14 December 2001

Last year: But this morning I find I'm still infuriated by the whole thing.

Today's entry is going to be pictur-ific!

But first things first: It's Ashby's birthday! He has now joined the ranks of the "thirtysomething" - the third in our little group of friends.

Happy birthday, Shbee!

I did it! I did it! I did it! I did it! I did it! I got the damned brandy snaps to work!

To hell with Martha Stewart, anyway. I've heard from several sources that her recipes really aren't very good, and she's known for leaving steps out.

I did a little research online, and discovered that the actual recipe in the magazine is fine, but other places and people (including Johanna) recommend using a nonstick baking sheet instead of lining the sheet with any kind of paper.

So with much trepidation I made up another batch of batter after work yesterday. I even sprayed nonstick spray on my one nonstick baking pan just to be sure...

I lowered the oven temperature, because my oven runs a little hot. I checked them after about five minutes, and was surprised to see they were already done! (So much for the 10 specified by the magazine...)

A minute or so of cooling, to let them set, and I picked up my new metal spatula, and gingerly lifted an edge....

And it came up! Without any sticking at all! I quickly flipped the edge of the cookie over the handle of a wooden spoon, and rolled... After a few false starts, I got it rolled over and the seam pressed! Voila! A Brandy Snap!

Which is not to say there were no mishaps. A couple of them deformed as soon as I put them on the cooling rack. One or two broke or folded in half as I was trying to get them off the baking sheet. But the evidence of these was swiftly consum- er, removed.

I wound up making two batches, so I'm pretty sure that even after the mishaps and fishing out a few for myself, I've got enough to give everyone in my "cookie exchange" group a few. YAY!

The other thing that is done is the buying and wrapping and shipping of presents. Matt took the boxes to be shipped to the post office yesterday. (Nearly $25 in postage, which is not nearly as bad as I had feared.

The other presents, except for three, are wrapped and stacked in our living room, as shown in this picture.

The three remaining are Matt's sister's - her gift certificate is tucked in with our airplane tickets so we won't forget to take it to Chicago; Matt's mom's - Matt's taking care of that and I have no idea if he's ordered it yet, but I assume he's going to arrange to have it shipped to us in Chicago, rather than take the chance that it will arrive at our house after we've left; and one friend that we have no idea what to get - but for such things were gift certificates made, and we're not exchanging presents with most of our friends until New Year's anyway.

Ta-daaaa!

I am, as they say, pleased as punch.

Colleen, after having been out for most of the week with the stomach flu, returned to work yesterday - still slightly ill, but no longer contagious - only to be told by her principal that she was being required to attend the school's Christmas concert that evening.

Since the school where she works is more than an hour's drive from her house, she came to our house after school rather than go all the way home. She helped me make the brandy snaps and we danced in the kitchen (I had put together a playlist of songs to listen to while I was baking) and we generally had a good time until she had to leave to go back up to the school.

She stopped by on her way home, and silliness ensued. As has become the flow of things, Matt would say something teasing, she would threaten to kill him, and then try - mostly in vain - to tickle him.

At one point, Matt pulled the afghan that's usually over the back of the couch over her head in an effort to stave her off. As she emerged, I commented that she looked like "Mother Theresa on a bender."

Which, naturally enough, prompted a picture.

And last, but not least, do check out this comic. I swear to god, I've been in this one:

--Liz

Word of the Day:
majuscule - a large letter (as a capital)
 
Song of the Day: Buddy Holly (Wheezer)
 
Currently Playing: Burning Monkey Solitaire
 
Current Projects:
- holiday baking