Month of Memories - December 7th

Today I am thinking about baking again.  Must be because I spend a lot of time in the kitchen in the month of December!  But what I am remembering is back when I was 17, I was involved with some friends in a ministry at a local nursing home.  We would go every few weeks and do a mini church service for them.  I would play some hymns on the piano and we would all sing, and a friend would share a few words.  Then, we would visit with the residents...and sometimes I would play piano some more.  Music is such a gift, isn't it?  I remember that Christmas I baked SOOOO many cookies to take to the nursing home.  I can't remember if we did a special program or something, but I do remember baking and baking those cookies! :)

I bake lots and lots at Christmas time because I love to give goodies away.  We seriously hardly eat any of it.  We save a few of everything, but every year I put together 5-10 tins or bags of a variety of goodies and give them to people (this year I have lots of bags...and lots of pretzels!, so who knows)  Who these people are varies.  One year it was mostly neighbors.  Last year it was mostly friends from church.  It depends a lot of when I get the baking done and who I see shortly thereafter!  :)  I always include chocolate covered pretzels (which I have been working on for the last two days over here.  I have done trays and trays!).  This year is extra fun because Utz decided to market its pretzels directly to me by making a special holiday edition.  The pretzels are shaped like Christmas trees, stars and bells.  Seriously, how was I going to say no to that.  And I must say, they look lovely covered in chocolate! :)  Maybe I should take a picture of them...they are delightful.  I also always include my  famous fudge and divinity. My dad loves my fudge and divinity and no matter how many batches I have made that winter, I always have to make some for him, too.

Philip isn't crazy about things that are super sweet, so his favorite Christmas cookie is actually called Lemon Coolers, and I make those every year for the tins as well.

I usually also include a mini (and I mean mini...it's about the size of two muffins) loaf of some kind of bread.  I've been baking Banana Sour Cream bread, but this year I have pureed pumpkin coming out the wazoo since our garden overachieved in the pumpkin department, so I may just keep it simple and go with that.

For the other kind of cookie, I may try something new this year...I kind of have the itch, so we'll see what that winds up being.  Historically, I have made something along the lines of chocolate mint.  But, who knows!

You know, if the readership of this blog were high enough, I should do something fun like a drawing for someone (local!) to win a bag of Christmas goodies.  Wouldn't that be a kick.  But, there may only be like 3 of you who read this (hi Mom!)...so maybe I shouldn't bother. :)

Ok, so it looks like there is enough interest to do a give away.  How fun! 

If you want to "win" the goodie bag, please leave a comment here on the blog. I'll doing the drawing on the 10th and the winner will be notified. :) You do need to be local enough to pick it up or meet me somewhere. :) Unless I am feeling extra generous and decide to mail...which could happen. :)