Cookies? I got your freakin' cookies....

What a day, what a day....after getting up wee one and I ran to three stores for last minute things, then came home to begin the baking process. I have to tell you, I think I was a bit overzealous with my cookie plans. I have so many ingrediants, I could bake non-stop till Christmas and not finish! I don't know what I was thinking....I have no one to give the cookies to! LOL....I made up three plates for the guys at work, so that got rid of some of them. My mom baked just as much as I did, so we will be overrun by sweets on Christmas day. Here's hoping my sister and her husband who have been on weight watchers will see the piles and cave....oh, I'm on the naughty list now for sure after that one! Ho-ho-ho....

I let each dd pick out a cookie to make. Betsy chose the peanutbutter kisses and did an excellent job. Of course, I had to stop her when I saw her with the box of baking soda and a 3/4 c. measuring cup in her hand. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "It says right here....baking soda, 3/4!" (roll of the eyes and exasperated sigh aimed directly at me). I patiently asked her to read it again. "SIGH....3/4....oh, teaspoon...." I can only imagine what they would have tasted like. In any case, she did a wonderful job and they are delicious! I didn't mix it or shape it or bake it or even put the Hershey kisses on....she did it all herself.

Wee one chose ginger snaps....and did a great job as well. (Except for the part where she knocked over the brand new bottle of molasses and caught it....upside down. Now I have 1/2 bottle and a sticky floor....)  Her cookies came out wonderfully. She also made the peanut butter sandwich cookies, as you saw in the pictures. They are just ritz crackers with pb spread between them, then dipped in chocolate coating. I thought I had chocolate but turns out it was vanilla....worked just fine though!

I was so organized when I began....you would have been amazed. The kitchen was gleaming, I had my stations ready. The girls were working away....and then I began mixing my first batch of cookies. I put the wet ingrediants in and turned on my beloved kitchen aid....oh how itwhipped up the sugar and butter so beautifully! Then I added the flour mixture. This is where I was reminded vividly of winter in Indiana....I hit the speed button a bit too hard and *poof*, I was instantly transported into a winter wonderland....flour everywhere. The girls just looked at me and rolled their eyes. *Sigh.

It was only 10 minutes later that wee one spilled the molasses. I must say, if you've never cleaned up molasses from a ceramic tile floor, you must! It's quite a work out for the upper body. After that I decided to make the candy cane cookies which called for 1/2 cup of crushed candy canes. Uh-huh, you know where this is going. I gave one good whack and the bag split open....candy cane remnants everywhere.  I have to say, however, I kept my cool and continued on....even making chicken and dumplings in the midst of the mess!

In any case, the cookies are done, I have enough ingrediants to last me until next Christmas, and the kitchen is relatively clean. Can you believe those lemons in the pics? Betsy brought them home from her friend's grandmother. I was amazed at them. As soon as I saw them that line from the Breakfast Club ran through my mind, "Hey Claire....want to see a picture of a guy with elephantitis of the nuts?" Lmao....I just couldn't help it! I haven't cut into them....I wonder if they will be edible?

Okay, it's now 4:33 am and I probably should try to sleep....I think the sugar high is wearing off now. Goodnight all....