Country Kitchen:
Cookies-A Favorite Holiday Treat
By Mary Emma Allen
Once Thanksgiving is over, our thoughts turn to Christmas baking and
making treats we can serve during the holidays. Cookies seem to be one of
the favorites. They can be made ahead, are easy to serve, and come in so
many varieties that there's something for everyone.
Christmas memories from childhood often include cookies. We can visualize
the kitchen of days ago and almost smell the tantalizing aroma of the
spicy goodies fresh from the oven. These might be cookies made by Mom or
Grandma. Or perhaps it was a family cookie making fest.
Family Tradition
Cookie baking becomes a tradition in many families, with some goodies
made only at this time of year. We share the cookie heritage of childhood
as we create memories with children and grandchildren.
One of my favorite photos my husband took of our 2-year old daughter and
me making cookies at the kitchen table. Although her children now are
older than that, I remember the fun times Beth and I had with cookie
baking. In their family, her husband often bakes cookies with the
children.
Cookies of Many Variations
Cookies come in many variations, traditions handed down through families
and from various cultures. These might include rolled, bar, dropped,
refrigerator ones and those formed by hand or a press.
These morsels have been made in many lands by numerous cooks. Each
country often has a favorite, particularly at Christmas time. The name
cookie supposedly comes from the Dutch "koekje" which means "little
cake."
Some families make cookies to hang on the Christmas tree. Others give
them as gifts. Another enjoyable activity consists of cookie exchanges
whereby each person brings a dozen cookies and takes a dozen home of
different kinds.
Cookies of My Childhood
Mother usually made oatmeal cookies, molasses and sugar cookies which we
rolled out and cut into Christmas shapes. She also baked egg white
macaroons, and brownies. My sister and I began making chocolate chip
cookies, using recipes from the packages. Sometimes Mother tried a new
recipe she clipped from a magazine or was given by a friend.
My aunt enjoyed making cookies and always had these treats awaiting when
we visited her at Christmas and other times throughout the year. I
realized after I wrote one of my favorite poems, "The Cookie Lady," (from
the anthology Tales of Adventure & Discovery) that I'd composed it from
memories of my aunt.
GRANDMA's DOUBLE BATCH BROWNIES - A cousin said her Irish grandmother was
a baker and handed this recipe on to her.
Beat 4 eggs until fluffy. Add 2 cups sugar gradually. Add 1/2 teaspoon
salt and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Add in 1/2 cup cocoa and 1/2 cup water
stirred into a paste. Add 1 cup vegetable oil.
Continue to beat while adding 1 1/3 cups sifted flour and 1 cup chopped
nuts.
Bake in greased 9 x 13-inch pan, 30 to 35 minutes at preheated 350 degree
F. oven. Do not overbake, she cautioned.
Article (C) 2004 Mary Emma Allen
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen has been writing cooking columns for 40 years. She and
her family compiled a cookbook to preserve their food heritage. She
teaches workshops to show others how to do this, along with scrapbooking
their family recipes.
Visit her web site for more cooking
articles. Contact her at me.allen@juno.com
