Start Time: 11:00 am
Stop Time: 4:40 am
Goal: 23 types of cookies, packaged, wrapped & ready to deliver on Saturday 12/17
Completed: Chocolate Chip (4x)
Mixed: Geode (2x)
OMG, starting to worry. These decorator cookies are taking too long. I also miscalculated my butter needs so The Husband had to run to Smart & Final for more. I keep trying to make up time somehow, but I just can’t seem to get it back. I finished off adding the brush embroidery on the coconut rounds, stenciled on the black motif on the brown sugar spice, and I flooded as many of the mint chip and candy cane cookies as I could… until I ran out of black food coloring…I’ve GOT to get these flooded and dried, but I think I made a mistake by thinning out the royal icing I had tonight in order to make it stretch. The dried icing on these candy cane cookies will not be as strong or thick, which means it may not stand up to the stenciling and decorating like I need it to.
Even after all these years doing this, every year feels different. Sure it’s gotten more organized and for god’s sake, I have a spreadsheet to track ingredients, number of boxes and number of cookies, but I still make mistakes and bad decisions. It’s kind of part of the fun– the problem solving– but it’s also a big pain in my tired ass. It’s a good thing I really LOVE doing this, or it would feel like work. But this, even with the mishaps, is fun.
Tomorrow I am going to try and plow through the drop cookies and dough that needs refrigeration. I have the chocolate swirls in the fridge, ready to roll in black sprinkles, cut and bake, so at least there is that. Tomorrow I need to go to Michael’s to get more black food coloring. Normally, I would go to Sugar & Spice, however tomorrow is Monday and she’s not open on Monday. I bought a bunch of “coal black” Chefmate gel coloring, and it’s got a green cast to it. The “jet black” I have is a truer black which leans 
more red. I was able to pump up the coal black a little tonight, but it’s not matching, so I gave in and admitted defeat for the night.
I am a little worried that I’ll have to cut more recipes, but like I told myself at the start, be ready. There have been some yummy additions this year though. I love being able to try new things and add new flavors. I took out the Lemon Sugar rounds this year. In exchange, I have an orange cookie this year, so I hope I get to make it. Not sure yet if it will be black or not, LOL. There is something about making a black cookie that uneases me a little, but is also intriguing. Hoping people won’t think by boxes are too “un-Christmas-y” this year.
So I’m going to bed a little worried, some frustrated and a lot tired. The house smells of mint, sugar, lemons (thank you Lydia!!!) and layers upon layers of baked smells. Still trying to get that nasty moist coconut smell out of my head.
And on that note, time to grab Miji and head off to bed. G’nite!
