Christmas Baking

It's been so long since I've spent time baking for Christmas, I've almost forgotten what to make.

Today, I am making air buns, butter tarts and something chocolate for Sophie. That's what I tweeted anyway. The tarts are made and the air buns are rising. I still haven't decided what to make that's chocolate. Perhaps some double chocolate cookies. I remember making some soft drop cookies with cocoa and chocolate chips. I really don't remember where that recipe is, but it's amazing what one can find online now.

Thinking back over the years, I remember making Christmas cake. When I went back to work full time, I cut down on the baking and then we just got used to not having it. Then my dad would bake us all Christmas cake. That was great! I remember getting his big package in the mail with fruit leather, whole nuts we had to crack, and the famous Christmas cake. My friends would enjoy the cake at work as I would always take some along to the Christmas lunch. It's been a while since I've had my dad's Christmas cake or my own for that matter. I miss it.

Other things I used to bake for Christmas: hot cross buns, cinnamon buns, raisin bread, pies and cookies. One year I made jam-jams and sent my dad some. He had to call and ask what the red jam was. Thank goodness it was raspberry. He's allergic to strawberries. I do miss baking for my family. That's one thing we did really well together - bake and eat!