dawn is busy making gingerbread houses this weekend- so i am filling in for her. ’tis the season and all that- and everyone knows i am out to spread good cheer! so- i thought i would write about christmas cookies because it is a tradition that my family has had since i can remember. i really think that the solstice season- aka the christmas season- is about sharing time and love with friends and family. perhaps it’s because i grew up poor and didn’t get many gifts that i cherish memories so much- i know a big part is my mother is very ill and this is probably her last christmas with us. this season has always been about her. if i think back, she always put so much into christmas. she didn’t make much money but saved all year long to put money into our christmas clubs- remember those? our bank had a deal where you could put so much money into an account to be withdrawn at christmas time as a gift- i don’t think that they do that anymore. she would start buying food and supplies in october because- hey, we had to eat in the meantime and less than $100 a week doesn’t go far. so- we would get to december and put up our charlie brown tree- which i still have because it’s artificial (in fact hubby and i used it the first zillion years we were married. right up until about 3 years ago)- and played our christmas records (yes, LPs) and watched it snow. my sister and i always made sugar cookies. sometimes we would actually roll them out and sprinkle them with colored sugar- and other times we would just make drop and sprinkle them with colored sugar- but we did it together and we ate cookies a lot. so- it isn’t about the gifts or the parties or the decorations necessarily- although there is a place for those things in moderation- it’s about the feeling that is supposed to be christmas. the one that everyone always talks about- peace on earth and whatnot. i am not feeling that much these days. i know many folks i talk to aren’t feeling it either. i think it’s ok not to feel the hyped consumeristic christmas that has been perpetuated since oh- let’s see- when did virginia write her letter? what we need to do is remember the origin of the winter solstice celebrations.

folks have been celebrating this time of year with feasting and gift giving for millenia- but it is about traditions and relationships between people- not how many gifts you get and how expensive they are. we have forgotten in this modern world that relationships with other people- that human connection- is more valuable than all of the oil or gold or silver or flat screen tvs there are in the world. we should be using this time to reconnect with loved ones- family and friends- and then we would feel more contented. will the kids squawk? sure- they are kids. but if we lead the way as adults- the kids inherently know what’s important anyway. it’s we who have forgotten. bake cookies with loved ones this season. take the time- you will be glad that you did. here’s my mom’s sugar cookie recipe- from my house to yours- enjoy.

betmo’s mom’s sugar cookies

cream together 2/3 cups shortening, 3/4 cups white sugar, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 4 teaspoons milk. mix together 2 cups* flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. mix flour mixture into egg mixture and chill in fridge at least one hour. roll and cut. bake on greased sheets in 375 degree oven for 6-8 minutes or until lightly brown on bottom.

*to make drop cookies omit 1/2 cups flour and don’t chill. drop by rounded teaspoon onto greased sheet and bake as above 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

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