Christmas has always been a very special time for me. There is something about the shining lights, the decorating, and the baking that reminds me of how faith, family, and love intertwines to bless the house with joy.
One feature of my new house that brings family and friends together is my kitchen with its huge space. It is here that I spent much time preparing the annual cookie bundles this year. I dabbled with different flavors and types of cookies but saved some time for the traditional sugar cookie making. First, I needed to find the cookie cutters that hold years of memories. Next, icing was needed so I searched the internet to find a delicious peppermint icing, Sprinkles were needed after several attempts to cut out the cookies. This process brought me back to memories of baking cookies with my mother. As an artist, she easily decorated her cookies with different types of nibs. No matter how hard I tried, I could not create a design like hers but I heard on TV that a cookie's decoration did not need to be perfect. All you need to do is have fun.
When I opened the sugar cookie container on Christmas, my granddaughter, Sierra, quietly snuck up next to me, peeked into the cookie container, and softly said.
"Grandma, you make beautiful cookies."
After that sweet statement, my heart leaped for joy. I knew that my kitchen would be the place where baking happens with the little grandgirls and new memories would be born.
There's so much warmth and joy in baking. It becomes even more wonderful when you do it together with loved ones. Wishing you many sweet moments with your grandkids!
ReplyDeleteCarol, the kitchen is truly the heart of the home. I agree that cookies don't have to be perfect. They just need to be made with joy and love. I think your cookies fit that bill. May you and your family have a healthy and Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteBob, I am glad to hear you agree with my thoughts on cookies. I look back on all the cookies I have included in my posts and realized that I could and would show the sugar cookies in their imperfect stage as a commitment to strive for inner beauty (taste and texture) and not always to share a polished foodie photo. When Sierra told me what she did, I realized how special each cookie could be in the eyes of a child when made with love. Happy Baking during the new year.
DeleteWhat a lovely tradition you have started in your new home, Carol! I love this post and all the joy contained within! Thank you for sharing! Have a Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThis is beyond sweet, Carol! Perfect definition of "kitchen." So many of our greatest life memories are centered in the kitchen or around the table - seasoned with love, indeed. My daughter-in-law is a very artistic baker and this year (since new baby Micah is on the scene) my granddaughter Scout helped make the gingerbread cookies. She decorated some on her own and when I saw the pictures, I thought - this is how it all begins, a fledgling artist at work. One day her cookies will be as breathtaking as her mom's. And so your grandgirls will inherit your cookie legacy! Something to commemorate and celebrate, indeed - as are these precious, precious moments.
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