Baking Frenzy

This holiday season, I decided I wanted to go all out. I couldn't just pick one Christmas favorite, I had to pick several. These are clearly the musings of a crazy woman with one tiny toaster oven and one tiny baking sheet. I rolled out cookie dough onto the back of a dry erase board (cleaned of course!) because we have no counter space. I washed the same large pot over and over because we have no bowls big enough to mix cookie dough in. I lost all feeling in my back after standing huddled over the low counter tops in the kitchen for two days straight. I definitely lost my mind, but was rewarded with some delicious treats!

My previous job was just as low hours and low responsibility (the same pay even) as the one I have now with one exception: my new employers and coworkers are not Jehovah's Witnesses who bah humbug at the holiday season. While they don't really celebrate Christmas, I know they will be excited to receive these awesome holiday tins.

I originally wanted to make little goody bags for the co-teachers and boss but I didn't realize I had made so many things. There wasn't enough room in the bags unless I wanted to give each person several bags. So I looked around our apartment and found two cookie tins that were eaten up long ago.

The head teacher and boss received the big tin with nearly twice as many goodies.

The small tin was for our coworker. She teaches the other half of the classes.

My holiday goodie collection includes Christmas tree sugar cookies, raspberry star cookies, snickerdoodles, chocolate crinkles, magic bars, peanut butter balls, and chocolate dipped pretzels. Each one is amazing since they contain a little bit of America in each bite. It's unfortunate that Koreans have not quite attached themselves to baked goods as desserts yet. Maybe someday there will be ovens in all Korean kitchens (probably not).

For the kids, my mommy was generous enough to send treats and goodie bags for them. They all received a pencil, candy cane, chocolates and stickers. Most were thrilled to get Christmas presents although a few wanted to "trade" their pencils in for different ones.

I can't believe it is Christmas Eve already! Our students had their last day of school until February and we had our last day of work until January! We are officially on winter vacation as of 8:45 pm today. We'll keep you all posted on our vacation activities.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!
Love, Lisa, Michael and Gizmo