i'd rather be baking

I know this time of year is supposed to be all about resolutions, but oftentimes for me it’s more about comfort food. I’ll admit that many of my favorite comfort foods are probably a bit unorthodox. They include Starbucks Frappucinos, all-vegetable pizzas, quesadillas, and basically Mexican food of any sort (which might explain why I felt the need to make veggie fajitas with homemade tortillas and salsa despite being exhausted after work last night).

And of course, cookies of all kinds are right up there. I read about Jenna’s oatmeal cookies this morning and decided that I needed to make them. That was about the extent of the thought process. What can I say, it’s Friday and my brain is tired and frozen.

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The presents are wrapped and packed away in a suitcase, the house is relatively clean, and my toenails are freshly painted. We’re heading home for the holidays on a non-6 a.m. flight for once in our lives and I couldn’t be happier about it. I hope all is just as merry in your house!

We’re eating leftover Mexican takeout for “brunch” and dropping off the dogs, but if we weren’t airplane bound you can believe I’d be baking these cookies again. Don’t they just look festive enough for Santa himself? They’re easy enough to get the kids involved and allow for the liberal use of sprinkles. Do I need to say more?

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Ooh, biscotti. If you haven’t made some form of it to give as a gift, well, you really should. I’ve mentioned before that biscotti is a sure-fire way to an easy and impressive gift. And if you’ve never made your own even for yourself, you really should as well. It bears so little comparison to that coffee shop junk!

And don’t even get me started on chocolate and peanut butter together. This isn’t rocket science, people, it’s pure deliciousness! Please do us all a favor. Bake yourself some biscotti, tie it up in a little plastic bag and give it with a cute coffee mug. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t enjoy that for a gift.

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I love pomegranate anything, but until the last few months I’d never actually brought fresh pomegranates home to work with. They are definitely pricey as fruit goes, but they do go on sale from time to time! Winter is an especially great time to find good deals on pomegranates. We were lucky enough to get a couple in one of our CSA bags awhile ago, and it turns out that pomegranates keep longer than I thought!

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It’s turned off especially cold here the last few days, and we’re supposed to get some snow this weekend! I’m feeling more and more ready and excited for Christmas. Gingerbread is such a classic Christmas flavor, and I love its spicy kick in the mouth. I also love lemons more than anyone should, and this week I found out that they go wonderfully together.

Have you ever made lemon curd? It used to intimidate me, but honestly, it’s super simple. Whatever you do, don’t shell out six or seven dollars for a jar of it at the specialty foods store. Silly. All you need to do is zest and juice some lemons and add butter, sugar, and eggs. Easy! And so delicious.

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