And the BAKING Begins ...

I usually have a day of cookie dough making followed by a day of baking.  This year my schedule is a little caddy-wampus so I'm doing a couple of cookies start to finish each day.  I can't have the dough lingering too long.

I started yesterday afternoon with Magic Cookie Bars (easiest cookie EVER) and planned to make oatmeal raisin (youngest's choice).  That doesn't work without the raisins though ... I forget them every year (because who likes raisins in cookies?!?!).

White chocolate and macadamia nut cookie up to the plate.  Not my favorite to make.  I thought my hands were going to fall off after chopping the nuts and the chocolate.  Too much work for my holiday list.  But it was the girlfriend's choice.  Per the reviews, I added a lot less almond extract, but I wonder if I should've eliminated it.  Since I was SUPER DUPER good and didn't taste anything (yea ME), I'll have to wait until the family reviews are in to know for sure.

Today is chocolate chip (hubby and eldest's choice) and I make a triple batch.  The week will end with oatmeal raisin, lemon bars and almond cookies.

So many cookies, so little time LOL.  I continue to pray to the cookie dough gods that I will resist temptation and leave ALL the dough for baking.  One slip and I'm bound to slide face-first into the bowl.  I LOVE cookie dough!!  But I NEED to fit into my jeans.  My forever holiday woes (and I know I'm not alone in this).

I did my outside run today (early this week).  Hubby is out of town and I get a little scared to run that early without someone home.  It's also supposed to get COLD after today.  I could have been in shorts yesterday.  I'm happy for the cold weather, but it may put my outside runs on hold.  I don't run in the dark if the temperature is below 40 degrees.  Lots of reasons but my toe circulation is the big one. I have chilblains and once I 'activate' it, I'm miserable.  It starts as a super burning itch followed by open sores.  It took forever to get a proper diagnosis.  Prevention and it's never a problem.

Yesterday was lunch and shopping with a friend - lots of good conversation.  Today is lunch with another friend and Thursday is dinner with a possible movie with my neighbor.  Getting my girlfriend time this week - yea - I needed it.

It's early, my run is finished and that makes me so HAPPY.  Time to start the cookie dough that I'll back this afternoon.  Wish me luck!  Later gators.