To drink or bake? That is the question!

It’s all over isn’t it. What a mad crazy year it was!

For most people I know it was a killer year. After all the World Cup excitement and partying I felt like it was already December in July. And the rest of the year went so fast that, I swear, there must be something to this theory of time speeding up.

I find that in times like these you get two kinds of people.
People who bake. And people who drink.

Personally, I’m not a baker. I should have realised this when I once invited a boy over (I was 12) for a batch of green “skuimpies” (meringues) and some awkward conversation. When it was time to take the meringues out of the oven, there was one flat sheet of green goo in the pan…

Yet, I persisted. In a fit of mothering fantasy I recently baked carrot muffins for my daughter’s school snack sale. (The internal voice went: you will lovingly bake these healthy stone-ground flour muffins and add some extra nuts and bananas – that are not in the recipe – and everyone will love them!)

My daughter tried hard to spare my feelings. But even she could not disguise the fact that they were heavy as stone and better suited for a game of “Let’s throw the muffin” than internal use.

“Really? Not even those poor kids who get no lunch wanted them?”, I inquired somewhat incredulous. (Self-delusion is a powerful self-protection technique). “People were not really hungry…,” she whimpered, clearly cringing for her mother’s all-too evident shortcomings.

Baking is definitely not my idea of a relaxing time. There is just too much that can go wrong. Luckily some of our industrious food bloggers have put together some easy, tested, foolproof baking recipes to keep you busy through the holidays. The trend for edible Christmas gifts is not over, so if your baking handicap is not too bad, this is a good place to look for inspiration. Maybe even I will try to whip up a batch of Christmas cookies, even if it is just for the fun of decorating them and hanging them up…

Which brings us to the second type. To you we say – have a Phuza December. Don’t drink and drive! And read Cathy Marston’s recommendations for best party wines and top dessert wines and ports.

And if you simultaneously bake and drink? Well, you are a better woman than I, and most certainly qualify as a bona fide domestic goddess straight from Wisteria Lane.

Have a blessed time with your family this holiday and we will see you in the New Year!