Sehr Gut!

Three faces pressed against the window pane, waiting. As the oldest and perhaps bossiest, I claimed the center of the large picture window in my parent’s living room, leaning over the sofa, eyes peeled. Waiting. My brothers, Golden Child and Baby, shoved and wrestled with each other. They were too impatient to sit and stare. Waiting. Our mother would remind us that, “She’d get her when she got here!” and urge us to go find something to do. Yet, we ignore her. There was no way we were leaving that window until we saw the headlights of her champaign colored Thunderbird pull into our driveway.

Our Omi was the queen of kitchen. She truly was. The backseat and trunk of her car overflowed with packages and tins filled with cookies, candies, Stollen, and other delectable treats. There were muffins and rolls, all made from scratch. There would be pies to please every palate; sausages and hams to fill breakfast plates to over flowing and her good, strong German coffee (otherwise known as Folgers). As children, Christmas plus Omi equaled food a plenty.

I suppose that is why I bake so much this time of year. The longing begins in early November, as I pour over cookbooks and websites, looking for that new cookie recipe. I cannot imagine a Christmas without a minimum of eight different types of goodies. The sugar cookie, a recipe handed down from my Omi, is standard fare but I do not bake the Stollen. I don’t like it. I never have. It’s fruit cake in bread form and even though Omi assured me (repeatedly) that it was, “sehr gut,” one bite told me otherwise.



This year my baking is behind schedule. I’m still getting use to working part-time and trying to keep the household running smoothly to have done much baking, but last night I happened upon a new recipe to add to my collection. I found it over at The Pioneer Woman (click here) and baked up a double batch faster than you can say Werden sie noch getan? (Are they done yet?). These Spicy Molasses cookies are beyond good and believe me, you will not be disappointed. But be forewarned, make sure that you place the bulk of these yummies in your freezer, or they may all disappear before Christmas arrives.



Entschuldigen Sie mich bitte. Ich habe etwas Backen, um zu tun. (Please excuse me. I have some baking to do.)

Before I get back to my kitchen, I’ll leave you with some lovely Christmas websites.


http://www.christmas-cookies.com/

http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com

http://www.christmasincyberspace.com

http://www.joyofbaking.com/ChristmasBaking.html

http://www.bloggingtips.com/2008/12/01/the-festive-toolbox-decorate-your-blog-for-christmas/

Fröhliches Weihnachten (Merry Christmas)