We are going to a gathering in Michigan next weekend. It’s sort of a chosen-family reunion, though in this instance we aren’t among those doing the choosing, we are among those invited. But like most such gatherings, a lot of what people do is talk and eat. That, of course, is where I come in.
Last year I offered to bake, and ended up bringing brownies, fudge, and two or three kinds of cookies. This year, once we received our invitations, I offered to do it again, and was taken up with great enthusiasm. There’s a theme, sort of: Germanic and/ or monster-inspired foods. So I’ve spent the last week or two baking, with no sign of slowing down.
I also bought a freezer. I’ve wanted one for quite awhile, but it took some doing to figure out where we could put it. And since I knew I’d be baking like this, I saw no reason to delay the acquisition. We’ve certainly got a use for it, but its getting its first usage on my goody-making spree. It currently contains several loaves of rye bread, a large challah, 4 dozen brownies, 6 pounds of fudge, 3 pounds of penuche (brown sugar-butterscotch fudge), 4 dozen almond butter cookies, and 7 dozen oatmeal peanut butter cookies. Dough for mohn (poppy seed) wafers is chilling in the fridge. (Yes, I came up with another recipe.) I’ve kind of lost track of how much butter I’ve gone through, but I know I’ve completely used up 1 1/2 bags of sugar, 5 pounds of chocolate and 10 pounds of flour. And I’m not done yet. I’m making an apple-honey cake and a poppy seed sour cream cake. My son has plans to turn them into monster-cakes, with marzipan tentacles coming up at the base and twining round the cake, and I don’t know what all else. Those will get done tomorrow and Tuesday, so that we have time to freeze and then decorate them.
So that’s what I’ve been busy with. And I’m having a fabulous time!
So post the recipes already!!!
I think I gained five pounds just by reading. It’s a good thing I’m not there because I’d actually gain 15 if not more! I’m sitting here drooling. *whimpers*