Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Are you baking?

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Are you baking Christmas cookies? What's your favorite Christmas cookie? I made some Cuccidati (Italian Fig Cookies) last week for a small cookie exchange with one of my supper clubs. They are the ones above with the sprinkles on them. They are a little time-consuming to make but very worth it because they are so yummy!

I'm torn this year because I really want to bake some more Christmas cookies but I don't want to eat them...but if I bake them I will eat them! I know that about myself! I ended up bringing all these cookies to work for my coworkers so I wouldn't eat them every day from now until Christmas. It's really hard to be on a diet this time of the year! I just have to keep reminding myself about all the cute clothes in my closet that I'll be able to wear again if I stick with this!

Sorry for the bad photos...it was a cloudy/rainy day on Saturday when I took these. I told Lauren that I'm already sick of winter and it's not even here yet (officially)!

I forgot to mention earlier this week that I've had to enable the word verification thingie for those of you leaving comments. I went years with only a few spam here and there and then all of a sudden I recently started getting a lot more. I'll keep the word verification up for a short while and hopefully those spammers will leave me alone!

39 comments:

Teresa said...

Oh Cindy!
Just popped over to your lovely Romantic Home for the first time!
So delighted to find you!
I just added your romantic button to my sidebar!
I just want to shout out to the world what a lovely home you have!
Can't wait to pop back over and spend an afternoon with you!
XXOOXX
Oh so lovely!
And yes...I have been baking!
Take a peek at my Christmas Cookies!
Maybe I should attach this word verification to my comment area!

Shari @ My Cottage of Bliss said...

I'm not baking cookies this year. Not because I don't want to (I do) or have the willpower to resist (I don't) but I just don't have time with all the hours we are working on the house in "Hooterville." Heck, I still have fall stuff and faux pumpkins on the front porch!

I've had a lot of problems with spam the last 2 months or so, too, and I don't understand why. First I tried the word verification thingy. Although I don't mind it much, I know a lot of people hate it so much they won't leave comments so I ultimately took it off after a few days. Since the majority of spam seems to be targeted toward older posts, I just put comment moderation on posts older than 7 days and for the most part, that seems to be preventing most of it from getting through.

Teresa said...

Just curious...
What kind of diet are you on Cindy?
I so need to curb my eating habits!
I know what you mean about wanting to cook lovely things but not wanting the temptation of nibbling on them!
XXOOXX
I too have some fabulous clothes in my closet I need to be wearing!
Stick to it girl!
Just have a little nibble off of things!

Joanne Kennedy said...

Oh Cindy! Those look like Heaven!

But I must curse you because now I want one so badly! LOL

I've been trying so hard to stay on WW and this post may have just pushed me over the edge.

Your food posts always do that to me.

I did baking with the kids so I wouldn't eat the cookies. Sent all the cookies home with them. I have been wanting to bake but haven't because I know I would eat them too.

Hugs,
Joanne

Lora @ my blessed life said...

Yes, I am baking! I've got a huge batch of Amish Sugar Cookies that I'm working on:) I'm making cookie platters for the kiddos' teachers at church.
Your cookies look yummy!

Seawashed said...

BAKE the cookies!!! We only live once. I'm baking today, but will go to the gym and walk the tredmill later. So far, I haven't gained any, but haven't lost either. At least you've lost some!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

They look delicious! I haven't had those fig ones in years.

Anonymous said...

Hi
I'm making candy this year; much easier to mail and doesn't break up into little bits of dust!
Buckeyes, peppermint bark and toffee.
Buckeyes are like a round Reese's, only better! If I weren't mailing this stuff out quickly, I would be in BIG trouble! YUM! =P

Arleen @ Seasons for All said...

Hi Cindy. Those fig cookies look delicious, and yes it is difficult to stick to a diet this time of year! I love making meringues for Christmas. I bake with my niece and my little grandchildren, so meringues are easy and fun. Hope your week is going well! ~Arleen

De Ruijsbroekjes said...

Aaaargh these cookies looks delicious ! Can I pick one..two..please ? Yummie, I baked cookies too! Please come over and check my blog
http://brocanteprulletjes.blogspot.com/

with love ( for cookies ;-) Elise

Steph. :) said...

Hi Cindy! Baking is my FAVORITE and I must admit that I am pretty good at it too! I am a better baker than cook. :) That said, I too am dieting this holiday time. I have lost 11 pounds so far and have 9 to go to get to my goal. Right now there are cookies in the oven. It is VERY hard, but I am doing my best to eat protein based foods and just taste things only. Not ideal for losing, but I am feeling so much better with the 11 pounds off that I don't want to undo the good! Keep it up! Love, Steph.

BonjourRomance said...

Bonjour Cindy! Your cookies look delicious. Yes I have done some baking, and like you I eat them - alot of them. Then I have to try to waddle outside to burn it off, since I live in Paris I just stumble into one gorgeous patisserie after another.
Oh well, c'est la vie! Come January I will change my ways! Good luck with your diet,keep up the good work. Your blog is such a treat to visit!

Unknown said...

I love to bake for Christmas, but find it hard to get the time due to work and everything else going on. I have done a little and I plan on baking a few more batches, though. My adult daughter spent a day baking dozens and dozens of cookies, so our family gatherings will not be without yummy treats!

Have a blessed Christmas!

Nancy

Miss Mustard Seed said...

Those cookies look great. I love baking around the holidays. I mostly make chocolate chip cookies and simple drop cookies like that, but my must-bake during the holidays is one of my grandfather's wife's recipes. They are fudgy coconut delights called Jewish Cookies. yum.

Angie Holden said...

I am baking already! My favorite "cookie" is soooooo simple!! Two Ritz crackers with peanut butter in between covered in chocolate! Mmmmmm...

Elsie said...

Cindy~ Girl you need to be in the
bakery business. Those are beautiful and I know they are delicious. I can just tell. I almost
could smell them.Teehee. You can
cook all you want and if you don't
won't to eat them send them to me.
LOL. Take the calories out first.
:O)

Unknown said...

Baking lots but giving it all away, so I don't eat it for the next 3 weeks.

What a gorgeous home & decor! It is always such a lift to come over here & see you.

Merry Christmas ~
TTFN ~ Marydon
**NEW BLOG**
blushingrosetoo.blogspot.com

sarah { abeachcottage } said...

no baking here this year from me, though I'm sure the kids will be making fairy cakes and Christmas muffins...such a good thing I don't really like cake too much!

Sarah

Unknown said...

I love to bake, especially during the holidays. I know then that the rest of my family will help eat them. I also get together with a couple of my friends and we make candy that we split up with each other.
Judy

Debbie in Nashville said...

I just found your blog today. I love the pictures of your home, especially the one on the right with the pleasant blue shade on the walls. It's charming!

As far as baking, my favorite holiday cookies are Butterballs and Snickerdoodles.

Merry Christmas!

Kathleen Grace said...

I love all kinds of Christmas cookies, pressed cookies, dipped in chocolate, biscotti, sugar cookies decorated to the hilt! But I am not baking much this year because, like you, I would eat them and I dont want to gain any more weight! I will probably bake a little to give away just for a taste though:>)

Pauline said...

More food? This blog is getting to danderous for my health, lol ;o)

Blessings

twinkle said...

Oh, Cindy! Good luck on your diet! I have some tubs of that mummified fruit to make Fruit Cake Cookies with, but so far I'm still searching for a good recipe. I love the fig cookies! Wish I could share one with you...

Beverly @ My Sew Sweet Studio said...

Your cookies look yummy. My MIl used to make some date cookies that looked like those an they were so good.
I made your roll ups from the last post for a party we are going to tonight. I'm on WW too, so I made a lighter version also with light cr. cheese and the 1 pt. wheat tortilla.

Lenore said...

Your cookies look very yummy, Cindy. I make a date slice that my mother and grandmother made for years.
I sympathize with you about being on a diet at this time of year...hope you can stick with it.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

No - I am not! :) I have done my share of baking/candy making, etc. for the holidays and finally called it quits a few years ago. I don't need it, I cut my gift giving down, and I am no longer in a full time work environment. My "gang" really prefers savory to sweet, so try to go more for the dips/spreads, etc.
Not to say I don't indulge. A friend brought me a try of delicious goodies and believe me " I have indulged". :-)
Glenda

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Having a very untraditional Christmas this year, so not baking, but I love cookies... couldn't pick a favorite, but my soft lemon coolers would come close.

suzyq said...

Cindy, I too have been baking - visit me to see my gorgeous little reindeer cup cakes!! I gave them all to the kids at school or I would have eaten them too! Happy Christmas,
Suzy

Glenda said...

My favorite are the rum balls. Don't put them near me, or you won't see them again.

It's a weakness, and I could possibly get drunk with them..

Ciao

Donna said...

I love to bake cookies too! I do not need them either! Yours look yummy!

AmyG said...

I am not baking this year as I used to. Since April I have gone from a size 12 jean to a size 4 and Hubs has lost 40 pounds doing this along with me. If I bake it will surely sabotage my success, so I have decided not to bake this year and stay in my size 4 jeans. I worked too hard to "hate myself" come January.

Missy Krissy said...

They look divine! I think I will be baking this year. Last year I did sugar cookies with a home made This has inspired me even more so.

Christina said...

I agree with fairmaiden... Bake the Cookies!!! I so love this time of year. I love to bake and won't deprive myself of delicious morsels of melting goodness in my mouth. Altough I'm really trying to stick to my 1200 calories a day!!! The cookies look fabulous. I hosted a cookie exchange last week. Pure fattening joy! Come on over to my blog and see some photos.

Merry Christmas

Cottagecheap said...

I am going to say "Stop listening to the food pushers".

HOnestly, if you want to bake more...COMMIT those cookies to someone. Like: I am making these for the nursing home and if I eat any little old ppl won't get any. Otherwise don't do it. You know yourself and you do only live once, but losing weight isnt' just about those clothes it is about living to see MORE Christmas...so one day you can bake cookies for maybe even great grandbabies.

I, personally, do Weight Watchers and am allowed a certain amount of wiggle in my program, but you know what you can and cna't have in your house.

Make something you don't LOVE and take it someplace to be eaten. If you are dying for just ONE good cookie go find one someplace and spend the few bucks and celebrate your ability to resist the temptation of the home cookies.

GO CINDY!

sadie said...

I do that. Bake things then give to my husband to take into the office so I don't scoff the lot! At least you get the gorgeous scent of baking, and make other people happy too!

Baking cookies (or biscuits as we call them here) isn't really a British thing to do for Christmas, but we do make mince pies. I make teeny tiny versions, which I think are much nicer. It's tradition here to leave Father Christmas a mince pie, some sherry or whisky and some carrots for the reindeer on Christmas Eve. :o) I like to try to make them for him myself, though one year I forgot and ended up buying some from Starbucks!! ha ha ha!

Your baking treats look absolutely yummy. Good for you for sticking to your diet.

Enjoy the week.

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

Oh, those look yummy.

I don't know what is going on but lots of blogs are having problems with spam lately.

Cathy said...

Hi Cindy, I too am torn about baking ANY cookies. I used to bake up a storm and bring them all to work, but now I work here at home and the lbs. are adding up quickly. I just can't bake one cookie or I too, will eat the entire lot of them. lol

xo Cath

Daisy Cottage said...

Merry Christmas Dear Cindy!

Oh my! I have been catching up here and everything is as beautiful as always... I adore your photography! You are so inspiring and always so incredibly sweet. Thank you for another year of generous sharing and you being YOU. You are a jewel.


Love,
Kim

Unknown said...

I have always been an admirer of your many talents. And when I saw the Cuccidati posted I suddenly felt connected. Are you Sicilian? If you haven't visited before, please do. I write about growing up in an Italian Speaking Home, much like Italy in our home but only in an American surbia neighborhood. I list mama's recipes and also my Papa's hand painted frescoes in the churches of Southern Italy. I was wondering if you could do me a favor and post about my give away to help promote my business and blog. It's Sterling Silver and I love your new phase of silver and whites. It's gorgeous! Please consider helping me out from one shop owner to another. If you choose not to, please just take a moment to participate in this wonderful Give Away! Grazie Bella!

http://tesorofino.blogspot.com/2009/12/grand-prize-give-way-february-1st-2010.html