Okay. So until yesterday I had never fully appreciated how important parchment paper is to baking intricately woven cookies, until I ran out. And every other grocery store here in town was out of parchment paper.
Especially when you are trying to make some of the cookies featured here:
...and they go into the oven looking like this...
and end up looking like this...
...because they stick to the freaking greased cookie sheets.
Makes me mad!
So, instead, Emma and I made cinnamon ornaments. Apparently I am better at those.
Anywho...see this Halloween ghost?
He and about a dozen of his friends are still hanging in the trees in our front yard. We forgot to take them down after Halloween, so around Thanksgiving I dubbed them our Ghosts of Christmas Past.
Speaking of ghosts from Christmas past, here are some pictures I promised you. Please do not think any less of me after this.
Here is the first, of me and my sister, in Homestead, Florida, circa 1986.
Like many a military child, we spent more than one Christmas in a hotel room, waiting for a house on base to move into. My parents were great parents in that, knowing we would be in a hotel for Christmas, shipped all of our Christmas decorations to the base ahead of time. That way we would have a decent Christmas.
The second is of the whole family in Edzell, Scotland, circa 1990.
Ya'll, I don't even know where to begin on this one. Regrettably, as a teenager I never had good hair. A product of getting my hair cut by military barbers on small military bases.
And the last one is the same location, only a year later.
Lovely.
Nope, no improvements in fashion sense or hair style. Don't you just love those pants? I think I was more fashion backward than fashion forward.
So there you have it. Go ahead and laugh. I do.
Especially when you are trying to make some of the cookies featured here:
...and they go into the oven looking like this...
and end up looking like this...
...because they stick to the freaking greased cookie sheets.
Makes me mad!
So, instead, Emma and I made cinnamon ornaments. Apparently I am better at those.
Anywho...see this Halloween ghost?
He and about a dozen of his friends are still hanging in the trees in our front yard. We forgot to take them down after Halloween, so around Thanksgiving I dubbed them our Ghosts of Christmas Past.
Speaking of ghosts from Christmas past, here are some pictures I promised you. Please do not think any less of me after this.
Here is the first, of me and my sister, in Homestead, Florida, circa 1986.
Like many a military child, we spent more than one Christmas in a hotel room, waiting for a house on base to move into. My parents were great parents in that, knowing we would be in a hotel for Christmas, shipped all of our Christmas decorations to the base ahead of time. That way we would have a decent Christmas.
The second is of the whole family in Edzell, Scotland, circa 1990.
Ya'll, I don't even know where to begin on this one. Regrettably, as a teenager I never had good hair. A product of getting my hair cut by military barbers on small military bases.
And the last one is the same location, only a year later.
Lovely.
Nope, no improvements in fashion sense or hair style. Don't you just love those pants? I think I was more fashion backward than fashion forward.
So there you have it. Go ahead and laugh. I do.
|
at least we keep the ghost of Christmas where it belongs... outside in the cold ;-)
Emma wanted to put up the rest that I did get down... just for the record.
photos... yeah I will just say... hmm nothing and sit back and eat the cookies :-) Despite their look they taste pretty good :-)
I've made that parchment paper mistake! Now you've got me worried that I didn't buy enough of it for this year...
We've managed to not be in a hotel or on the move at Christmas, but I have spent several birthdays with the packers boxing up our belongings. No fun.
Your ghosts make me feel better about the errant fall decorations I still find scattered about the house. Or not so scattered...
I love that your mom is doing the bunny ears! My mom would always yell at us.
I think my parchment paper caught on fire once because I left it hanging over the edge of the cookie sheet. I thought it was like foil and couldn't burn. Silly me.
great pictures ... we all have those ... there was NOTHING fashionable in the 80s/90s .. terrible times for fashion!
I just started really baking and I love the parchment paper.
I wanted to make some cookies this year but the other day the grocery store was OUT OF BUTTER. Unbelievable - I'm not using anything else but butter for cookies.
I guess the so called "economic crisis" doesn't include baking supplies.
Last year i invested in a silpat and it makes baking so much easier. No parchment needed. I got it at a discount store for half of what they usually cost.
Good luck with the rest of your baking. Happy Christmas! :)
Let's just say you look a lot better nowadays!!
have a great Christmas Jacki!
and today (well this morning anyway) you don't have to store things in the fridge.... the house kind of is a fridge... (yeah I updated my blog)
Peter: Yeah, they are really good.
KC: I have learned my lesson! Before doing massive amounts of baking I am going to make sure I am stocked up.
Bee: And doesn't my sister look thrilled?
GutsyWriter: I learned to cut the parchment paper to size after I smelled something burning in the oven. :-)
Tornado: Nope, things are still flying off the shelves at the grocery stores.
Cairo: I am also going to buy silicon mats when I find them on sale. I will have to check into a silpat.
Jientje: Thanks! I think so, too.
you look beautiful my dear :-)
(don't wanna risk getting censored by using other words ;-)
I like the idea of chirstening the Ghosts of CHristmas Past but what should I call my frozen jack o-lanterns?
Darn... I was thinking you would be able to eat those cinnamon ornaments when you were done, until I saw the Elmer's glue.
Merry Christmas Jacki to you and your family!
Elmer's glue...its not just for breakfast anymore... ;)
I think those are sweet photos! Love them!
I like the ghost of Christmas Past idea! LOL
Awesome. I just took down the Halloween decorations from my office on Friday when I realized I was leaving for Christmas vacation.
I don't mind the hair, your face is beautiful! :-)
Those pants? Oh, I had those too. Thankfully, we didn't have a camera when I had it on.
Merry Christmas Jacki and fam!