It would be hard to think of Christmas without cookies or candy. What would Santa have to snack on along the way? How could we miss the memory-making fun of baking and decorating cookies with our children and grandchildren? Even dough snitching brothers and husbands stir up special kitchen memories.
I think of all those times my grandmother talked about all that stirring involved in making Aunt Bill's Brown Candy — then making it in my own kitchen. How delighted I have been to find my grandmother Della's recipe for Date Nut Logs in time to make them this year. I'm still working to perfect my mother-in-law's Divinity recipe but I have mastered mother's Pecan Studded Meringues.
Thanksgiving through the New Year stirs up plenty of family traditions but Christmas cookies and candies have a way of being “must make” to complete our holiday preparations.
They become a kitchen countdown for me and find top billing along with finding the perfect tree, hanging the wreath on the front door and making it to choir practice.
I try to have favorites of each member of the family. That's Aunt Bill's for my son Ed, Ginger Snaps for my son Stephen and Decorated sugar cookies for my daughter Rachael.
The husband likes milk chocolate fudge with pecans and I love those simple little green spritz pressed into Christmas tree shapes.
It just wouldn't be right without them. My sister-in-law Catherine makes elaborate homemade Chocolate-Covered Cherries (my brother's favorite since childhood).
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