All Done!

I'm all done with the cookie baking for this year.  I made the gumdrop cookies this evening and I'm telling you, they did not want to be made.  

I really had to psych myself up for this, mainly because I hate chopping up the gumdrops.  They become such a sticky mess -- sticking to my hands and the kitchen shears I use, which is easier than trying to do it with a knife, but still not great.  I really wish some baking company would make them about the size of chocolate chips.  That would make it so much easier. 

It took me the entire finale of Holiday Baking Championship just to chop up the requisite one cup of gumdrops.  Then I was ready to start baking, only I opened up my shortening and ...well, apparently it's been a long time since I've used it.  It was hard and yellow, and smelled really bad.  I ended up just throwing the whole thing out and giving up.

But no!  Dadgum it, I'd spent all of that time chopping the stupid gumdrops.  I was going to make those cookies come Hell or high water.  After a few moments of research, I found that I could substitute butter, but it would make the dough a bit softer, and slightly alter the taste.  Telling myself it would be all right, I went ahead with that.  

The final step in the recipe is to beat two egg whites until stiff peaks form.  But you know what?  Stiff peaks won't form if you get a bit of yolk in with the whites.  Not even a tiny little bit.  I know that now. 

I threw that mess out and started over, being careful not to break the yolk this time, and finally, at long last, the cookies were ready to bake.  That part went off without a hitch, and the one I test tasted was just as good.  By next year, I'll have fresh shortening -- and cream of tartar-- and the cookies ought to be a lot less trouble. 

Now, if the kids want to make cookies tomorrow when they come, they're welcome to do so, but as for me, I'm done.  With the cookies, I mean.  I still have a few things to make tomorrow, but they're quick and easy.  

Oh, and I made a cheese ball today, which calls for green onions.  Naturally, I took the part with the roots, 

and planted them in one of my raised beds.  

By next summer, I ought to have all of the green onions I want, and get this...I can trim the green parts off when I need them, and they'll grow back. I'll have a perpetual supply of green onion.  And garlic.  And maybe even celery.  

The last thing I did today was to cut up the peanut butter fudge.  I don't know what it is, but I can not make that stuff.  When my uncle made it, his was always so creamy and soft.  I used to follow his recipe exactly, but mine always ended up so crumbly. 

I was hoping this microwave fudge would be better, but it wasn't.  I think next time I make it, I'm going to cook it slightly less, and see if that helps.  Oh well, it still tastes good.  I need to cut up the chocolate fudge, then I'll be all done with candy, as well. 

Now, I'm taking a bit of a break and watching Christmas With The Kranks.  I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I like the movie and the book it was based on:  Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham.  I don't know if it's available for streaming anywhere.  I bought it on DVD years ago.  Heh, my DVD is so old, it still gives the option of widescreen or full screen.  

That's about all I did today, except it was so nice outside I sat in my Adirondack chairs for a bit in between all of the cooking and such like.  Nice, but not very Christmassy.  Unless you're in the Southern Hemisphere where it really is summer.  

If I don't see you again, you all have a very Merry Christmas, and thank you to everyone who still comes and reads my drivel.