Wed. Dec. 6, 2023: Cookie Baking Marathon Begins

Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Waning Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Neptune DIRECT
Snowing
Yes! Neptune turns direct today. Whew! Makes it easier to connect to creativity and optimism. And we’re down to three retrogrades – until next Wednesday, when darned Mercury goes into retrograde just in time to make the holidays go cattywampus.
Over on the Process Muse today, we’re talking about integrating the holidays into writing and process. You can read it here.
Two serial episodes dropping today.
The first is from ANGEL HUNT:
Episode 91: Lianna as Gaston’s Catalyst
Kegan warns Lianna there will be fallout, both emotional and magical.
The second is from DEADLY DRAMATICS:
Episode 41: Jake’s in a Jam
Jake believes they’re dead if they don’t come up with a missing key.
Yesterday. . .
As I mentioned, got the laundry done, and was back home a little after 7.
After breakfast, I headed out to do the Big Baking Grocery Shop. Got what I needed and was even a little underbudget. Ran out and got the last present for my mom. Good thing I bought the chocolate oranges when I did, couple of weeks back. The entire giant shelf that was five deep with triple-stacked boxes of them is sold out.
I hauled it all home and up the stairs, scrubbed down the kitchen, and started baking. I made 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies (2 batches) and 8 dozen orange cranberry cookies (3 batches). Once again, I procrastinated on the chef’s clogs and/or anti-fatigue mat, and paid the price.
But the baking itself went smoothly. I pretty much have the holiday baking down to a system, although I have 7 baking sheets, and I think I’ll invest in one more for 8.
While everything cooled, I did script coverage work. Then, we packed the cookies, and I cooked dinner. I finished one more coverage, then collapsed onto the couch.
Weird dreams last night. In one, I was taking over a role in a show (yeah, like I’d ever get back on stage again, nope), and I fell asleep in the dressing room and no one woke me up before the show started. The other was that I gave a dinner party in an old house during a storm/power outage. Some of the same people were in both dreams.
I found a recipe I want to try, not for this year’s cookie platters, but for future cookie needs. It’s a lemon sugar cookie, with a consistency like the orange cranberry cookie. It’s kind of like what’s called a “sand cookie” that uses both granulated sugar and powdered sugar. I’m going to make a batch with lemon, and try the same recipe, but swap lemon for lime, and see how they turn out. I’ve been looking for a viable lime cookie for years. That won’t happen until at least the weekend – and you KNOW what this weekend is – Stollen time. It takes an entire day to make the Dresden Stollen. This year, instead of the three gigantic overwhelming loaves done on cookie sheets, I’m going to try to make at least one set of mini loaves in small loaf pans, although I’m not sure how I’ll adjust the baking time yet.
Stollen is a big deal in this house, and the store-bought is too old and too yucky. I started making it myself a few years ago. Although it’s a lot of work, and takes a minimum of 8 hours, it’s worth it. And hey, it’s only once a year!
It’s snowing! Tiny little flakes, but gosh I’m glad I went to the laundromat yesterday! But it’s very pretty.
Willa and Charlotte were bored with their food, so they got wet food today, in gravy, and both ate it all up. Charlotte rarely eats much at breakfast, although she’s determined to get me up early (4 AM today), so it was good to see her chow down.
The packages sent Monday should start arriving today, as should the holiday cards.
After breakfast, I will start baking again. I have 7 batches of cookies to do today: 2 batches molasses spice, 2 batches peppermint chocolate crinkle, and 3 batches oatmeal currant lace.
I have a few small coverages to get done in between. I hope to get to tarot circle this afternoon, if the weather’s not too bad and everything is out of the oven.
IF I get all the cookies done today, and IF the peppermint chocolate crinkles turn out and I don’t have to substitute them with something else, cookie platter deliveries start tomorrow.
Speaking of which, I got a chocolate orange and a favorite chocolate bar for St. Nicholas Day! Yum, yum!
Have a good one!