Grin

 

As much I enjoy cooking, what I really love is baking. 

 

And as much as I love baking, what I haaaaaaate is decorating cakes and cookies.
Like, hate hate hate. 

I mean, I don't hate looking at it. Admiring like 'whoa' anyone with the talent, skills, and patience to do it.

But me? Not so much.

Every year at this time, I promise myself 'No sugar cookies next year'. 

And every year, I bake the darn things. 

But this year, when I saw Laurie A. Conley's (@Busydrawing on Twitter) week 1 #spookyholidaychallenge drawing of the most adorable and creepy trees, I knew I had to give them a try.

 

Please keep in mind that I did all my decorating using sandwich bags and a skewer, because I did not have the energy to fill and clean a bunch of pastry bags and tips, and could not locate my scribe tool.

 

So there you have it: One adorable and creepy holiday tree!

 

 

It was a good (baking) day

 

I got a much later start on Merry Cookie Season this year, but managed to make up some time Sunday. 

I already had two kinds of biscotti made, as well as sugar cookies (still waiting to be decorated), but now the kolachy, giant spice, chocolate dulce de leche, mini chocolate chips and the (now with final touches) pistachio fingers have been finished as well.

There's dough in the fridge for the chocolate rugelach and the thin mint clones, so they'll be baked off tomorrow, as well as the sugar cookies getting fancied up. 

The smoked peanuts will get ground for peanut butter and turned into peanut butter blossoms, with tempered chocolate buttons or discs (depending on how they turn out), and finally, the Cookie of My People will follow.  Should be finished by Wednesday - yay, me!

MERRY COOKIE SEASON!!

Best to you all - eat lots of cookies!

'Tis the Season

Before...



...and after.