Holiday Prep

I totally screwed up Christmas last year.  Not sure why I felt it necessary to pick up 2 seasonal jobs, but it occupied all of my time and I didn't enjoy the season nor did I do any baking, etc.  I find it interesting that, working at Kohl's in a retail environment, we're inundated with Christmas well before Halloween.  The merchandise starts coming in September and, of course, we get the Christmas music during every work shift.  Last year, I was 'Christmas'd' out before the day even got here.

This year, I'm enjoying it considerably more; my work hours are much less and I'm enjoying the shopping (mostly done online) and also doing a lot of baking, etc.  That said, I can't believe how badly I'm doing with the treats.

I made fudge several days ago and decided to double the recipe.  However, I only doubled the sugar so it heated up really fast and I overcooked it.  It hardened in the pan before I could get it out and I seriously thought I'd lose my good Calphalon pan.  So, I made a second batch -- and I doubled only the sugar part AGAIN.  This time, it did turn out like fudge but a bit sweeter.  Still, I decided to keep it and I've been eating it.

Today, I decided to make caramels and had just started it when Susie called.  While talking to her on the phone, I was stirring the pot but the temperature got away from me so, once again, I had to throw out the entire mess as we would have been cracking our teeth on it.  **Sigh!**

On the plus side, I was able to make the peanut butter blossom cookies, peanut clusters, about 6 dozen cut-out cookies, and some interesting things with sugar cookie dough and jam today.  I also put together what looks to be an awesome lasagna!  Also, for the first time in many years I also put together a batch of Brandy Slush.

Tomorrow, I'm hoping to decorate the cookies, make some of those little Swedish sandwich cookies, put together some of those cornflake wreath things -- and I need to run to Olive Garden to pick up our salad dressing and some last minute things at the grocery store.  With luck, I may be able to squeeze in a pedicure, too!