Holiday baking

I love this time of year. My waistline isn't too fond of it though! I went grocery shopping for the ingredients for my 2007 Holiday Bakeathon, and aside from a couple of things that are cheaper at Costco (butter & eggs, in particular) I'm all set.

I have been frustrated at how hard it is to find dragees in stores here. They really serve no purpose except to look pretty on your cookies, but holiday baking just isn't the same without them. So I bought them on ebay. 2 oz each of gold and silver. Enough for probably 2-3 years of holiday baking. Nobody in California sells them anymore, as I found out today, thanks to a fellow named Mark Pollock. Here's an article to read if you're interested.

At any rate, in spite of Mr. Pollock, I'm getting my dragees. And my cookies will be pretty and festive. I rather agree with this post on Slashfood, particularly the last paragraph.

On the menu this year...

• Shortbread
• Gingerbread men (yes men, not people! No politically correct gingerbread in my house)
• Star Anise Thins
• Irish Cream Fudge
• Brown Sugar Fudge
• Caramel Pecan Brownies
• English Toffee
• Coffee Sponge Toffee
• Nanaimo Bars
• Butter Tarts
• Maple Shortbread Squares
• Lemon Squares
• Butter Pecan Wafers

I think I will have to go on a serious diet in the new year. I'm sure I will gain weight since I cannot resist holiday baking. I don't seem to have any problem resisting temptation at any other time of year.