Let the Baking Begin ...

Other than the Christmas fruitcake and pudding, I have been told not to bake our usual Xmas cookies until Daughter #2 arrives. (That's late tonight!) But when Santa's Little Helper appeared, I thought I could at least do some prep. (Santa's Little Helper looks a little familiar, doesn't she? And just a tiny bit crazed!!! Must be the dual thoughts of the end of another toy-making season and a much needed sugar fix soon to come!)
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Every job needs the right music. So, I dig out the old familiar "baking" cassettes....
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And I get the ingredients ready ....
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I'm not allowed to cut these out; but I can prepare them at least! It'll save on the work tomorrow morning as well as helping with crowd control; with 3 of us milling about in my tiny kitchen & dining area, it well get a little congested!
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I've been searching for the ultimate shortbread recipe for years. LaHave Bakery in the community where I use to live make these beautiful golden, layered, crisp, buttery shortbreads that I keep (unsuccessfully to date) trying to replicate. And no matter how unsuccessful, it's wonderful fun (and calorific!!) to keep trying.
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Here goes Attempt 2009 (the year and not the no. of attempts!). And I'm going to bake these in the pretty Xmas mold pan I bought last month at the church flea market.
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But I'm also a sucker for anything with oats and bittersweet chocolate! So, let's try these as well.
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Oooooo! Look at them - they're pretty huh! The "buttery shortbreads" are okay; yeah they're quite nice. But I should have known that with the icing sugar, they're more of a sandy, melty texture: so they don't meet the standards of my particular shortbread goal. And I now know that the Xmas mold was meant for cakes or muffins as they're a tad thick [somewhat like Santa's Little Helper] and the mold features are a bit "blurred" [also somewhat like Santa's Little Helper!!}). The oat & bittersweet chocolate shortbreads, however, look (and taste) to be a wonderful contender!!! Just look at these lovely little guys! They're like an extemely rich 'n' buttery oatcake! So, I'm hoping that after aging for a day or two, they'll be even better!! [If we apply this theory to Santa's Little Helper as well, do you think some rich, single, Christian guy would fall for it???]
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With 10 expected for Xmas dinner, I thought I'd bake a couple of pies -- homemade mincemeat (containing real meat) and apple.
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And because Brady is bring Molly home tonight, I think I'll thank him with a new recipe for cinnamon buns. *
And there was also enough for our house! Yum, yum, yummy! A little icing and some pretty packaging, and they're all set!

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Now ... a quick shower and primp, and I'll be ready to meet friends for coffee and carrot cake. A much needed break and "fuel-up" as tomorrow will be more baking!

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Oh dear! Enjoying oneself is such hard work!!!