Holiday Baking Party

It's about time that I finally got a start on my holiday baking.  I used to start a few weeks ahead of time and get the shortbread ready and stash them away.  Also would make some squares that froze well, but I found that I ate too many and others in the house would find my hiding spots.  It's rather a shock when you go to get out some baking for guests who are arriving in a few minutes to find the tins empty.  Now I leave the baking to the last minute. 

For the past ten years or so, we have spent Christmas Eve with a dear friend and her family on their farm.  What a delight.  Her hubby is a talented cook and he makes the most amazing version of a Quebec Tortiere (meat pie).  Something to anticipate for weeks.  I have been bringing a sweets tray since the year of our first invite.  This year will be no different.

Since I will be spending at least several hours baking, I thought it would be fun to write posts as I go along.  I had wanted to host an online Christmas Party, but that didn't happen, thus an online baking party.  Leave me a comment and tell me about your holiday baking, favourite recipes and memories of tasty treats.

First up is "Peanut Butter Blondies" from the 2010 Holiday Cookies from America's Test Kitchen.   I'll be using this magazine for a couple of recipes.

There is a triple hit of peanut in this recipe.  I didn't have any dry roasted peanuts and have skipped them.  No worries, there should be ample pb taste with the peanut butter and the peanut butter chipits.  These ones are now out of the oven and cooling and I have moved on to dish two.  This is from the same magazine, "Oatmeal-Fudge Bars".  This is a triple layer bar with oatmeal crumble on the bottom, a layer of chocolaty goodness and then more of the crumble.   I have to bake the bottom part first, then let it cool for an hour before adding the chocolate layer.  This means I have time to decide on recipe number 3.

 Stay tuned, and I'll be back with photos in my next post.

Follow up Posts:
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Be sure to pop on over to the Kingdom of Coco to see the wonderful gingerbread men that Cheryl has created.  Believe me, you haven't seen any like these ones.

For more cooking fun, be sure to visit Beth Fish Reads for her Weekend Cooking post as well as links to many other food inspired posts.