An Update from The Homestead

Me oh my oh me! I really LOVE writing here but it has certainly taken a back burner in the last almost year. I could make an empty promise that I'm going to get back to it but... I won't! If you're reading this, I hope you are well and in a good place no matter your circumstances.

I won't try to bring you up to speed of the last year in one blog post. Don't worry! Let's start with my holiday baking plans and tasks since this blog is about Family. FOOD. and Fun!

Every year, we plan a HUGE Annual Holiday Dinner where we invite everyone that we know for an open house / buffet style meal. I use nearly all of my crock pots and roasters. We often raise the turkey ourselves that I cook for our party. Sometimes, I have to use a bungie strap to hold the lid down on the roaster because the turkey is so large! I also bake up a storm to have desserts both for our party, to take with us when we visit family, and to provide as gifts. Unfortunately, we won't be hosting our big party this year BUT I am still baking up a storm! (Whatever that saying even means haha!) I usually bake 10 or so different cookies / desserts. I even put a new one into the rotation. A friend of a friend posted her list of Christmas baking and WOW... 29 cookie types (2-6 batches of each), four candies, and five muffins (2-6 batches of each). Puts my little list of 10 to shame! haha Made me want to expand my list though! I'll dig around for some family favorites that don't always make the cut!

I always start with these ones to ease myself the marathon of holiday baking... Buckeyes! Some people just call them Peanut Butter Balls. I think that's a regional thing though. My step-mom said she likes them best with rice krispies in them! Maybe that can be one of my new options for 2020! Mine aren't always pretty but they are delish! Far too easy to eat :)

Next up like clock work I bust out my recipe for No Bakes short for No Bake Cookies haha! Homestead Phil every time says "Why are they called "No bakes" when you still have to cook them?". Oh Homestead Phil. They aren't called "No Cook Cookies". They are called "No Bakes". :) Every. Time.

Snickerdoodles! This year's Snickerdoodles weren't as good as years past likely because the dough is to chill in the fridge and not camp in there for a week until I found time to bake them! :)

Gobs - it's a Western Pennsylvania thing! Other regions call them Whoopie Pies while other areas call them Moon Pies. Gobs are a soft chocolate cookie sandwich with lovely fluffy filling. It's one of my top fave cookies!

Sugar Cookies! These cookies are so soft! I used to slather the frosting across each but now I use less and think they look a bit nicer. Although, you may notice, I'm no cookie decorator despite my previous Jenn The Baker status :)

This lovely Friendship Bread recipe was gifted to me likely in 2013. I've only made it maybe once or twice before but I took the plunge on smaller bread pans for cute loaves of Friendship Bread and Pumpkin Bread. Homestead Phil devored a little one of these Friendship Breads in the last 24 hours!

Last cookie so far this season is Homestead Phil's FAVORITE - Peanut Butter Cookies! I probably make these cookies more each year than any other cookies. Someone may be spoiled here at the Homestead!

I have country ribs thawing to pop into the instant pot for dinner tonight so I have to scoot. Maybe I'll share that recipe one day!

What's on your holiday baking list for 2020?

-Homestead Jenn