Too. Much. Social.

[same_sky]

We just got home from the Scandinavian Heritage Society's Lucia program. We've been members of this club for four years, and we had never been to a Lucia. The first year, I think we mainly just didn't want to. The second, I was sick--and given the average age of the members, one doesn't want to introduce germs. The third year, we were really planning on going, but I had to go to a work function that night instead. This year, we couldn't be satisfied with just going, we had to participate. Our friend J called last weekend to ask if M would be the narrator for the evening. M didn't want to, but, feeling the vice-presidential responsibilities engulf him, he agreed. Turned out to be a bigger speaking role than he had planned, but at least he had a script. I know he was dreading it anyway, because there aren't that many people who really enjoy public speaking, right? He did a very good job, though, and the program was nice. I was very relieved, because I had to be there early for the rehearsal with M, and it was dreadful the first time around. There was even a nose-picker. I took some pictures and the camera did a fantastic job with the lighting, but I guess I can't really post them because they're not my kids.

These events are always potluck, and I had this burning desire to make cookies today, so I found a recipe for snickerdoodles and baked some to bring. I do not remember the last time I baked cookies from scratch, so it's really not a common occurence. I also have no idea why I wanted snickerdoodles, because those are cookies that we don't typically eat in my family. I made them once in Home Ec and that's about the extent of my experience with them. Baking is one of those things that I really would like to enjoy a whole lot, but I generally enjoy it more in theory than in practice. Anyway, I had to laugh when I got home tonight and read that carrieb had been off on a cookie-baking spree with one of her friends. No wonder I suddenly wanted to make cookies! The other me-type person was sending off cookie vibes all the way here! The cookies, by the way, were fantastic. I guess that's pretty much what happens when you use a recipe with 1,200 stellar reviews. I love the internet.

Speaking of cookies, and baked goods in general. How long are they okay to keep? How long do you keep cookies? Brownies? Cakes? Candy? Does it depend on the ingredients? Where are the guidelines?

Anyway, tomorrow we're supposed to go to do the family thing, but we're skipping it because I honestly could not handle the thought of another day of being with people. I'm going on our annual Christmas shopping trip with my parents on Monday, and M and I went up last Saturday unexpectedly to prepare for taking our Sunday off from travelling. I'm feeling worn down from last night and tonight's social excursions already. I just do not have that much energy to spare.. I am continually surprised with how tired I am from being pregnant before I'm even fully showing to the outside world. (Speaking of showing, we took our first belly picture today, at sixteen weeks. And no, I'm not posting them. Belly pictures are for skinny people. Or at least people who brush their hair and put on makeup before posing for the camera in their pajamas. I didn't want to do the pictures at all, but I knew that we would regret it later if we didn't. They're among the most awful pictures of me, ever. Yay.) So I guess that means I should head off to bed before I start falling asleep at the keyboard. I have been doing that more nights than I want to admit. I close my eyes for just a second while I'm thinking, or proofreading, and then suddenly I am asleep. Is there an early intervention program for narcolepsy?

Comments

[carrieb.livejournal.com]

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The above message is from Erik. The below message is from me:

Making babies is tiring work! What gets bad is toward the end when you want to sleep so much and you just can't. Silly babies.

I'm glad to know our connective vibes are still strong. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. That's a vibe, in case you were wondering.

Storing cookies and cakes and candies? You think they last long enough around here to need to store them? Ha! I actually threw most of the cookies I made yesterday into the freezer so they'll be fresh next week and I won't eat them all before then. I think you can freeze most candy, except for fudge. My grandma freezes cakes and it is nasty. I do keep everything tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container. If you want to send soft cookies you can help keep them soft by putting a piece of bread in the box with them so I guess you could store them that way too, but I've never had cookies hang around long enough to need to do something like that.

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Hi, Erik!

Is the vibe that you're cold? *giggle*

I've never frozen cookies. Do they turn out okay when you defrost them? How long do they need to defrost? I am kind of a wuss when it comes to saving these things and I probably throw things away before I really need to. It's just that since M doesn't eat sweet stuff much at all (salt is his poison) then everything I make will be eaten by me or not at all, and there is a limit to how many cookies I can eat. ;) I did stick a piece of bread in with the snickerdoodles--I love that word--this morning because they had gotten a bit harder than they should have been. We'll see if that helps.

I am pretty sure that my grandmother used to freeze red velvet cakes occasionally, and they were excellent. I don't know how she did it so that they still tasted good.

[carrieb.livejournal.com]

I freeze cookies every year for Christmas and I've never noticed a problem with them. I usually zap them for about 10 seconds to warm them up because I like warm cookies anyway. Not sure how long it would take to actually let them sit out and defrost.