On 12/26/2025 at 9:43 PM, chromedome said:By request, some photos of the cookie binge.
First, here's an overview of the spread.
...and some of the decorated cookies.
Closeups of a couple of 'em (note the food-colouring stains on the fingers...). Last pic is cookies monogrammed for three grandkids out west (initials S, M, and L, because the yellow icing gooped a bit and they're not entirely as pretty as I'd have liked).
Glad to have it all done with for another year; they're all packed up and ready for mailing/hand delivery. For the curious, if you scroll back to the panoramic view, we have (clockwise from top right): snowman sugar cookies, Christmas tree sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies, the three big personalized sugar cookies, some zimmtsternen, vanillekipfeln (not sure of the spelling on that, there may be an 'r' in there somewhere toward the end), a shortbread-ish ball cookie known to us as "Russian tea cakes" but which is also known as "Pecan meltaways" and many other things, linzers with raspberry and apricot filling, the "faux linzers" I spoke of earlier, gingerbread snowflakes and gingerbread people, and finally snowflake sugar cookies.
I had tubs with additional quantities of several of these, but this was enough to give you the idea. Not pictured were ginger crinkles, which are much like gingersnaps except soft and chewy (I'd parked those on top of the fridge and forgotten them until after the pics were taken), and chocolate-filled sandwich cookies because I realized while setting up the photo that I hadn't actually made the ganache or filled them yet.
On 12/25/2025 at 8:35 AM, Shelby said:Beautiful kitchen!
UGH I'm so sorry. I hope you guys get better asap. (((hugs)))
Oh those prawns!!!!
Be safe! I hope it isn't as foggy over there as it is over here. It's been pea soup every day until about 11 in the morning for 3 days.
Merry Christmas!!!!!
Phew. Yesterday was a big day. I think it all went well and everyone had fun. I managed to remember to take a few pictures but when everyone showed up it got too busy.
I made an apple galette and a cherry galette
The usual chocolate crinkle cookies and sugar sprinkle cookies
GF brownies
I bought GF macarons
And GF whoopie pies
Made the usual broccoli salad (one of Ronnie's daughters loves this stuff)
I made a little Bloody Mary station on the left but no one partook. Ronnie and I and one daughter did put a hurt on a couple of bottles of champagne and orange juice for mimosas.
GF crackers, regular crackers and snacky stuff
I made both GF sausage gravy and regular. I honestly couldn't tell the difference so I think next year I'll just make one big batch of GF.
GF biscuits
I also made regular (pillsbury grands)
In case you need to see what 24 eggs look like getting ready to get scrambled lol
Not pictured, the finished cheesy scrambled eggs, cheesy potatoes, bacon and sausages that Ronnie cooked in the garage thankfully because I didn't have room to get it all done in here.
I was pooped but managed to heat up the cioppino for Christmas Eve dinner--I was going to toast some of my bread to go with but nah lol.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Day! I have a prime rib resting in the fridge. I don't know what I'm going to make for sides but something will occur to me I'm sure. Otherwise I hope to be veeeeery lazy today.
Shelby, your food speaks to me. (“Eat me!”) Your chocolate crinkle cookies have so much more crinkle than my lemon crinkles, and your broccoli salad looks better than mine, too. It all looks stellar, and damn, that was some work!
And @chromedome, the people in your life who receive those beautiful treats are very lucky, indeed. I was going to proudly display my cookie tray, but hahahahahahaha, joke’s on me. 😜 Not that we’re in competition. 😍 So I will humbly display my cookie tray.
From left: salted vanilla toffee cookies, dark chocolate cranberry oatmeal with walnuts, dark chocolate dipped peanut butter, chocolate chip with flaky salt, lemon crinkle cookies.
