Kitchen

[VaBelle35]

I normally choose my cookie recipes around Labor Day Weekend and write out my list of ingredients and then start shopping the sales and start making cookie batters to freeze in October-November.  Then I bake them as I need them throughout November, December and January.

But this year, I am on vacation for 2 weeks in mid-September, so I decided to get a jump start on the ingredients list and make my batters while on vacation.  I normally take vacation in August and bake cookies for the County Fair, but, unfortunately, our Home Arts section have dwindled in recent years and what used to be a lot of fun is now a very sad event.  So, I'm moving on to Christmas.

VaBelle's Christmas Cookies on Pinterest

[Snowpuppy]

That's a pretty good idea to watch the sales now. Lord knows what prices will climb to by the holidays.

I had a woman stare at me in the grocery a couple of weeks ago when LOL butter was on sale for $2.50. I bought 10 lbs to throw in the freezer. I know how much we use per mo and double wrapped in ziploc freezer bags it will stay fresh for holiday baking. Here the regular price is nearly $5/lb.

I'm going to make a trip to Amish country before Fall so I'll stock up on Domino's sugars and flours in their bulk store.

[Mominohio]

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@Snowpuppy wrote:

That's a pretty good idea to watch the sales now. Lord knows what prices will climb to by the holidays.

I had a woman stare at me in the grocery a couple of weeks ago when LOL butter was on sale for $2.50. I bought 10 lbs to throw in the freezer. I know how much we use per mo and double wrapped in ziploc freezer bags it will stay fresh for holiday baking. Here the regular price is nearly $5/lb.

I'm going to make a trip to Amish country before Fall so I'll stock up on Domino's sugars and flours in their bulk store.

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@Snowpuppy

Hey snowpuppy!

I noticed from other posts that you tend to stock up on some items. I was wondering if you have a Food Saver?

I find it a great tool for storing foods in the pantry and the freezer long term. I vacuum seal my butter, even though butter keeps fine without it, as it helps keep smells out and will last for years in the freezer that way. Butter here went down to under $2 a while back and I did up about 20lbs. 

I also store dry goods like pasta, sugars, flours, cereals etc. in half gallon mason jars vacuum sealed.

Just wondered if you had one, or if you had considered one.

[Mominohio]

@VaBelle35

Glad to see someone else plans holiday baking so far ahead.

I often do the most of my holiday baking and candy making between Halloween and Thanksgiving. I complete one type of cookie or candy, store in old cookie tins and put in the deep freeze. 

Many people think they won't be good by the holiday, but it is amazing how well they taste, and actually, several kinds are really much better after freezing. 

I prefer to have my baking done before the decor goes up on Thanksgiving weekend. I like to have those weeks in December for school functions and programs, holiday lunches with family and friends, volunteering, and enjoying the season, not working.

[Snowpuppy]

I haven't taken the plunge for a food saver but I might look into it.

I leaned to use Ziploc freezer bags for my butter. When I didn't the butter did pick up freezer smells. Not good.

Lately, stocking up on sale items at the store has been a better investment than the stock market!

[VaBelle35]

I'm glad I'm not the only LOL and Domino sugar lover.

My mother used them both for baking so I do the same.  

For the LOL, it's really the fat content, expected taste and performance when baking.  

For Domino, I know my sister bought store brand sugar once.  It was poorly milled, no consistency in the grain.  It tasted fine, but again, I want to make sure the grain stands up to baking.  If it's too fine, it melts and too large, it doesn't mix in.

I used to use McCormick Vanilla but I have found the Costco Vanilla to be just as good for everyday baking and Penzey's Vanilla for special baking.  Unless it's a cookie that takes a TON of vanilla, it doesn't matter.  But in some of the simpler cookies, like Chocolate Chip, it has that expected flavor that you need.