Tis the season. I know because Saturday the house was filled with smells of chocolate, fresh cookies, and party mix. It was mother and daughters bonding. They revisited days gone by. The one daughter missing was Grasshopper No. 5 who continues to have a web-site stating "I'll be back in two shakes of a lambs tail". Hilary will be President by that time!
I was excited. After all I am the cookie expert. I worked for a cookie company for over 12 years and my vast reservoir of knowledge would be invaluable. Yeah right! Did they ask me about "melt" temperatures on chocolate? No. Did they ask questions about transfats? No. Did they ask questions about hydrogenated oils? No. You get the idea. They didn't need me.
This event wasn't about the baking. It was the anticipation. We all have things that make Christmas special and holiday cookies (and other things) are a big part of that. Peanut butter bases with whole Hershey Kisses placed in the middle are great. You don't bite them. You put the whole thing in your mouth at one time. There are plain sugar cookies, decorated cookies, sprinkled cookies and more. They are layed out on a big table to cool. Grasshopper No. 2 has a fetish for peanut butter balls dipped totally in chocolate and cooled in the freezer with toothpicks sticking out of them. I think both chocolate and peanut butter are an aphrodisiac. What is that all about? Suddenly all cookies are gone. What the hell? I'm told they are for Christmas. So my fantasy day got cut short.
Then there is the party mix. For some reason this is a "core offering". It has to be according to the recipe in Mom's Cookbook. Nana waits for it. Margaret can't wait to make it. Debs has the process perfected. It is part of the Christmas fantasy.
The day starts with exuberance. Then there is competition for the ovens and cookies sheets and mixing bowls. As the "bake-off" continues, tiredness starts to creep in. Being on your feet for hours makes backs sore. Then somebody sits down for a short break. You can't sit down. You realize how tired you are and getting up is difficult. Debs was the first to sit followed by Mom. Kelly was the closest thing to the "energizer bunny" while making the peanut balls in dipped chocolate.
Then there are the dishes. Lots and lots and lots of dishes.
I guess we all were part of the Saturday fantasy. At Christmas we get to eat the cookies and the baking team gets a sincere "thank you" for a job well done!
As I reflect on the whole effort, I don't think the cookies matter much. Anticipation, sharing, bonding - Priceless!
Love,
Dad
kelly was not the energizer bunny. Mom and myslef had almost 3 hours on her before she showed. We weren't tired!