I have many memories of baking Christmas cookies, but my favorites are from the first two Christmases of my married life, when I made cookies for a cookie exchange in our apartment's tiny tan-and-white kitchen.It was late on a Sunday night, a festive Sunday night, and I was making pink and green macaroons, not to be confused with the macarons above, shot last May at a LeNoitre bakery near the Bastille in Paris.
I ran out of something, and made a quick trip to a larger supermarket in the shadow of Green Bay's Lambeau Field (which, having just moved to "Titletown" from Madison, I insisted on calling Camp Rambeau). As usual, I poked around the store, looking for other ways to enhance my holiday. In the floral department, I found a carved wooden Santa figure that somehow enchanted me. I still have it, and I will make certain I take a photo before this holiday season ends.
Baking cookies has always been a solitary activity for me. I cherish my time alone, so I like it that way. I have never had the advantage of a large kitchen, so it works out best that way.
Besides, I am a bit eccentric.
There is a lot more to be said for working with others when baking for the holidays. Ask Lydia from The Perfect Pantry. Read about her Drop in and Decorate efforts here.
15 comments:
Mimi, thank you for such a lovely post, for sharing your memories, and for helping to spread the word about Drop In & Decorate.
Lydia, I am sorry I messed up the post. I was very tired last night when I put it together.
Mimi
Now you've got me thinking about baking cookies, haven't done that for a long time, not even at Christmastime.
Hi mimi,
Baking cookies for others is such a lovely way to brighten the holidays, for both the bakers and the receivers. Simona and I will be decorating our cookies together. I haven't baked Christmas cookies since I was a kid!
Fiona, I haven't had time in about 10 years.
Christine, I will be with you in spirit - I'd love to bake or decorate in your lovely kitchen.
Now where did my photo go??
I am not a cookie /biscuit baker but i do love to cook cupcakes!
I am a cupcake baking fool! LOL
Icing them is the fun part - what colour to do and will I put on some sort of decoration too???
I love cupcakes, LadyJicky! I used to think they were sort of 1950s, so I saw them as comfort food (like casseroles and jello), but now they are trendy.
Mimi, wait long enough and EVERYTHING comes back "trendy"! LOL
Mimi, I bake cookies every year at Christmas time, I plan to do that this year too, I also enjoy baking them alone in my kitchen. I usually give away some cookies too that I bake.
I know, Lady J, some times I even save my old clothes.
Eileen, I'd like some of those biscotti you make!
Lovely post as usual Mimi. I love baking/cooking alone. It is sometimes relaxing and my stress reliever. I can forget my woes by punching dough or creating something new. Yesterday I made some wonderful rich turkey stock for thanksgiving gravy and today I made gougeres to freeze.
Oh, Judy, it sounds like you've had a pleasant and productive weekend. Wish I could have spent more time in the kitchen.
Looking forward to TG!
I know you were peering into a window somewhere in Paris~beautiful, mouth watering photo! I am a cookie monster and love to bake at Christmas for close friends and family. Sometimes mine do not turn out exactly as planned and I take a small detour to the store for some store bought fillers-works for me!Seems I am never able to bake the planned amount because I love to eat the cookie dough~does anyone else do that?
It is hard to bake with other people and I usually only do it one time a year, which is at Christmas. I have m y friend Angie come over and we bake goodies for our gift baskets from sun up to sun down. It is an exhausting day, and we are usually ready to call it quits by the end, but I do enjoy the time and memories together!
Many times mine do not turn out, Jann.
Kristen, I have baked with my mother and sister, and I do enjoy it. But I have to do it in their larger kitchens.
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