If you ever see me in a crowd of people, RUN!

These past couple of days have kept me busy. It included a Christmas lunch with my old co-workers (miss you guys). We exchanged presents. Among the presents I got were Fraggle Rock season 1 and Wonder Woman seasons 1 & 2. I'm so stoked.

I have been in my kitchen more hours than I care to admit (what with 2 kids I've been neglecting). Over the last 2 days I have made Blueberry Hazelnut Biscotti, Cherry Almond Granola, Hazelnut Truffles, Orange Ginger Biscotti, Three Chocolate Toffee Bars and Cherry Chocolate Biscotti. Those are actually baked and done. Now over the next 2 days I will be busy with all the cookie doughs I have in my freezer. That will be 2 days of straight baking (at least Gabe will be home to look after the kids). But I love it.

Today I was able to get out sans kids and do some last minute shopping (thanks to our new babysitter who is available during the week to give me the chance to run more errands without the kids. She is my new best friend.). It was raining pretty hard at times, which made my decision to wear flip flops a horrible one. Today's outing would have made us complete in the Christmas shopping department except that I forgot that movie theaters only take cash. So the gift certificates I needed to buy were not bought, as I did not have any cash. So now I have to run back there tomorrow, again, to finalize the shopping. I hate last minute shopping. I just want to be done with the stores and the people and the going out in the rain. I am not a big fan of crowds. The only places I'll tolerate massive amounts of people are Disneyland, Chili's and Starbucks. When too many people congregate in one place brain power seems to weaken and common sense gets lost. And I am all for brain power and common sense. So for the sake of my sanity and the wellfare of others I try really hard to avoid the crowds. And you know, since Christmas is all about God sending His Son to save us all, I know I have to love these people. But they don't make it very easy.

You know you're hormonal when

You watch the video to Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You" and have to fight back the tears.

The greatest compliment

Our church is having a Valentine's party of sorts in the beginning of February. A night out for all us adults, complete with a comedian, with a "bring your friend" sort of outreach flair. We're renting out the local VFW to accomodate all the people (since our church doesn't have its own facility). Our church probably has about 125 members. It will be a dessert only menu. I have been asked to cater it. Oh my gosh, did you hear that? I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO CATER IT!!!! Though it won't be my first official paying gig, it is my first OH MY FREAKING GOSH this is a big deal paying gig. When I was first asked to do it I started to get all jittery inside, like I had just smoked a big bag of crack. I was so flattered to be asked. I mean, people believe in me. They like me, they REALLY like me. Well, maybe not me, but they like my desserts. And I am so okay with that. So now is the task of deciding what to make. So far, on my rough draft list, are an assortment of cheesecakes, cookies, truffles and other sorts of cakes I really haven't decided on. The more I think about it the more freaked out I get. I really hope I am able to handle this and pull it off with grace and dignity. I have lots of planning to do. This whole thing has kind of been pushed to the far, cobwebby corners of my mind. I have been so busy planning all my Christmas baking I haven't thought much past the end of this year. But February is just around the corner and I better get my act together. Step 1 - Finalizing the menu. Step 2 - Freak out a little more as the time gets closer. Step 3 will be designing fun menus for each table. Step 4 involves me questioning whether or not I can really pull this off. Step 5, don't you know that the time has arrived? Sorry, New Kids flashback. But seriously, my mind is going to be one busy machine for the next couple weeks as I plan this all out and freak out in the process.

I'll keep you updated. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

My husband gets me

I unintentionally received an early Christmas present tonight. UPS made a delivery while Gabe was out. My present came in its own product box. There was no way I could have avoided seeing what it was. I was bummed knowing that I was just robbed of opening that gift on Christmas morning (and in that experiencing it with Gabe). I am so super stoked over this gift. This is my Taylor guitar of gifts (see previous post "It's better to give than to receive"). This gift proves to me that my husband gets me. He knows me. It is one tangible evidence of his love for me. This was the one gift that I was really REALLY hoping for this Christmas, but not actually expecting to get. And I know without a doubt that my husband knows that if I could have only one gift on my wish list this year, it would be this gift. I still have not opened it. I want to wait for Gabe to be with me when I behold it in all its glory. It actually is a blessing in disguise, receiving this gift early. I still have lots of Christmas baking to do. Now I can get an extra week's worth of use out of this, my precious Christmas gift. My sweet glorious KitchenAid Accolade stand mixer, in all its 400 watt magnificence. That is over ONE HUNDRED more watts than my current KitchenAid mixer. I can't wait to fire this puppy up. Sweet dreams my precious Accolade. Rest well, for tomorrow you start working for me.

While the merry bells keep ringing

My first attempt at making chocolate truffles was an amazing success!! I have always wanted to try my hand at them and this past week, I got my chance.

We had our annual Ornament Exchange party with the women from our church on Thursday. I was asked to bring cookies and other delectables. I decided the night called for chocolate truffles and some fancified cookies. I made Chocolate Candy Cane cookies. They were fabulous! Peppermint buttercream sandwiched between two scrumptious chocolate cookies, edged with crushed peppermint candies. Yum. I also made Lime Snowballs (if you like lime, you would love these cookies) and Chocolate Chews (the best chocolate cookies ever created). Those cookies, in themselves, were a hit. But, to top it off, I made an assortment of truffles. Dark chocolate with honey and lime, Chocolate and Raspberry (chambord liquer, mmmm), Dark Chocolate (slightly flavored with Grand Marnier) and Hazelnut truffles. It took me 3 days to make the truffles (what with 2 kids and a house to take care of), but it was 3 days of learning, growing and chocolate. I made about 200 truffles. I knew that was way too many for just 40 women and 2 hours, so I thought it would be nice to make little boxes to put the truffles in so everyone could take some home. That was nice. I'm glad I decided to do that.

I can now add the notch of truffle making to my pastry belt. That delights me. I will definitely be adding truffles to my baking repetoire. I have a few other kinds I'd really like to try (think Chocolate Caramel Peanut and Rocky Road).

Now I will get neck deep in my Christmas baking. Man I love this time of year.

Merry Christmas!