A few days ago, I announced to my office staff that I intended to take a day off. "Don't book any appointments! I'm taking the day off."
I had the day planned. It didn't include a leisurely morning, up late. It didn't include a matinee. It didn't include any shopping. No lounging. No napping. I think I took a lunch break....
The day was the perfect day for lighting a fire, baking up a storm and listening to my favorite Christmas CDs. We had a beautiful snowstorm that created a Christmasy atmosphere and set the stage for a day with the oven to be well used, my Bosch mixer to be constantly in use, multiple cups of Candy Cane Lane herbal tea--pretty much pure joy! I love staying home. It's a rare pleasure and while I didn't sit down once all day (and well into the night!), I had a great, productive "day off" resulting in the following:
18 mini loaves of cinnamon bread
3 large loaves of raisin bread
a triple batch of my friend Shannon's homemade granola (fabulous!)
1 super good chocolate cheesecake with chocolate ganache glaze
16 "gifts of love" selected from my personal favorite belongings and wrapped
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, didn't check email messages once all day and didn't speak with a single client!
I thought you might enjoy the photo documentation of the day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYGIHk9Pr6TCOSDt_AofkwTiUnSjwPWI6S8GxmNVC3BRBe1aAc4QgSPcHsARD1muRhXhlsEfCFoL4P8lrCk4K70iTH0Z_tlyNCpzKbSRELkoqs8FK8GX1UU9RjLdusBZGB6_Ivy-0J6c1/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+130.jpg)
Bright eyed and looking forward to a productive day!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzKZfthdED495RZVAEnhI1LfTBsql6kAs_TW_ipIbA6BFqjWDZpe00xTi23grrQeJ3_KgiCFrIv1pLYzYBsOjGYdOmC9Kbu2i3hWieOrU1OiXKPSG-YI9o-QjjYLaNr1LvAW5tRPa4a6-/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+138.jpg)
My Mother's recipe for our family's favorite sweet roll dough--you can make cinnamon bread, sweet rolls, caramel pecan rolls or any number of other breads requiring a sweet dough. Yum!!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2g3CiUt5sMiiBaW8aogodZvNzr8BiBAmbFVYBLEqameFXEUWDQ2JN85gjZRkkghjivxEI6KnfZOQDkCceIW4iSK2qkL9Yt5nVceD1DnmVtD5l6emYeXn-HNWvuAY2PXS6DllRbvEbtCcQ/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+123.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWYKWYhePXdst9MYE8Gg_lirtIAsuGXKmJV-qUwLM4AFxXj2Eswz9PePGylbWJ1mMLkcwZzrMgu6_c6m43dyyaImtPjBbxz_HGHM6_0C8bxuuM0VcmXWVL1EEZbgEHR3RrstVEReO_hB_/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+122.jpg)
The first of three batches of Shannon's homemade granola--her Grandfather's recipe, seriously delicious, not to mention festive once the craisins are added. If you like mincing, chopping and dicing, this is for you! If you enjoy a great private breakfast or snack with your yogurt---yum!
Here it is going into the oven......
Here it is going into the oven......
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4Plzw6AnRzpXZEXsXQoM7UlIb_IEbeFL6ptF2eujI_H4zC7gzNISD9fp98WY82sn8zpwNhT8Ak_yfpJvc28mMA5gZHqbiv2ZsdKTHPPQsYjZznQesumzkxMDZttvgbQYNdt72oDZDfSo/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+125.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUVjj-fEtQiBHM4FB35A8K23IEU7ytbispFIw0B1k3RDs5eW8dr7ZNx6ZxHOGfw-ldhIrHEn_5ffxkEETylMCYC2YXyAqZbyofupCOgMF68W3wQWMpenQyVBGy6SYBdEllNTawmg0BI0X/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+132.jpg)
After the dough was kneaded and beginning to rise, I went about retrieving my mini loaf pans, tucked above the cupboards where pans not used on a daily or weekly basis are stored. I wondered if they felt like tiny toy soldiers who come to life once a year! Their time had come. Out of the cupboard and ready for the ceremonial Holiday baking.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1glWhpL6QLXbtrgfoo8oJR2qecCHJ1GO8EIk0PuLW4s1ktb74pbw7NpW8A33f7LOhc1EhgeTukGCAnKh0tk_iQlqBqBCt3EicAM4yYxtw7zP9Lrr_jlbuw_dzWowpks0_zF6pbcg64pQU/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+134.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j3RGUM0oV2FNBfale9CNIS_ZZlyqGkvptCYBi2Tyl8d3GtyS9AAwrFi5hZv0au_yaHEWQ_b6aKoP6DmfKbF225hTByzNW9PJVpWm7fTFRV4dnEdIVkdMgdXZcpiTT2rQk4CDN-AG9h6G/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+135.jpg)
With the dough separated into equal portions , a prep bowl of softened butter and rolling pin in hand, I am ready to fill the pans for the final rising.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtdgdn6wFp9HPHQ0EECBaE1egQ60k85SmY2C9kVSTIPwLXy4Ds0wNtXTJ_HCNcKIXTe7xLMrtH1INZste5T7WoaioYuGOZu1xhk_ibGTRxAy7j6bMmm_Y1o8d4wrpgGb_wolrO6kTkBGD/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+144.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfely8afQm4qrZBduoASIBL5MSNi1wjuibCIiOUW7sGVjqLxDpYxu5JUp5-QbcABqdfWaHVXFl_9KwpTpXUQ-avAs6Idrl_2FsGwphi9qCTAGZfq3PSWz9LAi7K72Ko3FdzcEi_vI2bIw1/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+137.jpg)
Here is the first batch rising in the pans. Another 45 minutes and into the oven. Then the heavenly smells begin!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwChxz5qHQNl4FZdzlS5aOX4XtJo8svErMfp09UatWUkrBgUQqyGjQ3UeUJuxiDBRwwHYwbeDecPyGEJoNIcATeol-UZ0J5csg3lJ1rHilr5swJZmvfvpsce7-j2_bQoUW3ezzbnGhgUO/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+143.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll21-8BhcvrhpQH7fozfW9409WfrT5iBMa8pd80Dd8gG9Emi1DWcJMWKkpxYajPdIG8LbBWnrznsaJDQhl7zDBv-SDx75ADre-SNrJaVOPBpBCbGnBc2YhLKmNYomreh4bY4gwIQAXBWA/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+142.jpg)
The fruits of my labors.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HzvfSA23ApRJwfGhOWeyeE4HsBWTGNT9omOc13Ewzk7HWE_nZl0PuDmUSGYPnUavWerNj6GoZwDXwOfMbMCuf_XDRx8cB04tLzMbqmyvoAwCUkmMtnxieSTS_-l46dvEAYQkwHsNIMyf/s320/Christmas+Set-ups_1+140.jpg)
So there you have it, my day off as documented!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. Me included.
7 comments:
What a busy day! I love that you spent it making and gathering gifts of love.
I can't believe how many mini loaves you have, that's a sight in itself.
I love my silicone rolling pin!
That looks like a lovely day!! Congratulations on your day off--it was well deserved!
Yummm, can't wait to try this recipe as I want to make cinnamon bread for a few of my favorite people! If I lived closer I am sure one of those delicious loaves would have been for me! Now as the CFO of your company I only have one thing to say, "get back to work" :)!
So even your very rare days off do not involve sitting, and are stylish and productive!
Wow. That's just about all I can say. Wow! I can almost smell the cinnamon bread by looking at your photograph--great blogger documentation!
I looked high and low for a silicone rolling pin for Mom for Christmas, to no avail. I finally settled on a Good Grips "non-stick" one, but I'm not sure it's really what she wants. Aqua, no less?! Only Susan. . . .
How is it that you mannage to look glamorous on days that you're just "staying in"--I love those times when I've committed the whole day to stay home and bake and nest.
The houndstooth dish towel is delightful!
How is it that I managed to spell "manage" so wrong? Maybe they'll hire me over at the Shady Brook's light show. I hear they're looking for people with not alot of sense. He He
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