Saturday, December 22, 2007

Cookie Time!


(don't be fooled by his cute smile. Check for evidence. This is a baby on the run after snitching cookies! See the crumbs on his fingers and the remnants on his teeth! What a good boy!)


I love cookies. LOVE them. I have many cookbooks solely devoted to these scrumptious little morsels, and I wouldn't part with any of them. I got a fabulous new cookie bible from my mother this year to add to my collection. Cookie Monster sang, "C is for Cookie", and C is also for Christmas. I don't think for one second that that is an accident! Cookies and Christmas definitely go together.


Every family has their holiday favorites, and I don't think it matters much what they are, as long as your family has them too. Many of my favorites are favorites because they remind me of the way my mother created Christmas for us as children. These would include Candy Cane Cookies and Russian Teacakes. Others are favorites because my own children have come to expect them every year, like Peanut Blossoms and Gingerbread Men. Regardless, there must be cookies at Christmas, and lots of them! And they must be eaten and shared! Almost nothing is as much fun as putting on a Christmas CD or DVD and get ting to work in the kitchen with cookie dough and children. Make sure the tree lights are on!







Cookie Central started just after Thanksgiving, and the freezer quickly was filled to capacity with dozens and dozens of nine varieties, along with huge batches of peppermint divinity and peanut butter fudge. This week we assembled cookie tins and cookie plates, and are having quite the time blessing our neighbors and friends. Baking in the kitchen together is one of my favorite ways to spend time together, especially with my children. It's so easy to involve them! I believe that anything baked with love has that love infused within it and will nourish, no matter the fat or calories. Share what you have, no matter how simple or elegant. Cookies are gifts of the heart. And I mean that.



"C is for cookie. It's good enough for me!"

13 comments:

Abby said...

...I'll take some candy cane cookies and Russian teacakes, please. :)

They look uber delicious!

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

You have been busy! I'll take some peanut blossoms please! Those look delicious.

YogaNana said...

Ah, they're all so yummy-looking! Probably the biggest bummer about my health now is not being able to do Christmas cookies. Maybe by next year I'll have figured out a way to make the old traditional ones, using sugar substitutes and whole wheat flour. Well, they could be *sort of* the same. :o)

It feels really good from here to watch my kids carrying on (and I do mean 'carrying on'!) so many of the holiday things we did when they were growing up.

Really cute picture of the sneaky baby!

Anonymous said...

What a great post. I haven't had much time for baking, but will spend the next 2 days doing that and making cabbage rolls. I did make those Peanut Butter Blossoms yesterday for the first time, but got the small peanut butter cups and cut them in half, and put the cut side down on the cookies. Those great cookies. We each got to try one, and I love them, of course, I love peanut butter cookies, so that helps. I am going to try Double chocolate peppermint bark cookies tomorrow; I got the recipe from someones blog. I made the peppermint bark yesterday so I will be ready to go. I love all your photos. Nice job.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Oh. My. I'm all about cookies at Christmas too. The worst thing about being sick all month is not having done my usual rounds of baking. On the plus side though, I haven't gained any weight yet! =P

Corey~living and loving said...

I am so totally a cookie girl as well. :)

Merry Christmas. Enjoy all the cookies!

mikster said...

Those cookies look very good. Have a great Christmas!

Angela said...

Merry Christmas Jenna! I wish I was one of your neighbors; those look incredible!

Tristi Pinkston said...

What gorgeous cookies! That takes a lot of talent.

And I love the picture of your little boy. Way too cute!

Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh, Jenna. Those cookies look amazing! Lucky friends and neighbors this year.

By the way, I tagged you on my blog yesterday. Sorry I forgot to tell you. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Annette Lyon said...

Oh. Yum.

Luisa Perkins said...

It's good enough for me, too! Me wanty. How could Conor not sneak some?

Ritsumei said...

I didn't get to my candy cane cookies this year. =( But we did get the peanut butter blossoms - those are great with dark chocolate kisses! Well, I think so, but Andy isn't a fan at all. I did a lot of cookies this year & was pooped at the end. Maybe once you've got helpers it's easier??