It’s a Thin Line Between Burn and Bake

We’re bakers, from way back. Not great bakers, but avid lovers of baked goods and that delicious aroma that fills the house during the holiday baking season. I prefer cooking to baking, which is too particular for my culinary style. But it’s hard to wrap a herb-crusted NY Strip loin to fit those flat-rate boxes.

But back to the baking. Our little ones have finally figured out where all those goodies we pack off to friends and family originate. Mommy’s kitchen.

We’ve had some close calls of little hands reaching for just-popped-from-the-oven confections. I have a perfect oval letter O on my right forearm, seared there by a sizzling pot handle that I had nudged too far east of a smart location so the twins couldn’t get any ideas about helping me pour the caramel.

Aside from being painful, it made for some fun dinner conversation. Scott asked if I’d finally reached the 5^th level of Oprah’s fight club and, in honor of that achievement, received my official mark from the great One. I wish.

Aside from his helpful humor, the big guy had a great idea. He put blue masking tape at the three entrances to our open kitchen. The twins thought it was a great idea, too. They would run, full tilt, right up to the blue line before coming to a screeching halt. Fun. Really fun, for them. Eventually they lost interest, but they didn’t forget to stop at the blue line and ask if they could enter.

We might have to buy more blue tape. 

Oh, and here's my go to, oh-jeez-we-forgot cookies, which really came in handy this year:

Refrigerated cookie dough

Toasted almonds

Chocolate chips (or kisses, broken candy bars, any left over Halloween candy can do in a pinch even)

Coconut (fresh, not toasted)

(All ingredients are to your taste. If you like a thick, chewy cookie, use lots of dough. Prefer a thin cookie? Use just what you have on hand or just one of the regular cookie tubes, etc. You can also put crushed candy canes on top, instead of coconut. I've tried almost everything with much success, except crumbled fruit cake. Blech.)

Smoosh that cookie dough in the bottom of an 8x8 or small square pan you have on hand. Moosh the almonds, either sliced or chopped, on top of the dough, sprinkle the chips on top and bake at 350 until just golden. Sprinkle the coconut on top and return to oven until coconut is just toasty. Cut into tiny squares and put in those festive mini cups. It's always a hit, holiday or anytime you need a baked good that shows a little love.

I melted the chocolate and spread it around for this larger pan to make for easier cutting in a hurry, but you don't have to spread the chocolate around after you pull it out of the oven and before you layer on the coconut. We like to experiment, which is why baking isn't our preferred culinary endeavor.