I think that's it. It certainly felt like a lot more than just that at the time but now looking at the list it doesn't seem like that big a deal. I did split it up over the course of a week and none of it was too onerous. Littlest effort for biggest reward has to go to the dog biscuits of course since the doggies are always appreciative of any and all culinary gestures in their direction. Frankie even rewarded me with a Happy Feet dance reaction to them, which was a huge compliment.
Biggest pain in the rear treat that will probably never be made again award goes to the Sticky Buns. Several hours of rising, fussiness and stickiness. They were good, but overall, not really worth the massive amount of effort involved. I was using an America's Test Kitchen recipe though, and they can be a perfectionistic lot. I did not use a metal pan, a pizza stone or allow the buns to rise a second time for 1.5hrs, just 30mins, but it all turned out ok. I put the extras in the freezer. Who knows how that will work out but I couldn't bring myself to just pitch them after all the chaos involved in making them.
Everything else was definitely a repeat, including the Mock Mince pie which turned out to not contain any beef fat or ox heart or anything else nasty, just raisins and apples, and was quite nice. Dad suggested next year that I not use honey but use sugar instead and to up the brandy level, ho, ho, ho. I think whatever makes him happiest is ok with me.
The kitchen has mostly returned to a semi-liveable state, if only looking a bit tired. What can I say, I am tired. Luckily it is now onto the new year, and with all the good intentioned resolutions of fresh fruit, flax seed smoothies and soy milk that it brings. Time to retire the baking pans until next Christmas!
