Martha turned my frown upside down

I was in a bit of a funk about Christmas this year. We had let a friend stay with us to help him get on his feet in a new town and it went downhill from there. Needless to say the loss of a friendship and a feeling of having generosity taken advantage of can zap any Christmas spirit.

But just as I was starting to send out invitations for a pity party I decided to bake it out. So I baked 2 dozen thumprint cookies, 2 dozen sugar cookies, another 2 dozen gingerbread cookies, and a loaf of bread. I can't take all the credit on the bread since I let the bread machine work a brioche out for me but it came out so delicious.

I'm going to decorate as many cookies as I can tonight and hopefully get a good handprint of Kinsley's so I can make hand cookies. I used this royal icing recipe but doubled it and subbed powdered egg white for the real thing and used almond extract instead of lemon juice. James just called and said he picked up pink sugar sprinkles for me. It's like he knows what little thing is going to make me happy in the day and he knows being able to pink up the holidays is just what I need to do right now.

I'll upload pictures of the cookie madness tonight (except the thumbprints, those disappeared since Saturday).

There is a cold-front a comin'

I want to make this bread this week in anticipation for the cold front the Austin-area is supposed to get. I cannot begin to say how upset I will be if the cold front does not come- it's November for goodness sake. I am willing the weather to change for the cooler if only for the selfish fact that I want to sit by a fire. I think I'm owed cooler weather with the time change that funks up my afternoons and makes me crave a nap.

I think the bread, though looking quite bulbous in that photo, would be great as a foundation for one of James' panini experiments. Last night's version was delicious and I made up a double batch of cream of green chili soup to accompany his toasted masterpiece. We enjoyed it with some chardonnay. Perfect Sunday dinner.