It was with high hopes that I intended to publish another post in our RV ALASKA series this week. I’m “this” close to finishing up the trip, and have only a few posts left – including the final, “Alaska by the Numbers.” But, as it often happens, real life gets in the way, and I find myself up to my ears baking Christmas cookies, wrapping gifts and planning Christmas dinner. You can expect the next RV ALASKA post shortly after Christmas. For now . . .
.jpg)
No matter what holiday you celebrate at this time of year, chances are traditions are part of your celebration. Traditions bind family and friends together; skip any of the most beloved and something about our world doesn’t seem quite right. At our house, Christmas would be incomplete without dozens of cookies, the lace angels on the tree, and the kids (now 25 and 30) checking to be sure that someone moved Baby Jesus from behind the manger to be with his parents on Christmas morning.
My tradition of baking dozens of Christmas cookies dates back to when I was a little kid “helping” my mom with her holiday baking. I still bake the Marzipan Cookies we made together every year, even though the decades old, well-stained recipe requires gentle handling. Yesterday, as I was finishing up this year’s final dozen, I wiped down my Harvest Gold Kitchen Aid mixer. That mixer brought back a whole load of holiday memories – all of them as warm as freshly baked cookies right out of the oven. My mom bought the mixer back in the 70’s when Harvest Gold and Avocado Green were all the rage. After Alan and I were married, the gold theme was perpetuated in our new home. I bought a new, white Kitchen Aid for my mom, and (with her blessing) took her old gold one that matched our new refrigerator, stove and washing machine. (Both the refrigerator and the washing machine are still running!) We celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary this year, so I know that mixer is more than 45 years old. Yet, every year, it reliably churns out dough for the dozens upon dozens of cookies I bake. (The record was 80-something dozen, back when the kids were in school.) That mixer is as much a part of our traditions as the Christmas candleholder I made in kindergarten. It’s made of clay, and painted green with red and white dots. It must have gotten pretty hot in our upstairs storage area one year, because now the red candle in it has a noticeable bend. It doesn’t matter, though. My little candleholder goes on display every year in its own special place, bringing back memories of my kindergarten classroom and the smell of fresh paint.
No matter what holiday you celebrate, no matter what traditions you hold dear, may the spirit of the season - which is loving and giving - fill your hearts this December and remain with you throughout the coming year.
“May God give us grateful hearts, and keep us mindful of the needs of others.” (Unknown)
Edited 12/25/2024 to include the recipe for Marzipan Cookies. This recipe was included in a small booklet entitled "Candy Cookies" that my mom got with a bag of Gold Medal Flour decades ago. I remember that little recipe booklet from when I was a kid, so it's definitely an "antique!" A word of warning: The 1/8 teaspoon of almond flavoring the recipe calls for was nowhere near enough. Keep tasting your dough (it contains no eggs) until the flavor suits you.
Oh, how I can relate. I have a hand mixer that's over 40 years old that still works like a champ. I love baking Christmas cookies and did a great job last year. This year, not so much as I was battling a nasty cold that wiped me out for almost a month. I'm finally feeling better the last few days. At least I made a few batches of scones for Christmas morning. Merry Christmas to you and the family, and I look forward to reading the last of the big adventure when you get around to it.
ReplyDeleteAw, Ingrid, I'm sorry to hear you've been under the weather, but happy to know you're on the upswing. As you know from your trusty mixer, they don't make things like they used to. I'm not at all surprised that you bake for Christmas morning. I confess that I take the easy way out with cinnamon rolls from the dairy case. Merry Christmas to you, Al and your family! I have no doubt that the holiday will be full of fun with those sweet little grandkids of yours! Enjoy every minute! 🎅
DeleteOooh… marzipan cookies?? Would you share your much-loved recipe, or is it a family secret?
ReplyDeleteIt is a beloved recipe, Pauline, but not a family secret, and I'd be happy to share! Just email me at reflectionsaroundthecampfire(at)gmail(dot)com, and I'll send it out to you. Happy Holidays!
DeleteHi Mary, thank you for your kind offer to send the recipe. I have tried twice to email you (on 2 differrent days), and each time I have heard sending “swoosh,” but the email never shows up in my sent file. After Christmas (!), could you let me know here if you received either email? Warm thanks, and Merry Christmas!
DeleteHmm, not sure what's going on, Pauline. I have received other emails, and I did check my Spam folder to no avail. However, there's more than one way to skin a cat, so I scanned the recipe and added it to this post. Enjoy the cookies!
DeleteThanks so much, Mary!
DeleteYou are most certainly welcome!
DeleteMary, your holiday traditions are so sweet! I love that you still have your Christmas candleholder that you made in kindergarten. And that cute red truck and trailer is the perfect holiday decoration for you two. Merry Christmas and wishing you all the best in the coming year!
ReplyDeleteI do love that truck and trailer! I came across it when we actually had a maroon colored truck so, as my friend Kim would say, I just couldn't leave it in the store. Holiday traditions are such a huge part of our stories, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem to others, don't you think? Merry Christmas to you, Eric and Magnolia! We've missed you - and we're going to have to do something about that!
DeleteSo, It's Christmas, and you're talking about cookies and mixers--two things that set off completely different reactions for us, but since you shared yours, I'll share ours. First, the cookies: We love cookies, but we can't eat them, because we apparently were born without any metabolism, and anything that is tasty turns instantly into adipose tissue. So, thank you for reminding us what we're missing. As for the mixer, we also received a Kitchen Aid (yes, harvest gold--in celebration of the 70s) 49 years ago. (At least it wasn't avocado.) Being wildly indulgent of our daughter, Mindy, we gifted her with a PINK Kitchen Aid for her dorm room in college. Yes, she thought it was cool then, but not so much after she was married and in her real home. What did we do? Traded with her, of course. Harvest gold was coming back in, and pink simply would not do. However, since Amazaon sells everything, we quickly got a cover for it and dare anyone to look under the cover. Maybe someday we can make cookies with it. Merry Christmas to you all!
ReplyDeleteAnother Kitchen Aid trade story - I love it! (And I do understand why you bought the cover.) After our mom passed, my brother had no interest in her white Kitchen Aid, so I held onto it figuring that the gold one would eventually give up the ghost. Nope, not yet. So the white mixer is sitting in our pantry, waiting for the day our daughter moves to her own place. A couple of years ago, we gifted our daughter-in-law a black Kitchen Aid, so we are definitely a Kitchen Aid family. Mike, how can you get through Christmas without ANY Christmas cookies?! Until I read your comment, I wouldn't have thought it was humanly possible! Merry Christmas to you, Sandy and your family! I have to admit that I've missed seeing photos of your grandsons since you stopped blogging. I trust that Sandy will ensure Santa treats them well!
DeleteOur traditions have changed a little as the kids have flown the coop. Now it's all about the dinner and helping us when they get to our house. Sometimes I am working and they help Dad and, as with tomorrow, I will be there and they will watch as it is all put together. It is time spent doing whatever that makes the memories.
ReplyDeleteI love the truck/camper. Precious. Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah and Happy Kwanza to all.
That truck and trailer are high on my list of favorite Christmas decorations! Your comments about your dinner preparations brought to mind a couple of moments from our past holidays. Whenever we have a turkey, it's our daughter who preps and seasons it - and she always does a much better job at it than I ever did. Our daughter-in-law's family never made their own gravy, and my mom always did. So, one year, our son and I worked together, and I taught him how to make it. It's heartwarming to know that the homemade gravy tradition will continue! Enjoy your Christmas dinner with your family, Joyce!
DeleteMary,
ReplyDeleteSometimes Christmas seems too busy. I'm trying to catch up on blog reading
Let's start again. I'm finally getting it together and trying to do a better job of keeping up with my bloggy friends' blogs. Your traditions are heartwarming, and you're fortunate to have your kids nearby. Keep making those cookies and stay in practice just in case a grandchild shows up in your stocking. All the best to you both. Joe
ReplyDeleteJoe, it seems like there are never enough hours in the day - especially between mid-November and the start of the new year. I do agree that we're fortunate to have the kids close by, but we're also fortunate that our daughter-in-law, the keeper of their calendar, is very conscious about making sure she and our son split their time fairly between both sets of parents at the holidays. I imagine that if grandbabies show up in any Christmas stockings, we may end up celebrating at their house. I remember quite clearly wanting to be at home with our kids when they were young on the holidays - especially Christmas. You'd better rest up, Joe! You still have to make it through a New Year's Eve celebration! Best wishes to you and Helen for all of life's best in 2025!
DeleteI love that your KitchenAid is still working after all these years(as well as the fridge and washer).. Mine is only 10 years old and I’ll be thrilled if it makes it half as long as yours. I had plans to make cookies with the d-i-l and grandkids this year but schedules didn’t allow. I think we shall plan cookie making for Valentine’s Day. 💗 We have so many treats and sweets leftover, I’m certain we won’t need more until February.
ReplyDeleteValentine's Day seems like a perfect cookie baking occasion - a good way to chase away any winter doldrums! I end up freezing leftover Christmas cookies, then defrosting them in small batches. Otherwise, it's way too easy to go overboard on the sweets. (My willpower tends to wither when facing a platter of Christmas cookies!)
Delete