It's Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmas

I have been wanting to sit down and post something appropriately Christmas-y, but Christmas seems to have gotten in the way. There is always something else to be doing or planning, and by the time I sit down at night I don't really feel like getting on the computer. I just want to sit back and watch The Office or old episodes of Smallville.

Yesterday I spent 7 hours in the kitchen doing my Christmas baking. I made:

• pumpkin bread


• banana nut bread


• lemon pecan cookies


• peanut butter/oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies (Colossal cookies)


• snickerdoodles


• peanut butter fudge


• Texas trash (our spicy version of Chex mix)


• dill-ranch crackers


• spiced tea mix

I filled bags with goodies and delivered them to our neighbors, and then collapsed on the sofa for a few hours. All of the tasty goodness that was leftover was put in containers to be consumed over the next week and then finally culminating as part of a Christmas Eve buffet.

It just wouldn't seem like Christmas without some of these goodies, and although it takes time and effort, I love making all of them. I love the way the house smells when there is bread baking in the oven, and cookies cooling on the counter. I estimated that I used 4 lbs of sugar and 2 lbs of butter, not to mention plenty of cinnamon and spice!

I think the gym and I are going to be very close friends in the coming months.