I think I might actually blog the Christmas Foodathon, this year.

Every year, I do a lot of baking and candymaking for Christmas, to give out as gifts.  I decided a long time ago, that a bucket of fudge and cookies goes a long way giftwise, and it's a lot more appreciated than yet-another-candle or yet-another-ugly-picture frame.  So far, I think it's true.  I get a lot of compliments, and I truly enjoy the whole act of planning, shopping, and cooking.  The BIG cooking gift is for my Aunt Lynne, and her brother Bryant.  She works long hours, and he's in ill health, and they have lots of money, and they're about the hardest people to shop for in the universe.  I make them about a months's worth of meals packaged  individually in heat and serve portions.  I try to get all their favorites together, plus a few new things.  All of this truly is a labor of love.

So, because I think it's a whole interesting process that genrally takes up my whole month, I plan to discuss,  and document it here with words as well as photos.

It's December 6, and my progress so far:  Listing everyone getting a bucket, this year. Or, starting to, at least.  There's 24 people on my list, down from 36 last year. I know some people aren't around, or whatever, but I've added a handful of new families, and I am absolutely sure I'm still missing some.  This is why I make half a dozen unlabeled buckets. Unexpected guests, people I've forgotten.

Figuring out what to include in the bucket.  What cookies are absolute "musts" every year, and what would be a nice change of pace.  Absolute musts include: Chocolate chip M&M, Triple Ginger Molasses, and some sort of sugar cookie.  Last year, it was snickerdoodles, this year, perhaps I want a sparkly lemony sugar cookie.  Also, the fudge.  Cookies and Cream is the big one, everyone's favorite. Last year we had rocky road and amaretto, along with the cookies and cream.

New stuff for this year:  I found a coconut macaroon recipe that's got like 4 ingredients, and it looks so delicious and easy.  Kicking around two new flavors of fudge, too.  Definitely going to do something with mocha/espresso/cappuccino flavors.  Currently, I'm crowdsourcing, too, to see what would be more popular, cheesecake or peanut butter fudge swirled with chocolate.

I haven't even started thinking about Aunt Lynne's stuff yet. That's going to start with an email, to them, seeing what they want.

So, from here on out, any posts about this annual undertaking are going to be headed with "Foodathon"