Fun with cooking

Thanksgiving is this week which means I need to start baking soon so that I'm on time for Christmas. I love to bake, or maybe, I love to take pictures of my creations. Either way, I have a good time. I could do without the back pain that comes with it, but c'est la vie! For several years I have been trying a variety of recipes, trying to find "my dish". Typically I am called upon to make my "green bean casserole", however it truly belongs to French's and Campbell's, not me. In all honesty though, can anyone who follows a recipe call it their own?

This will be the third year that I will be preparing "Friend's Christmas Dinner" and every year I grant the same request: Pasta e Fagioli. For those of you who don't know Italian, it means pasta and beans, literally. It certainly does not sound appetizing, but when made properly it is such a filling, and deliciously flavorful meal, that it is understandable why my friends enjoy it every year. Living in the Southwest, it is difficult to find a good Italian restaurant. There was one that I would go to twice a week for their Pasta e Fagioli, and they disappeared. I went there one week, was sick for a week, then boom they were gone! Not very many restaurants carry that as a staple soup anyway, so I reluctantly went to Olive Garden. Utter tragedy! Their broth is white, it isn't even the right color! I thought I would give them a second chance, no, it's still bad. So now I make my own. Granted, I use a recipe from a cookbook, but I marry the ingredients together, so it's "my dish".

Along with dinner, we do a gift exchange. This year I am going to attempt a sweets basket. I have been compiling several different cupcake, cookie, and butter brickle type recipes to make for my friends. I am excited to start baking and trying the new things, but at the same time I'm worried that I may have set myself up for a disaster. I am going to be doing a lot of different desserts in a short amount of time. As I get closer to preparing these desserts, I will include photos, so check back here for an update. I probably will not include the recipes, but if you are interested in a dish, let me know and I'll post the recipe.

As I am writing this, I am thinking of at least two more desserts that I'd like to include, but I am wondering if I have already reached my limit. It is going to be a very interesting holiday season!

Next time: Corners of my mind