Holiday baking.... appliances?

[gottahaveahoove]

Well, it's tha time. Very soon, the Kitchenaid mixer, and tons of other things will be used. We did a "cookie" thread before.
So.... do you bake? If so, what? and, with what?
Yes, I'll be making eggnog again, along with other cookies, fruitcakes, etc.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

During the year, I make my grandfather's

sugar (cut out) cookies. 8 cups of flour! These are bakery recipes. That recipe is the "fill of a Kitchenaid".
I've also use a food processor, immersion blender, etc.
It'll be like the Keebler tree here soon.

 

[suckolux]

I bake pretty much weekly, not to keep me fat, really. Like to give most away. Cookies always ready for giveaway or snack.Right now there is blondies, coffee cake and loaded peanut butter cookies on the counter, bored! Have to make my aunt's favorite soft ginger molasses cookies soon, so hard to scoop, tears! Have a large 6 pro kitchenaide I purchased 10? years ago, maybe longer and a small 4.5 the almost son and his wife gave me last year. I also have a Bosch multi? 6.5 qt I think, mixes very well, like it better for dough but just feels off to use after years of the Kitchenaid. Cusinart processor for my grating and grinding, have the hub for the mixer, but its slow and messy by comparison .Much butter and flour in the freezer.

 

[suckolux]

Not feeling sharp today, so taking short cut!

 

[suckolux]

Decent dough, easier if you don't want a lot.

 

[kirbyklekter]

Recipes old and new

They say I met my great-great grandmother but she passed before I could stand up on my own so I don't remember the occasion.I do have her recipes and all the recipes from the succeeding grandparents to present. They are contained in kitchen scrapbooks from that period. I don't know what they pasted the recipes they cut out from magazines or newspapers back then, maybe wheat paste or similar.

You don't see Scotch tape used in these old recipe scrapbooks until the 40's, not sure when clear vinyl tape became commonly used but that's about when my family started using tape.

You have to convert measurements as many call for adding butter or lard the size of a walnut. One cookie recipe instructs you to roll the dough in to clumps the size of a baby's fist.Another recipe for macaroni and cheese has you pouring a bottle of milk in to a double boiler.

A few of these recipes were written before homes had electricity or refrigeration and I'm not sure when natural gas replaced coal or oil for heating and cooking, so I assume when a recipe says "pull it off the fire" it's referring to a wood burning stove.

Although open flame cooking out back in the 1800's wasn't unheard of still. Recipes using ingredients from companies who started with names like National Biscuit Co., later shortened to N.B.C. and now known as Nabisco.

Making Lady Baltimore frosting requires beating the ingredients for 15 minutes, obviously this was before electric mixers were available. Another recipe cut out from newspaper was donated by The National Gas Company. Sounds funny `getting your cookie recipes from a gas company!

I use my KitchenAid often and my Cuisinart DC-10 which sorely needs a new mixer bowl, has a crack running up the side. The motor will out live me and the next three generations behind me. Probably make Divinity drops and Italian Cookies,(glans) from Mrs. Frank Luciani, are you reading this John haha!

Lots of cookies. There are so many recipes on the web for hot drinks with or without alcohol like hot apple cider with orange peel and cinnamon stick and clove with rum as optional, even Dr. Pepper has a punch recipe. We're close to being on lock down so it will be a small Christmas this year, Christmas Lite.

Oh speaking of lights. I've seen more outdoor lights put up this year already than I've seen in a long long time. It really speaks for the time we're living in right now. A lot of pent up energy being deployed on the Christmas outdoor displays I've seen. The electric companies are probably rubbing their hands together and saying "yes indeed, hang those lights!"

 

[suckolux]

If I could pose a question to my other baking gurus? I have a gas stove and oven which of course is vented top and bottom so it doesn't stay terribly warm for proofing and rising dough. I ignite the flame in the bottom for just a moment and leave the oven light on before I put anything in there to raise, what is your thoughts on putting a pan of hot water in the bottom to keep it warm also but of course that would raise humidity. Any input would be great, thanks. David

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I've heard of that

being done.
That's the way I used to steam the pretzels I'd bring home from Philly when I used to work there.

 

[suckolux]

I figured ask here! They were beautiful either way, maybe fuller with the hot bath

 

[gottahaveahoove]

they look yummy

.

 

[suckolux]

Thanks John! Makes the house warm and smell so good

 

[dysonman1]

My good friend Hans Craig taught me that when it comes to baking, you can't just have one mixer. And when it comes to cleaning, you can't have just one vacuum.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Yes, David.

My house smells great too. The Italian pepper cookies (a staple in our area) contain ground cloves, in addition to several other spices. So, you can imagine how the house smells.

This house has 10' ceilings, so, it's amazing when anything is cooking.
When I make spaghetti sauce (monthly), I put it the slow cooker for about 8 hours. Awesome aromas!!

 

[suckolux]

Love the smell of cloves and spice cookies, I assume the Italian pepper cookie has actual pepper in it John? If you could box up some of that smell and send it my way, much appreciate

 

[kirbyklekter]

Proofing

John,

From what I read on proofing with your oven is to put a metal or glass baking dish with about 3 cups water on bottom of oven and let that heat up with the oven. They say having the extra moisture in oven is most important during the first 10 minutes of baking breads containing yeast.If you have two ovens proof in one and bake in the other. Billy

 

[gottahaveahoove]

yes.

Just be careful with the oven.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Next week, I'll make large quantities

BUT, our boss asked us all to make a "virtual cookbook" for a virtual Xmas party this Monday. She also has planned a "Murder Mystery".
So, I add a recipe for an appetizer, (mascarpone dates) a cookie recipe, and an old favorite beverage: home made eggnog. That should be plenty, for now.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Well, we're promised a snowstorm later today.

Supposedly, 18" might fall. Morgan... thinking of you!
So, after my ZOOM classes, I might start the cookie dough.
Last night, I made 25 meatballs and 2 slow cookers of spaghetti sauce.
The place smells wonderful.

 

[dysonman1]

Getting ready to use the MixMaster. I'm making Hans Craig's Southern Holiday Cookie Recipe. Isn't she so pretty in pink? What did Terry used to say? "So Pank". Like a model 65. Won't the house smell so good? I love baking.