I usually takes me several days to get all the sweets baked for christmas baskets and plates. This year a really great friend suggested we get together and do it all in one day. Impossible I said, never get that much done!. We started this morning and we are done and it's only 4:00!!!!I have 7 different kinds of cookies with at least 2+dozen for each kind. 2kinds of chewy bar cookies, orange poppyseed loaves and the best looking mini loaves of bread that has grated chocolate(white and reg), nuts and butter in it that it looks to sinful to eat!! I can't believe how time flew and we even stopped and fixed the kids lunch and ate ourselves. We decided we had to do this next year too. So much easier and the kitchen still looked good and clean when I left.So Hurray!!!I'll I have left to do is the regular cooking and I can handle that. I am all for making things easy so you get to enjoy the holiday also.-God Bless

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), December 19, 2001

Answers

Sounds like fun Micheale. I still have a little baking to do. I cut back on it a lot this year. We just don't need it that much, and we always have so much left after Christmas. I decided to just make the absolute favorites!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), December 19, 2001.

It's like that bible verse that says that one person is only one, but two are like (well, many more than two). I'm terrible at remembering verses but it's one of my favorites and I hope someone could enlighten me on which one it is. Good Wisdom. You are blessed with a wonderful friend (and so is she!)

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.

Vicki makes up loaves of zucchini nut bread as Christmas gifts. Even people who don't like z squash love the bread. But it does take some work.

-- Randal at home in Brazil (randal@rhyme.cjb.net), December 20, 2001.

Sounds like you've stumbled on a tradition that has died away in this country. Mom used to say "two pair of hands make for easy work", I always figured she said that just to make me want to help, but it really does make a difference. The women who kept the families going years ago frequently did big jobs together, quilting, cooking, butchering, etc. Besides, the conservation is always better when your busy doing something with your hands. Your lucky to have the opportunity, enjoy and maybe extend it beyond the Christmas baking.

-- Betsy (betsyk@pathwaynet.com), December 20, 2001.

This is so true Betsty. I know I miss the chance to do this. My Mom and all my sister-in-laws live far away and I haven't met anyone in this area yet that is likeminded in this idea.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), December 20, 2001.