Christmas cookies’ story 2013

As every year, I had big BIG plans for my Christmas cookies. The closer the time to bake the cookies, the more worried I got that I am actually not going to be able to make any. Between work, family, kids and everything else, it almost seemed impossible.
I was getting more and more frustrated…and then, a miracle happened. I was looking through my old blog recipes and I stumbled upon my last year’s article on baking dozens of cookies without really trying  . Boy, did that hit home! I decided to take my own advice and believe it or not, although I was full time I managed to pull off enough cookies for the neighborhood cookie swap ( 7th year in a row), bring some to the work Christmas cookie party AND give everyone individually wrapped chocolate covered pretzels as gifts. 
What did I bake this year? 
1. Mint sugar cookies ( leaves)
2. Butter cookies with strawberry jam.
3. Individual square cakes with rose Turkish delight and sesame seeds and no eggs. 
4. Pumpkin cream cheese truffles, covered in dark chocolate and with toffee crunch on top
5. Gingerbread white chocolate truffles, covered in white chocolate and spices on top.
6. Chocolate cream cheese Baileys truffles with toffee crunch inside, covered in dark chocolate. 
7. Chocolate covered pretzels with assorted sprinkles, candy and candy cane crunch. 
As you can tell, my family was insisting on a LOT of truffles…and I was happy to oblige.  
 
These are the pretzels, which everyone pitched in to wrap and get ready for giving away.
It all sounds so great, doesn’t it? Working mom, 57 different kinds of cookies, happy kids and husband, just magic!
Yeah….and no. 
I have to give credit where credit is due. 
This year, Ellie ( my 7 year old) did all by herself the flower shaped butter cookies with jam. And she did A LOT of them. I was worried that she would get bored and not finish them( hence I will be stuck with finishing them), but she was a trooper and did them all by herself. So, thank you Ellie for all your hard work, you were a delight!
One more person to thank is my son Kalin, for helping out with washing all the dishes that we got dirty in the process of cooking, baking and eating, not to mention  he washed most of them by hand, because we had so much that the dishwasher couldn’t take them all. That was a tremendous help and a sanity saver for me, no doubt!
Many thanks to my love Alex for managing everything while I was working- house, cooking, sick kids AND working from home. You’re the best!
And last but not least- thanks to my entire family for putting up with eating sandwiches 3 days in a row, for not having cleans socks for a week and for missing me all day. I love you!
It’s not all fun and games, but we can pull through so much more than a holiday season. And even though I know it’s true, I am still proud of how everyone without exceptions worked hard to enjoy what we all did together.
Merry Christmas, everyone! May your hearts be filled with love, your home with warmth and care, and may your family and friends be always healthy!