I have already started to bake my mother’s Christmas shortbreads. In fact, I made my first batch on Sunday, November 4 and finished my fifth batch yesterday night. Yesterday afternoon was the 114th annual Santa Claus Parade in Toronto and I attended it by grabbing a spot at University and Elm. After the parade–which took an hour and twenty-five minutes, a feat the Toronto Pride Committee should learn from–I got warmed up with a large coffee at the Holiday Inn Starbucks next to Maple Leaf Gardens. I saw Mark’s hockey team play at 5 p.m. Then I went home and, while still in a Christmas mood, embarked on Baking Round #5. So far I have filled twenty tins, yet already given away four. Here’s what your cookies may look like: