A Little Baking

 Once baking begins in my house I really feel the presence of Christmas.

I love baking, so I save it to a time when the music comes on, the house is decorated, and packages sent. It is my most festive time of year.

My mother always made cherry winks just for me and that tradition happens after all these years. I love making them and they say Christmas to me with the citrus flavor and the cherry on top.

Some of the candy canes will be crushed later to sprinkle on top of chocolate cupcakes.

I wasn't going to make sugar cookies this year, but then I saw pretty ones on Instagram

and wouldn't you know it, they were added to the list. They are still frozen now and awaiting icing.

Date pinwheels are always a must to bake and I love that I can keep them ready in the refrigerator when just a few to nibble on are "needed". 

Mince pies are one of my favorites and these little tarts are just the right size to satisfy that hunger.

Yummm!

Now I think I need to go find one.

Even a few little star cookies appeared on my tea table this week.

This is my online zoom tea time with friends. Well you might wonder about the 4 cups, humm?

It was my tea ceremony group where we usually have 4 cups served by different people, but since we are online right now we each drink the 4 little cups of tea ourselves and meditate on those around us and love to the world.

On Christmas morning I always bake a stollen and this year there will be one too. I usually divide the dough into two stollens instead of one large one. This year I may make three small ones so I can pass two of them along to others. After all there are only three of us in my house and how many cookies and stollen do we really need. For me it is the joy, the passing along some of the joy, and just the plain nibble with my cup of tea.

Do you like to bake for Christmas? What is your favorite nibble with a cup of tea at this time of year?

Happy Weekend, dear friends!