i'd rather be baking

You guys, it’s almost Christmas! I’m pretty thrilled. I’m also pretty tired. I bought the very last present yesterday but am still working on sewing a few little gifts, because I just had to give myself one more project. I know, I know.

I would try to figure how many cupcakes I’ve made this week, but math makes my brain hurt. Let’s just say it’s a lot. My house still needs to be cleaned and a couple of gifts still need wrapping, but guess what? I’m done baking! I kept these last few treats super simple on purpose. It’s the eleventh hour, people! Santa is breathing down all of our necks! Or maybe just mine – I’ve had a lot of caffeine these last few days.

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I’m excited to share this recipe with you. The success of these meringue kisses is a personal triumph for me, which is perhaps a bit sad considering how easy they are to make. But the first time I tried to make them (maybe six months ago?), I’d never made meringue before and did NOT know what I was doing. More importantly, I did not have anyone to tell me what I was doing wrong. But now I know! Now, I’ve made meringue hundreds of times at the bakery and therefore had no worries about making these little beauties. And now I can teach you how!

If you have a stand mixer, this could not be simpler. Let it do the work for you. If you have a handheld electric mixer, well, you’re going to need strong arms. But I think you can still do it! And really, aren’t these just adorable? Does it help that there are only three ingredients involved?

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Last night it snowed a little – maybe an inch or so? Ryan and I stood at the front window this morning, looking at the snow and saying “do you remember”s about last Christmas. It’s bound to happen this time of year, mostly because I love Christmas and try to drag him into it!

In my (extended) family, these truffles are also bound to happen this time of year. As I made them last night I tried to remember who in the family first introduced me to them, and it’s a toss-up. I feel fairly certain that many families (maybe yours?) have a similar concoction, but it’s just too good not to share! I am definitely not a candymaker, but this is my kind of “truffle.” It’s so easy that I sort of feel like it disgraces the name of truffle. Oh well.

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I’m writing this post because in the past two days, I’ve bathed my formerly well-behaved dog twice after her white fur turned brown. I’m writing this post because only after I did three loads of laundry today, my other dog threw up in the car.

Because there’s something wrong with the vacuum and it’s spitting out everything it inhales. Because I’m not eating meat any more and my favorite take-out place made me a beef burrito instead of a bean one (so okay, I ate meat tonight). Because it’s been a busy week at work and all I really want to do is sleep in my sweats for three days.

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So. For the last week or so I’ve been trying to enjoy more of real life. You know, the non-Internet-based kind? Remember that?

It’s something I’m still working on, and I’d recommend it. Practically this means spending more time in my running shoes and in the sunshine, among other things. Exercise and Vitamin D are a beautiful thing.

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