[Sca-cooks] Day one of Christmas Cooking Done!!!!!!

[rattkitten]

Whew...
Happy to report that Christmas came early this year as Anastasia and I 
got a brand spanking new Cuisinart Stand Mixer for ourselves for 
Christmas.  (Linens and Things going out of Business sale $204.00)  Yeah 
I know it isn't a Kitchenaid but I still like it and it has the ability 
to add gadgets as well....

So this week I am using my time off to bake stuff....

Today I made Sugar Cookies (From a bag that Anastasia got as a 
present...), Mint Chocolate Brownies (Dunkan Hines box that I had one 
bag left and a bunch of mint candy that I have gotten over the past 
year.)  ((BTW I officially hate mint candy now...))  (((Not really but I 
am telling everyone that so people STOP giving me the stuff.....lol)))

What else...

Chocolate Mint Cupcake Thingies... (Had some devils food cake mix and 
more mint candies....), gingerbread men (ok snow men) ((didn't have a 
"Man" cutter...)) this cookie was actually from scratch... (see I can 
cook without a mix....lol) Baklava also from scratch duh...
After that I still had time and energy so I made Candied Pecans and 
Almonds... this was a new experience for me as I had never tried to do 
these.... They came out great!!!

Things I learned....
Using a mortar and pestle is not as easy as it sounds at least for 
cloves... (Didn't have any crushed cloves only whole...)
Sorghum is NOT molasses... lol.  Close but not quite there. 
A Rolling pin will crush mint candy better than the mini food processor, 
and mint candy if it gets caught in said mini processor will lock up the 
blades.
Candy canes crush better and quicker than year old "soft" mints. 
And finally after 3 years of searching I have decided that no one makes 
the Mint Puff Balls that melt in your mouth anymore.... They look like 
balls....and I haven't had one since about 1982 or so....  Mom used to 
get them in tins.... and they are not cut like the present day "balls" 
that we have.... I am not sure how they were made but I plan on learning 
how to make mints just so I can have these damn things again...  BUT 
please don't buy me any; since every person that has, has bought the 
modern ones.... including Mom.... lol.  and those things are basically 
peppermint sticks that are snipped while they are hot.  The ones I want 
are puffed with air. 

Anyways... sorry for rambling there....

Tomorrow I'll be doing savory dishes... (Anastasia needed the cookies by 
Tuesday Morning basically...)
I'll be making about 3 different meat pasties, (I have some filo left so 
will use some of that for one of them...) ((and am going to try and make 
puff pastry for the other))
Chicken Pasties
Spanakopita (the other pack of filo), sausage balls with olives,
Stuffed Grape Leaves
And maybe some Wonton type dumpling things... (cause I have the wrappers..)


Allright gotta go....

Nichola