I asked my students to tell me their favorite “Christmas food”. The majority not only voted for cookies, but one astute young man told me without hesitation that “Santa’s favorite cookies are oatmeal.” Oh, and he likes milk with them! Apparently you get better presents if you remember things like that. You should also leave something for the reindeers.
Children can have elaborate discussions about the most ordinary things. Our cookie discussion included favorite kinds (chocolate chip, oatmeal, sugar), and who makes the best ones (Nanas and Grandmas, of course). Then we had to talk about how you put them in the bowl and you’re not supposed to touch the oven. And you can’t eat all of them! They have to go in a bag for later. But cookies are good because you can take them outside with you. And you can dip them in your milk. If it’s Christmas you can put frosting and sprinkles on them and give them to everybody. And when you give them to people you have to sing songs like Jingle bells… and then we’re off on another topic.
Cookies are my favorite dessert, snack, winter food, Christmas food, and fond memory food. My Grandmother made cookies all the time. She let me help, and I have the burn scars to prove it! During the year she made oatmeal or sugar or peanut butter cookies. But for the holidays she made spritz cookies. She had a Mirro aluminum “Cooky-Pastry Press and Decorator Set” with different templates for trees and bells and wreaths. I still have it, and I still make cookies with it each Christmas.
My husband’s grandmother made persimmon cookies. She was one of the few women I’ve ever known who actually liked persimmons and used them in several recipes. I hate persimmons, but I have to admit that her cookies weren’t bad. She also made lovely gingersnaps.
Mother especially liked to make cookies in the winter. The house smelled like cinnamon and fresh cookies were a good excuse for fresh coffee, or hot chocolate. Cookies were also great after school. My brothers and I could make a plate of them disappear in a heartbeat.
One of my high school classmates made beautifully decorated cookies and little tea cakes for every holiday. They were brightly colored and remarkably detailed. She even experimented with marzipan and chocolate curls. She had far more patience than I have.
My oldest daughter is part of a traditional Christmas cookie exchange. There are groups of women all over the country who take part in different kinds of cookie exchanges. They make plates of cookies and take them to someone’s house, where they trade recipes and samples and techniques. Sometimes the cookies just get eaten and taken home. Other groups package their cookies for nursing homes or homeless shelters or children’s groups.
My colleagues and I talked about cookies today. Some of us still bake from scratch, but there are so many options now. Mix and bake. Slice and bake. Separate and bake. We decided that it doesn’t really matter. It’s not the cookie that is important- it’s carrying on the traditions and enjoying the time in the kitchen with the children and grandchildren that’s important. Who cares if you mix the flour and sugar yourself or take a cookie from a package and just spend time talking and laughing while you eat it. Cookies are part of childhood and holidays and memories.
Just remember, Santa definitely has to have oatmeal!