Easter Surprises

...in more ways than one.

I decided to surprise some very good friends by making a big batch of Easter goodies...and it sort of turned out to be a disaster. First, as a disclaimer, I want to say that I wish I had the time to make treats for all my friends and family, but since I can only bake at night after work or on the weekends, my time is sooo very limited.

When I make big batches of ConfectChinhs, such as my annual Christmas holiday baking tradition, I always tell myself I'm not going to do it again next year. Somehow, though, I always end up putting myself through it. I was thinking about why that is while I was frantically rushing to finish making everything I had planned to send to my friends the other night. I obviously love to bake, and I think I am somewhat decent at it? Most of all, I think the joy it brings people makes me happy, and that makes it all worth it.

Getting back to my story...on Saturday, I made a batch of cut-out sugar cookies and got them all done and packaged that night. So, all I had left to do was some cake pops and I thought I was on track to finish stress free on Sunday. Well, on Sunday after church I began making the cake pops. Things were going well, and the hubby decided to go on a long run. He asked if I needed anything before he left and I said I'd be fine. Sure enough, two minutes after he left, I heard someone knocking pounding on our front door. It was our neighbor who owns the condo below us coming to yell inform us that our water heater was leaking into his unit. I was home by myself and had no idea what to do. Further, I had just started to melt a batch of chocolate when the neighbor came, and while I was talking to him, my chocolate burned. I threw it all out. :( This made me sad for a number of reasons...I only use high quality chocolate and it was a huge mess to clean.

I ended up calling my dad who instructed me to turn off the main water line, but wasn't able to give me exact directions since he lives hundreds of miles away. Long story short, the hubby finally came home and things are under control now. I am super glad I am renting and am not a homeowner yet.

That whole debacle set me back several hours. Having already made the cookies, I didn't want to delay the cake pops so I could send everything out Monday morning. So, let's just say it was another late and stressful night. =p I have to say these ConfectChinhs were not my best looking ones (that is the perfectionist in me talking), but given the situation and time constraints, I am just happy I got them done. I hope my friends will enjoy them...

Also, I have to thank my hubby. It's amazing we're still married after everything I put him through during these late night baking sessions. I tend to get stressed and he always stays up to encourage me even though there often isn't much he can help me with. This time, since I was mailing these goodies, he helped me fill and tape up all the boxes. :)

Easter egg cut-out sugar cookies: "bling bling" style. =p

All packaged up in little baggies and ready to mail.

Chicky cake pops.

Chocolate amaretto cake pops.

I found these cute chicky eggs and couldn't resist buying them to fill with jelly beans.

All the boxes ready to mail!