October 2011 Weddings
athlete010688
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Holiday Baking
It's that time of year again, and I'm getting into the mood to start baking stuff! I love to cook goodies and give them to people around the holidays. In the years past, I've made buckeyes, sugar cookies (from the pillsbury cookie dough), snickerdoodles, fudge, and some other random stuff.
For those of you that bake, what all do you guys bake around the holidays? Share some recipes if you don't mind 
I'm always looking for new things to bake!
Also, do you stagger your baking? I was thinking about baking ahead of time, or at least mixing cookie dough up and freezing it. Has anyone froze homemade cookie dough? How did you do it?
TTC since June 2012
Re: Holiday Baking
TTC since June 2012
TTC since March 2012
BFP 3/14/13!!!
U/S 4/15: Identical twins!
Lost my angel boys at 10.5 weeks
My Chart***My TTC blog
I also have a killer chocolate cake recipe.
Banana muffins are another thing I like to make, with almond meal and honey instead of flour and sugar.
@ky29 - if you could ask your mom how freezing cookie dough works, that would be great! I googled it, and I saw tons of different ways. I saw where people rolled the cookie dough into a log and froze it that way, and when they went to make cookies, they just sliced the dough. I read where some just freeze the lump of cookie dough and then thaw the lump out and portion out the cookies. I also saw where people flash freeze the cookie dough where they portion out the cookies, then freeze for 30 or so minutes before putting all the cookie dough balls in a bag. And any cookie repices you want to share, that would be awesome :-)
@lcostel - that graphic is awesome!
TTC since June 2012
I have a really great pumpkin cheesecake recipe I made last Thanksgiving. Ill pop back in and post it when I get home from work. Sorry I've been scarce lately, work has been kicking my butt.
Last year I almost massacred the chocolate chip cookies for my family. They were salvageable but off. I love the butter cookies my mom makes. I may try to make some myself down here this year before we go up north and eat her good ones
http://www.eatliverun.com/pumpkin-cheesecake-bites/
It was a huge hit and DH did homemade whipped cream to go with it. Just put heavy cream in the Kitchen Aid mixer and whip until stiff peaks form. He added a little vanilla extract to it and it was unbelievable.
@lcostel I appreciate that graphic. It helps a lot.
@ZeroOrchestra - I'm interested in the applie pie recipe as well!
@JMB10022011 - Thanks for the pumpkin cheesecake recipe! As for other apple recipes, I made some homemade applesauce last night. I wouldn't use as much water as it calls for necessarily, and you may have to adjust the amount of sugar depending on the type of apples you're using.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sarahs-Applesauce/Detail.aspx?
TTC since June 2012
http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/meal-ideas/9-healthy-crockpot-recipes-you-need-try/slide/9
I added a cinnamon stick, some nutmeg, allspice and a little brown sugar to it. It's been super tasty all week warmed up with breakfast
@erollis I would love that potato rosemary bread recipe. That sounds tasty!
TTC since March 2012
BFP 3/14/13!!!
U/S 4/15: Identical twins!
Lost my angel boys at 10.5 weeks
My Chart***My TTC blog
2 tbs softened butter
3 c bread flour
1/2 c potato buds
1 tbs rosemary
1 tbs sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp yeast
Place water and butter in machine
Put flour and buds on top of liquid
Add rest of ingredients with yeast being last
Basic/ white cycle
Medium or light crust
I have frozen cookie dough - chocolate chip - I just balled all the dough up into the size cookie I wanted and put them in a freezer bag. They turned out fine. I also recently froze cupcake batter and those turned out fine too
@LCostel - we think alike - I'm a scientist too - I love that pic of cookies you posted and how different they can turn out. And yes, I find that the temp of butter/dough does matter too.
I think I'm also going to tackle the vanilla almond cake with blackberry mascarpone filling and vanilla buttercream frosting but maybe make as cupcakes instead. Soooo insanely good.
1 recipe pastry for 9 in double crust pie
1/2 cup unsalted butter
5 tbsp flour
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
8 Granny Smith apples, peeled cored and sliced (maybe a little less depending on size)
**optional:
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla (if you use this, take away 1 tsp from the water)
Preheat oven to 350.
Melt butter in saucepan, stir in flour to form a paste.
Add water, sugar and brown sugar (also optional cinnamon and vanilla if used).
Bring to a boil then reduce temp and let simmer.
Place bottom crust in pan and brush with egg whites (keeps it from getting mushy)
Fill with apples and 2/3 of the butter and sugar syrup mixture.
Cover with lattice work crust and pour remaining syrup on top, slowly so it does not run off.
Bake on middle she 50 to 65 minutes, until apples are soft.
Let sit overnight.
Basic flaky pie crust
1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chilled shortening or butter
3 tbsp ice water
Whisk flour and salt together.
Cut in cold shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Drize 2 to 3 tbsp ice water over flour.
Toss mixture with a fork to moisten, adding more water a few drops at a time until the dough comes together.
Gently gather dough particles in a ball, place in plastic wrap, and chill at least 30 minutes before rolling.
I have a recipe for shimmering icicle cookies that I've made the past few years.. I think they are really good! They look similar to the attached picture. I'll share if anyone wants it!
TTC since March 2012
BFP 3/14/13!!!
U/S 4/15: Identical twins!
Lost my angel boys at 10.5 weeks
My Chart***My TTC blog
@ky those look awesome! Please share!
I love all of the great baking ideas in this post
TTC since June 2012
I agree!
TTC since June 2012
Shimmering Icicle Cookies
3/4 C butter
3/4 C sugar
1/4 teas baking powder
1 egg
1/2 teas vanilla
1/4 teas almond extrat
2 C flour
Icing
1 C sifted powdered sugar
1 Tabsp milk
1/4 teasp almond extract
Beat butter with electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add sugar and baking powder - beat until combined. Beat in egg, vanilla & almond extract until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you an with the mixer - stir in remaining. Cover and chill dough for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375. On lightly floured surface shape about 1/2 Tabsp of dough into a 5 inch rope, tapering one end. Repeat with another. Place ropes side by side and twist together. If desired, poke hole at the top using a drinking straw.
Place cookies about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute then transfer to wire rack to cool.
Brush icing over each cookie and sprinkle with edible glitter or sprinkles (I use clear-ish sprinkles that have a little shimmer).
Icing: Stir together powdered sugar, milk and almond extract. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time to make icing smooth and of brushing consistency.
Makes 24 cookies - but I think I make mine bigger than they recommend.
TTC since March 2012
BFP 3/14/13!!!
U/S 4/15: Identical twins!
Lost my angel boys at 10.5 weeks
My Chart***My TTC blog
last holiday season, i made cutout cookies with royal icing, chocolate chip cookies, buttercream fudge, peanut butter fudge, chocolate fudge, pumpkin cheesecake, peanut butter cheesecake, oreo truffles, and turtle pretzels.
i make a box of baked goods as a Christmas gift for everyone i work with. (i work in a small office - 8 people), and then the rest come with me to the 4 Christmases dh and i have to go to every year.