborhood where my inlaws live, but fences are not allowed there. Other than that, it seems pretty nice, as retirement communities go. I’ve vacuumed (finally!), gathered the household garbage, and emptied the dishwasher. I also ran to Food Lion for a few things. We should close on the boat on Thurs or Fri, possibly as late as Moanday. No rush - we still need to line up insurance. Tomorrow, my daughter and I are taking Toby to meet my mom and 2 of my sister. The plan was for my mother to get some time with him away from the craziness of Christmas, and one of my sisters heard about it, so she’s going there also. So much for quiet… I should think about what we’ll have for supper so I can thaw it. Other than that, chillage is all that’s on my agenda. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-baking-in-the-mmp/955979.md?page=2)