On Being Covered In Flour

Finally I get to sit down.... whew, it's been an incredibly busy, emotional week.  Today is the first day of December which means it's almost time for Christmas carols, cards and cookies.  This year has been really rough on me, financially.  I've been out of work, voluntarily, for the last 10 months.  However, I'm getting ready to start a new job in January and boy am I am excited about it!

It means, however, that this Christmas is going to be rather lean.  Given that my passion can be found in the kitchen, this free time has given me a unique opportunity ~ I have decided to share my baking with my loved ones this holiday.  Some don't even know they're on my "list".

Cookies are a tradition in my family; one I am delighted to be able to share.  But when you have 7 friends for whom to bake cookies - I'm estimating a dozen cookies of each of the 6 varieties - plus 20 others who are getting "cookies in jar" this year, it gets a little tiring.

Thus far I have done 4 "cookies in a jar" ~ right now I'm working on oatmeal raisin spice cookies... and I am cheerfully covered in flour.  This is my first year for these and it has been an exercise in patience.  Ever ask a teenager to cut up a funnel for flour?  You get funny looks.

My favorite holiday tradition involves cookies - I make several staples each year.  Snickerdoodles rolled in red and green sugars.  M & M cookies.  Peanut butter.  This year, I am doing about four other kinds as well (plus peppermint bark) ~ it would have been five, but I am giving one type away because...well... basically they sucked.  Oops.  I added another kind.  Make that I have five types on my list.

The best part of my holiday cookie baking?  My mom has been off work and helping me bake - she calls herself my sous chef.  It's been great fun.  We gossiped and giggled and wrapped Christmas presents.  And we baked three different kinds of cookies.

That's what the holidays are really about.

If we didn't have a Christmas tree or stockings hung by the fire place or a wreath on our front door, I'd be okay with that.  Heck, even no Christmas presents wouldn't phase me much.  As long as I have my Christmas cookies to share with the people in this life that I love, I'll be okay.  For me, this is how I show my affection. 

Is there any holiday tradition you can't live without?

--Contributed by Deb

Comments

[Nichole]

The holiday tradition I can't live without revolves around my family as well. Next Saturday my daddy, son, sisters and hubby will trek through the woods (hopefully in the snow!) and find the prettiest 10 foot tall tree they can find. They cut it down and bring it home. Then we spend the next two hours wrestling with it to get it in the stand... well my dad and hubby wrestle with it, I just stand by and tell them which way it is leaning. lol

After that's all settled and my dad has every inch of the tree covered in lights, my mom begins unpacking each of our decorations one by one. Some of them were handmade either in school or with our mom. Other ornaments were bought; collected from travels, vacations, christmas stores... The entire process begins around 8 am and goes until 10 pm. We listen to Christmas music, drink kahlua and bailey's and laugh the day away. I'm not much for tradition but that is one that I will never let go.

Happy Holidays. I love you.

[Gino]

There are a lot that involve food, but two others that we'll always do are: Getting a rooted "Deck Tree" in addition to our indoor tree and planting it in the back of the yard. Every home we lived in has a descending line of evergreens at the back of the property.
The other is setting up the Manger and having Dad put the baby in the manger after midnight Mass.

Much Luck with your new job and Happy Holidays!