It's beginning to look a lot like December

[rj_anderson]

Thanks to the anonymous benefactor who gave me my first virtual snowflake cookie of the day, as well as tartanshell and izhilzha for supplying the others. Very fitting on a day when we're getting our first real snowfall of the season here in southwestern Ontario...

I hear that there are storms a-brewing to the south, but at present the snow is drifting from the sky in a picturesque fashion, and the green is still showing through the powder, and I think I shall put on some seasonal music* and make a cup of tea. I might even do some baking -- Snickerdoodles, perhaps.

What about you? What special treats does your family make at this time of the year, and which one is your favorite and why?


--
* That would be actual Christmas carols with some dignity and meaning to them, not the annoying ditties that pass for inoffensive seasonal content. I really think that if I hear anyone's cover version of "Santa Baby" one more time, I will climb up the wall of my local department store and knock the loudspeakers off the ceiling.

Comments

Christmas Cookies

[etlhoy.livejournal.com]

My family goes totally insane with the Christmas cookies. Last year we made 134 dozen. My mother loathes shopping with a violent passion, you see, so when my brother and I got to an age where she might have to shop for presents from us to other people (I was about 5) she started in on the Christmas cookies instead, and it has grown from there. We make six different types, four of which require you to roll perfect identical balls of dough for each individual cookie. It is the one time of year that my brother is actually helpful. (It is definitely a family project). We ship them all over the country to friends and relatives. This year we're even sending some to Vancouver.

Re: Christmas Cookies

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

134 DOZEN?! Wow. Now that's dedication!

It's a great idea, though -- sounds like a wonderful family tradition.

Re: Christmas Cookies

[etlhoy.livejournal.com]

Any good Christmas carol recommendations? I like Christmas carols I can sing along to, but it's hard to find them without lots of vocal frills.

Re: Christmas Cookies

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I'm very fond of A Tapestry of Carols by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band -- many of their carols were new to me, but once you know them they're eminently singable. Here's their version of The Holly and The Ivy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcAjCm8L9Ws), for instance.

I also love listening to A Renaissance Christmas (http://www.amazon.com/Renaissance-Christmas-Cohen-Boston-Camerata/dp/B000005IXX) by the Boston Camerata... you can listen to some samples on that page if you like. Not sure if they fit your definition of "singable", but I sing along with them anyway. :D

[sarah-prineas.livejournal.com]

Do you know The Chieftains Bells of Dublin? Great Christmas music, some wonderful traditional ones you don't hear much.

I'm happy to say that I have never heard Santa Baby.

Oh, and I think that big blizzardy storm might be heading your way after it hits us...It did say Canada in there somewhere...

[sarah-prineas.livejournal.com]

Okay, this is funny.

Scrolling down the LJ FList, one of my buddies has a video of herself singing Santa Baby. She has an amazing voice, too!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I have not heard that one, no! I shall have to look it up. Thanks for the rec.

And yeah, we're supposed to get the Storm o' Doom on Wednesday. Eep!

[sarah-prineas.livejournal.com]

Storm of Doooooom!!

Do check out the Chieftains. I really do think you'll like it.

[rose-in-shadow.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I could name one favorite above all the others, but I do enjoy this wonderful molasses cookie that my mom makes every year. They are heavenly fresh out of the oven with a cup of cold milk.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Molasses cookies = win. RECIPE PLZ?

[rose-in-shadow.livejournal.com]

Have sent an email to my mom requesting said recipe! Will post again when I actually have it. :)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I love me some molasses cookies, but the only recipe I have calls for frosting, and I have yet to find a frosting that isn't messy and tedious to spread on.

[rose-in-shadow.livejournal.com]

Mom sent me back two recipes--I was not aware that we used two! But apparently one has an icing while the other is simply rolled in sugar. I'll give you the latter, because that's the one I was thinking of.

Molasses Softies

Oven temp: 350

1 cup margarine at room temp.
1 1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup molasses
3 Tbl. dark corn syrup
2 Tbl. milk

Combine:
4 cups of flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. ginger
1 1/2 tsp. cloves

In large bowl, mix together margarine, sugar & egg; add molasses, corn syrup & milk until blended. Add dry ingredients and stir until combined. Should be a somewhat stiff dough.

Shape into dough into 1 1/2 " balls and roll each ball in sugar. Place 2- 3 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-14 min. or until golden. (don't overbake or they won't be softies) Remove from oven and let cool for 2 - 3 min. before moving to cooling racks. Always let your cookie sheet cool in between batches.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

ROLLED IN SUGAR YES VERY YES I SAID YES

Seriously, thank you, that's lovely! I look forward to trying them.

[cesario.livejournal.com]

SNICKERDOODLES. *NOM*

Well, my mom makes fudge in massive quantities, as you may remember. Ever since I've learned, I've made quilts for people. Umm...we put the tree up on Thanksgiving and watch The Flintstone's Christmas special, and It's A Wonderful Life if my mom can talk me into it.

Got any good Christmas recs? I'm always building up my playlist.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh your mother's fudge... *goes into happy trance*

I have never seen It's a Wonderful Life, believe it or not. Not even so much as five minutes of it.

And I just posted some Christmas music recs for etlhoy in this comment (http://rj-anderson.livejournal.com/617188.html?thread=4523236#t4523236).

[lydaclunas.livejournal.com]

Well, I was going to all-caps you with "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" but then I hit enter too soon, and now I'm sure the effect has been ruined since the cryptic "I WANT A HIPPO" deleted message hit your inbox. ;)

But on the subject of holiday tasties: We make a chocolate mint chocolate chip cookie around the holidays which is particularly delicious, especially with a cup of eggnog or hot cocoa (for the times when you need even more chocolate). Really it's a good anytime recipe, but there's something Christmas-y about mint chocolate. (Probably my years of associating Christmas with Peppermint Mochas at Starbucks. :P)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Actually, LJ wasn't delivering comment notifications, so I did not get your abbreviated hippo!

(And I don't know that song anyway, so it couldn't have bothered me. )

I would love that chocolate mint chocolate chip cookie recipe if you're willing to share it! I agree about the Christmassy-ness of mint and chocolate. Mmm.

[thremma.livejournal.com]

We would make lots of cookies; mom now does that with my niece and nephew, though they use mixes instead of from scratch. There are a couple of Christmas albums from childhood that Dad ripped from the old vinyl onto CD's so I could have them. And recently when it is cold I make "real" hot chocolate - not powdered, start by melting good baker's chocolate in a double boiler and scalding milk. If I do it right, it's like a thin chocolate soup and stands in well for supper. I like mine with a not too much sugar, but that is definitely an acquired taste.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

...thin chocolate soup would stand in well for MY supper any time! Wow.

[tree_and_leaf]

My mother makes these amazing German cookies, with honey and chocolate chips.

You should see if you can get hold of Coope, Boyes and Simpson's Christmas albums (Fire and Sleet and Candlelight, or Voices at the Door) - folk and eighteenth century-ish carols and songs, unaccompanied part singing, in the tradition of Gallery and Yorkshire Pub carols. Amazing stuff.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Oh, those sound fantastic! Thanks for the recommendation -- I'd never heard of Coope, Boyes and Simpson before.

My MIL is German and makes many wonderful cookies at Christmas, but I don't know that I've had the honey and chocolate chip ones... unless they're the chewy squares that I particularly love of hers.

[scionofgrace.livejournal.com]

We've got a snowstorm right about now. I'm loving it. Now if only I can convince my supervisor (who owns a truck) that "blizzard conditions" means we should STAY HOME FROM WORK FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

(and don't get me started about "Christmas-ish" songs)

Shall I tell you about grand tradition of peppernuts?

If you or someone you know is of Germanic descent, you likely know about peppernuts (aka pfeffernusse). They come in a variety of sizes and ingredients - no two recipes are the same. But when it comes down to it, they are a small, spiced cookie made at Christmas that is, frankly, addicting. The kind my family makes are about the size of a grape, are hard and crunchy, and can be eaten like popcorn. Our recipe makes five quarts, because "eaten like popcorn" is exactly what happens. Every Christmas, all my life, has included a big tin of peppernuts which are munched on throughout the day.

I am now the principle peppernut-maker in my family. Grandma still might do a batch or two, but my mom and sister-in-law don't have time. But I don't mind. I have also managed to get most of my friends and coworkers addicted. It might add to the workload, but I love being able to make something that everyone else loves.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I don't think I have ever had pfeffernusse! Which is surprising since my MIL usually makes about 10 different varieties of Christmas cookies... I may have to give them a try!

[deva-fagan.livejournal.com]

I am actually having an honest-to-goodness cookies and caroling party this year, which excites me greatly. My planned cookies for that are: shortbread, chocolate-cherry cookies, coconut-fruit balls (not really cookies since they aren't baked), and these amazing vegan pumpkin cookies I discovered the recipe for last month.

I also really want to finally make that carrot steamed pudding from your recipe, which I still have tempting me in my emailbox. I just need to detox a bit after eating every single baked good in NYC this weekend (and that is only a tiny bit of hyperbole).

I hope you enjoyed your baking!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Your descriptions of your tea parties and other hostessy things always make me wish I lived closer to you so I could crash the party. :D

Glad you had a good (read: yummy) time in NYC!

[tearoha.livejournal.com]

That would be actual Christmas carols with some dignity and meaning to them, not the annoying ditties that pass for inoffensive seasonal content. I really think that if I hear anyone's cover version of "Santa Baby" one more time, I will climb up the wall of my local department store and knock the loudspeakers off the ceiling.

Speaking as an impoverished department store worker, AMEN. I don't know which is worse - 'Santa Baby' and 'Let it Snow' (it's Summer!) or the horrible, jazzed-up, debased carols. Unfortunately the speakers, including in the break room, are firmly screwed onto the ceiling. I checked.

Our family really goes all out with the traditions (advent wreath, midnight mass, the four candles, strawberry and chicken salad on Christmas day, etc), but my favourite is a home-made Advent calendar. It's made from fabric and is a metre and a half long to allow room for a velcro stable and 25 pockets, one for each day of December before Christmas, and each containing a chocolate and a velco nativity figure. We take turns sticking the figures onto the stable, and on Christmas day the baby goes into Mary's arms (rather than the manger, in deference to my Mother's views on attachment parenting :D).

Merry Christmas, RJ! Hope the... snickerdoodles?... turn out well.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

That advent calendar sounds delightful! I bought some prefab chocolate advent calendars for my boys this year, but the chocolates were so awful they can't even be bothered to open the doors to get them... oops.