Article - Baking For The Holidays

Some of you love this time of year, for family gatherings mean lots of holiday cookies. At the same time, you dread the work ahead of you. Make it easier on yourself with some utensils and ideas that will ease the preparation.

• Tip: Don't bake alone
• Tip: Separate the processes
• Tip: Use some great tools
• Tip: Explore new recipes
• Tip: Get started early

Tip: Don't bake alone

We know that some of you are very private about your kitchen and your recipes. But those cookies, cakes and pies will be even sweeter when the preparation is shared. Enjoy the company and assistance of family members and friends.

Assembly line processes work well when you have a lot of helpers. Clear off the counters and tables and let each team do their own task, passing the finished effort to the next team. Children, grandparents and friends each have their own tasks, including helping with the clean up effort. It makes the work fly!

Tip: Separate the processes, ease the day's effort

Even with helpers, you may forget from year to year how much work can be involved. Making many batches of cookies, or many different types of cookies can be exhausting. Many holiday bakers have learned to make the dough, then complete the process the next day. Some cookie dough can be frozen successfully, allowing the baking effort to continue the following weekend. Experiment with a small batch of your favorite cookie dough and see if this will work for you. It certainly will make the task less wearying.

Tip: Use some great tools

Whether you bake from scratch or from a mix, you might want to consider some great tools:

• A battery operated sifter goes easy on the wrist and hand.

• Making dozens of homemade cookies quickly turns into a chore if you don't have the hand strength to crank that old fashioned cookie gun. A cordless electric cookie press can turn out hundreds of cookies effortlessly.

Okay, the dough or batter is ready. How do you reach that pan on the top shelf? A reacher will help you avoid the step stool and extend your reach by more than 2 feet. Grab the scale, the fluted cake tin, or those special green sprinkle decorations you store on the top shelf (or the bottom shelf, way in the back). A locking reacher can securely hold the object, allowing you to position your hands to find the center of balance that makes the object feel lighter.

Tip: Explore new recipes - create new traditions

Instead of the cookie press, how about experimenting with some wonderful drop cookies? These are made of dough that is "dropped" from the spoon right onto the cookie sheet. There are hundreds of variations of these popular cookies.

Or how about 'icebox' cookies? Lower in butter and leavening, this dough is rolled into a log and refrigerated for 10 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Before rolling; spread with peanut butter or sprinkle with chopped nuts for a wonderful pattern and extra flavor after the cookies are baked. When you are ready to bake, slice off what you need and refreeze or refrigerate.

Some great chopping alternatives include a rocking knife, our fabulous Ulu knife or a rolling knife.

After doing all the work preparing, don't let those baked goods burn! Take the reminder with you with this beeper style count-down talking timer.

Tip: Get started early

Waiting until the last minute may have been a favored approach in the past, but staying up until three a.m. getting cookies in and out of the oven loses its appeal real fast. Make the cookies in advance and put them in air tight plastic or old coffee tins, or freeze them. They'll keep nicely for weeks.

Dynamic Living thoroughly tests all products before they are available for sale. So naturally we believe that all cookies should be thoroughly sampled before served to company!

And don't forget to have fun!

© Copyright 1999 Dynamic Living, Inc.
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