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The best part of the holidays. Sugar.

Not for my waistline, but definitely for my sweet tooth, the hands-down best part of the holidays has to involve homebaked goodies. That's why Tim and I have invited our friends over next Sunday for an afternoon of nog and cookies. It sounded like a good idea at the time. I envisioned a perfectly decorated house, tray after tray of delectable goodies that would put Martha Stewart to shame (if she weren't already looked down upon, that is), and just enough rum to calm frazzled holiday nerves.

Then we realized—we actually have to make the food.

We could, I suppose, cheat and pick up pseudo-homemade cookies, candies, and pastries from shops around town. But no one ever started meaningful family holiday traditions by hopping in the car and buying stale chex mix and cardboard-like gingerbread from the local Hy-Vee. So I've started. One down—cranberry-orange mini muffins—and many more to go. Among those sugar plum visions on our to-make menu: cream wafers, peanut butter Hershey kiss cookies, no-bake choco-oatmeal cookies, dipped pretzels, cutouts...and I'm sure there are more, but they're slipping my non-stick mind at the moment.

I think, if I do a couple batches a night, I'll create enough to serve next Sunday.

Unless they catch BTK this week. Then I'll have to tell our guests to bring their own goodies. And I'll be popping a champagne cork to celebrate.

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