I have 3 different cookie doughs in the dreezer several "logs" of each waiting to be sliced and baked. I have all my ingredients bought and stored in big plastic boxes with lids stacked in the dining room. Each night next week I will be making another batch of dough after work and making the balls for my rum pudding truffle things and freezing them as well as a batch of cookie dough truffleee things i saw on the food network website this morning. This list seems to be growing but I dont have any kids around and the baskets will all be delivered in the few days before christmas Im only making for family and friends so thats good. I finish work on the 16th so i plan to hit the kitchen with avengance. Hope everyone is doing well and all is going to plan. Han xx

so i got all the stuff i need (so far lol). anyone know how far ahead i can bake biscotti? found a recipe for a double choc mocha walnut biscotti..sounded so good but nowhere on the recipe did it say how long it would keep...anyone? TIA!

KKristy said biscotti can be stored for months in airtight container. Makes sense that it would last as it is a really dry cookie.

awesome. i wanted to see if i could go ahead and make it tommorrow since next weekend, i have a wedding to go to, a family reunion to bake a cake for and go to (same day 2 hrs after the wedding), and a wedding cake to have ready for sunday evening. soooo...my baking started tonight and i have to say that my peppermint bark hearts turned out so cute!!! i took a sharp knife and trimmed the drips off of the front of the candy canes to make them look more uniform. again..will post pics when i remember. lol.

I went out last night and got most of my supplies. I am needing to head to Michael's so I can use the 15% off coupon, but it is 10 Degrees outside. After my daughter is in bed I just might go. LOL. I found serving platers to use instead of baskets at the Dollar Tree. I will use the plastic basket covers to wrap them. The covers came in a pack of three with the to/from tags and ribbon. . I will start making up doughs and maybe start putting some things together tomorrow.

I got most of my basket supplies at the Dollar Tree. I've made some cake truffles (not dipped), dough for M&M cookies, choc. covered cherry cookies (baked & frozen), rainbow cookies are setting in fridge and need to be coated in choc., sugar cookies are ready to decorate. Today I plan to make biscotti, finish the rainbow cookies, bake & freeze the M&M cookies and make a batch of RI to decorate the sugar cookies tomorrow (6 of us are getting together for a cookies decorating party). Oh, and clean up and get organized for the decorating party. Realistically, with 4 kids, 2 of which are a newborn and very active toddler, I'll be happy to get half of that done.

Truffleshuffle- I didn't worry about refrigeration. I used regular bc for the mint and Nutella for the hazelnut ones. They are both shelf stable. Obviously I didn't worry about the Kahlua ones because they preserve themselves lol. The only time I would worry about refrigeration is if I was using a cream cheese based icing or another temperature sensative filling as a binder.

Good luck and have fun coming up with your combos!

FullHouse- sounds like you've got a busy day ahead of you-good luck!

I know you all are working like crazy to get your goodies ready, and I wanted to tell you about a 45-second fudge recipe that I got at a Pampered Chef party--- just in case you need a quickie to help fill your baskets. (You all may already know this but I was amazed) Any flavor of baking chips + 1 can of any flavor ready-to-spread frosting--- microwave for 45 seconds and stir until smooth. Pour into 9x9 dish and let set up before cutting into squares. (line with buttered parchment) Its so smoooooth and you can make many flavor combos. I used chocolate frosting and Andes mint chips this weekend and also coconut-pecan frosting and chocolate chips. Peanut butter/chocolate is great too. So...it's not gourmet, but its great and EASY! Merry Christmas!!

well, i got my biscotti made yesterday, i will half-dip them in choc right before packaging them. got my cookie doughs made up for my sugar cookies, pinwheels, checkerboard cookies, and chocolate snowballs. now to bake this afternoon. then i will be fudging the rest of the week. lol. another good (cheap) packaging idea is the shirt boxes at wal mart. i got a pkg of 10 for $3.

I'm so behind it's not even funny I've only gotten the fudge, one batch of marshmallows, and one kind of cookie made. Tonight and tomorrow are my last chances to get anything more done for my tins I'm mailing. The rest of the week is booked up, and I'd rather send a small amount of fresh candy and batch of cookies than a variety of stale cookies and candy. >_<

I got my Sally Anns made over the weekend but that's it. I just hope the icing is dry or I won't even have cookies to send! It's been humid this weekend and it's been raining all morning. Never fails that whenever I make anything which needs to air dry we suddenly get rain in the desert. Happened to me last year when I made meringues. I swear the clouds formed up the moment the whisk touched the egg whites in the KA! Curse you Murphy and your annoying Laws!

I'm a little behing too. I made my shortbread...then we ate them! I know, I know. I am defeating the purpose. I got to put the breaks on the biscotti, cause i see those starting to disappear as we.. So, I got to add the shortbread to this week, as well as the lemon poppyseed cookies. I still need to buy a couple of more things as well. I WILL be on track by the end of the week. I'm gonna start my rocky roads tonight.

Well I got nothing else done either!!!! I think I'm going to be sick soon....not feeling so well today....that will really get me off schedule!
this is why we need this thread! to encourage each other!!!!

LOL, the hardest part about baking this early is that everything starts to disappear.
Today I "plan" to do biscotti and make dough for the cookies and possibly measure out all dry ingredients for everything else. Got a "sick" husband at home so I doubt anything will really get done today.

Vagostino THANK YOU for starting this thread. I'm sure I'm not the only one who really appreciates you doing this. It's really helped me to stay on track. Last year, not only did I have nothing done this time of year, I still wouldn't even have my list! LOL! This was a great idea and remember to start it every year. You know none of are leaving C.C., so we'll be here next year!

I second that! If it wasn't for this thread and the reminders popping into my email I know I'd be even further behind. Last year I was super-organized and on top of everything but this year it's been the opposite.

I made the NFSC dough on Tuesday last week and put it in the fridge instead of the freezer...AHHH!!! Is the dough still good to use today or should I make a new batch?

I have not been getting any notices either, but here I am, better late than never, and I really don't have to start baking till next week. School is not out until sept 23 rd, here. Here is my list.

Molasses Spice Cookies.
Sugar Cookies.
Finished Nut Logs.
Peanut Butter Cookies.
Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Melt In Your Mouth Christmas Marbles.
Cake Balls.
Truffles
Spritz
Intense Mint Chocolate Brownies.
Pineapple Coconut Cresents.
Brown sugar Shortbread.
and Hot Chocolate Cookies.

And can someone, Please, Please give me a good truffle recipe. Thank You.

Edited to add If I have more time, I will make some Candy.

@uniqueask~~
can i ask what your Melt In Your Mouth Christmas Marbles are? they sound interesting. and can i get the recipe?

I'm getting back on track! Woot, woot! Did my rocky roads last night and the gourmet one, TO DIE FOR! Finished a couple of cookies doughs and I think I'm good for today. Okay, so how is everyone else doing?

I finished up my Sally Anns, but I'm no further along today than I was Sunday. Gonna make one last valiant effort at getting the Cherry Jewel cookies and Brigadeiros done tonight, but that's gonna be it for the mailing tins. I need to get them in the mail ASAP, and I have a cake due this weekend I gotta get started on tomorrow.

Doesn't help that tonight is the semi-finals for So You Think You Can Dance so I *gotta* watch to see what happens! *spaz*

i have 5 boxes that are going to be delivered this weekend, so i'm having to make everything this week. i'm packaging as i make the stuff, so that will be one more thing out of my way when i go to box everything up. i've got my pinwheel cookies (another batch to be made for cookie pops for the kids at a family reunion), checkerboard cookies, chocolate snowballs, double choc mocha walnut biscotti, marshmallow snowmen, and peppermint bark hearts finished. going to make some NFSC tonight along with raspberry/choc fudge and peanut butter fudge. possibly some plain choc fudge, but not sure yet. see how it goes. how bout everyone else?

I just got done making about a billion dozen cherry Christmas Jewel cookies. I modified the recipe from the original and they turned out super yummy. I'll post it in the morning when I'm not falling over ded from tiredness.

I do have to say that Log Cabin cherry baking chips are my new must-have holiday staple. I'm gonna buy out all that I can get from Wal-Mart tomorrow!

I am a little behind, but I had to put a hault to everything to make a cake for my husband's bday celebration this weekend and Christmas shopping. I thank you too, Vagostino, for starting this thread. With out it I would not have even been close to starting yet. On Sunday I [plan to get back on track...hopefully!!

Thanks girls....I'm glad the thread is helping!

I just popped in to tell you that I'm sick! REALLY sick! I have "the" flu....102 fever, chills, body aches....and other less glamorous symptoms.
It's been going on for 3 days with no sign of slowing down. What do I do??
I have the gourmet rocky road, pistachio biscotti, covered oreos and sugar cookie dough made and that's it.
I cannot touch any food untill I'm 24 hrs fever free...and who knows how I'll feel by then.
Plus, I forgot i have to bake 5 dozen cookies for the school for monday (they are already emailing me about it). so i though i can give them the biscotti.
If so then I don;t even have those.
I already have the ingredients purchased....do you have any ideas of easy and filling cookies that I can quickly bake to fill the baskets?
Ugh....I'll check back from my phone as soon as my fever gets better....

LISTEN!!! (Did I get your attention ) To heck with those cookies, you need to get better. PERIOD. Unless your telling me this is a paid order, then I suggest you e-mail them that you can't do it OR go buy some cookies. You are too sick to make them right now.

I was thinking giving them the pistachio biscotti that I have already made for my baskets and then, next week when I'm better re-bake cookies for my baskets.
that's why i need quick and easy cookie recipes to fill my personal baskets.

the school cookies I "have" to do. I'm the only baker in the school, and is for a teacher luncheon and I already commited to 5 dozen. those are done, but if I give them then I have even less for my baskets.