Once upon a time I knew a woman who used to love hearing me describe the food I made. When I would have company I would describe the meals in detail she said it made her mouth water just hearing about it. I was under the impression she was one of those women who didn’t have much time to cook, what with kids and all their after-school activities and whatnot. Seriously, her kids were involved in sports and music and any other kind of activity that would keep them occupied nonstop. I felt kind of sorry for them, the kids, as it didn’t seem like they had any time to just play or hang out, much less eat some decent food.
I remember one year she told me about how she took some time with her youngest child who might have been about ten or twelve years old. They made some Christmas cookies together. She was surprised when her son told her that was the best thing about Christmas that year, making cookies.
Tonight I made a batch of cookies that took but an hour to mix, bake, drizzle, and clean up, doing the dishes by hand. There is no reason to not make cookies, especially at Christmas time. If you’ve got kids they can join in with the fun. Or at least lick the bowl. It takes no time at all.
I never had kids, but I do have Husby. He stays clear of the kitchen when I’m doing my Christmas baking, but is always available to sample what I’ve made and loves the sweet morsels right out of the oven. Tonight’s cookies were new. When he looked at them he announced, “Cherry Poutons!” The name was a spontaneous labeling of what he saw, no matter that it didn’t mean anything. Except for the cherry part. There were actually cherries involved, but neither of us knows where the “pouton” came from. I don’t even know what the cookies are titled on the recipe, but forever more they’ll be referred to as Cherry Poutons.
Christmas baking makes memories. Like the boy who will always remember that time he made cookies with his mom. Like a new favorite that will be known as Cherry Poutons. I hope the tradition of baking Christmas cookies never dies and that none of us are ever too busy to treat ourselves to the sweetness that comes with the season.
Christmas is coming. Sooner than I think. But I’m trying to maintain my cool and enjoy the minutes I’m taking in preparation. Of course there are the gifts. I’m pretty much decided on what I want to give people, some gifts which are already bought or made, others which are still on the list of things to make/buy. I don’t have long, and the longer I wait the less options I have in case something goes horribly wrong. You know, like if I can’t find what I’m looking for. And that can happen easily with a person who doesn’t like to shop anyway.
Auntie B's Wax 