Sisters Chat (Christmas Treats)

Lizzi: I want to talk about holiday treats today. Either sweet or salty, although I usually tend to just think about sweet! Haha! First I want us to share a general list of Christmas treats (whether you like them or not). I will get more specific in future questions.

Maude: So we just brainstorm a list together?

Lizzi: Yep

Maude: Buckeyes!!

Lizzi: Fudge

Esther: Christmas cookies (like the sugar ones), snicker doodles

Lizzi: Fruitcake

Esther: truffles, eggnog

Maude: peanut butter cookies with kisses on top, plum bread

Esther: Happy birthday Jesus cake

Maude: I should tell my Jesus cake story!!

Lizzi: Yes! You can go ahead

Esther: What is that?

Maude: Last year for Christmas I ordered a "Happy Birthday Jesus" ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. We were in DC, remember. So - when I said what I wanted written the guy said (with a VERY thick accent!!) "Are you sure? Happy Birthday Cheeses?"

I was like "Jesus."

He said, "Yes, Cheeses. Right?"

I had no idea if he was pronouncing Jesus as Cheeses or if we were totally miscommunicating because he was pretty unsure why I would be wanting this written.

So I just said, "That's right." Figuring to have a funny photo op if it did say "Happy Birthday Cheeses" on top.

Well, when I went to pick it up....

It said....

(enough drama?)

Lizzi: Haha

Maude: "Happy Birthday Jesus." Thankfully!

Lizzi: That's good! Whew!

Maude: But the man was very sweet telling me he "had faithfulness too." I wasn't sure if he was a Christian or something else. In DC finding someone who believes in ANY religion is pretty nice! But it was funny.

Lizzi: That is! That's really funny!

Esther: That is SO funny

Maude: Anyway - I would include cinnamon rolls on the list - for Christmas morning.

Lizzi: True. I was trying to think of non-sweet treats for the list, and couldn't think of any!

Esther: JELL-O (for me!)

Maude: Vegetable pizza

Lizzi: Things with nuts...

Maude: Mom's Cheese ball

Maude: Scones (we can have them anytime - since we just had them for Thanksgiving!) - although they would probably be considered a sweet.. I don't really think of them that way though

Esther: I always think of hot chocolate and popcorn. Not because that is particularly Christmas-y but because it is our favorite cold weather snack.
Maude: caramel corn too
Lizzi: Okay, so what is one treat most worthy of the fat/calories within it?

Maude: Buckeyes

Esther: I think Buckeyes are pretty darn worth it. Haha

Maude: That's funny!

Esther: We posted that at the same time!

Lizzi: Haha! I figured that would be the general consensus!

Esther: They must REALLY be worth it

Maude: They are worth the TUB of calories!!

Lizzi: Yes!

Maude: You know what goes fast at the O'Brien household!

Esther: I think cinnamon rolls are definitely another one worth it all

Lizzi: Yes! What is the most time consuming treat to make?

Esther: Cinnamon rolls

Maude: Probably buckeyes, sugar cookies and cinnamon rolls

Esther: Love eating them HATE making them

Lizzi: cut-out cookies

Okay, so that leads me to the next question. What it your least favorite to eat/ make?

Maude: Least favourite to eat - cut out cookies

Lizzi: For me, it used to be cut-out cookies because they take FOREVER and I don't like to eat them that much, but now I like to make them with the kiddos

Esther: Well, I am kind of weird about this. I dislike making cinnamon rolls but LOVE eating them (like stated above). I enjoy making sugar cookies but do not enjoy eating them

Lizzi: That's weird!

Maude: Least favourite to make - I don't know... I love Christmas baking. "There's something special about making Christmas cookies, don't you think?" <-- from "Summertime Christmas"

Lizzi: I never made cut-outs before kids because I hated it

Maude: I like decorating each cookie intricately and uniquely. I think that is fun long after the kids have lost interest! But I don't like eating them!

Esther: I am no good at decorating them but I do enjoy it

Lizzi: Wow. I think next year I will just plan to be with you guys for the season and you can make them with my kids! Haha

Maude: Actually this last Christmas I popped a small one in my mouth and enjoyed it

Esther: I would be good with that

Maude: I must be getting old!!! Sounds good to me!

Lizzi: So, this may have been covered, but what is one Christmas season "must-have"?

Maude: Buckeyes... Can I just answer that for everything? And caramel corn for my husband - who doesn't like buckeyes, can you imagine?

Lizzi: And I think Mom's buckeye recipe is the best.

Maude: I've NEVER had better buckeyes than ours. When you buy them from a bakery they are not as good

Lizzi: Nope

Maude: But JIF peanut butter and good butter are key

Lizzi: So, I guess that definitely makes them worth the making effort, huh?

Esther: So, this may be lame but I really think popcorn is a must have for me

Maude: For Christmas?

Lizzi: I think eating popcorn with hot chocolate and staring at the tree is wonderful

Esther: (kind of all the time but especially at Christmas time)

Maude: We let it stale and put in on the tree

Lizzi: But, yeah. Essie would add it to the list year round!

Esther: We have had it 3 evenings in a row now

Lizzi: Haha

Esther: With hot chocolate too. I want to put it on my tree

Lizzi: Hot chocolate is year round for me!

Maude: I love hot chocolate

Esther: Oh! a new must have for me is homemade eggnog

Maude: Me too, Liz!

Esther: Tricky to make yummy to eat

Lizzi: I need a homemade eggnog recipe!

Maude: Eggnog is what we drink a we gaze at our tree!

Lizzi: That's good too

Esther: We made it the first Christmas eve of being married and decided it would be a tradition

Lizzi: I'm just afraid I might not like it as well if I make it

Maude: We buy our eggnog (I've never heard of a good homemade egg nog recipe without alcohol) plus it is pretty difficult, right?

Esther: You can always omit the alcohol and if you think you'd miss the flavor there is always rum extract (Mom did that when she made it last year). It isn't too hard. You'd probably be great at making it actually. It takes kinda of a bakers skill

Lizzi: I want to try it! You've inspired me!

Esther: You should! It is fun

Maude: That's true - I should buy some extract at some point

Maude: I'd like to taste yours, Es, before I make it though. I've never had homemade

Esther: It is super creamy and thick

Maude: We certainly like talking about food. We should have been Italian!

Esther: You can make it different ways. For real

Maude: Perhaps you could share your recipe with us?
Da Da Da Dummmm.... And we all wait with bated breath for that recipe, Esther! Until next time...