Sunday, January 6, 2008

Christmas Confessions


So, this post is a little late. I kept meaning to post it, but my camera and my computer always seemed so far apart, and I wanted pictures. You've probably had enough of holiday talk and revelry and want to get on with a new year. But if you'll indulge me, I'll make this quick.

I don't bake or cook very much, but each year around Christmas I try to make some Christmas goodies, and I usually give them away to friends and coworkers (some of whom act skeptical when a guy gives them homemade holiday treats). This year I didn't do too much. I only made orange cookies (as depicted in the above left) and some fudge (as seen below).

The orange cookies turned out great. Most people like them quite a bit. The secret is in the icing. I may be a bit too generous with the icing, but I don't really believe that is possible. The only real trouble I have with the orange cookies is that it seems like I make them bigger each year. This year you pretty much needed two hands to eat them. But they turned out pretty well regardless. And in truth, I like my Christmas goodies to have a little gusto to them. Not dainty, wimpy confections. But big treats that demand attention and make you worry about your weight while you can't stop eating them... Yeah! *ahem* Anyway...

The fudge also turned out pretty well, and I made two batches (one with mint extract and one with pecans). But while I was making the fudge, I couldn't help shake the feeling I was forgetting something. But everything seemed to be going well. So, I shrugged it off.

The next day, when I went to cut the fudge, I noticed it was really rather soft. Not in an entirely bad way, but my family's fudge recipe is usually fairly firm. I knew then that I had screwed something up, but I still couldn't figure it out. It tasted fine, so I took the fudge to work anyway. Everybody really liked it, but I was still curious as to what had happened.

That night I happened to be talking to my mom on the phone about something, and I brought up what happened with the fudge. And she says something along the lines of, "You boiled it for five minutes?" And I say something like, "What? The recipe doesn't say to boil it for five minutes" (even while remembering that is what I've done in the past). Then she says, "I'm pretty sure it does." And I'm all, "Let me check" because I think I couldn't have possibly missed this.

So, I go to check, and what do I see in the first line of the recipe?


I mean, it's underlined! How'd I miss that? Keep in mind that I have made this recipe many times before. So, I don't really have any excuses except for the fact that my mind wasn't entirely on the fudge, which is really more of an indictment than an excuse.

Also I shouldn't argue with my mother about the contents of the cookbook she wrote for our family. Sheesh! You'd think I'd at least know better than that.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Your orange cookies look so good...:) Better then mine this year...*hmph* I say...you make them next year and send me some! Me, myself and I voted...so I WIN! I WIN!!!

About the fudge...YEAH! you have to boil it for five minutes...not 4mins, not 6 mins...exactly 5mins!! *lol* My phone, doorbell...nothing gets done while I'm doing fudge. I'd hate to see if one of my boys got hurt...I'd be like...Just keep the bleeding to a minimum...I'M MAKING FUDGE!!!!

Now, if that don't get me mother of the year - I just don't know what will :P

Charles said...

Yeah, the cookies did turn out really well. ;) Also, the picture turned out nice too. I have to admit that every time I look at that picture I want to go make some more.

Anonymous said...

Wow, those cookies look great and your Dad and I have not had any since the last ones your sister sent to us. Guess I should make some.

The only thing I thought about the fudge timing when you mentioned it was, "Did I screw up and failed to put the time in the recipe?!"

love, mom