The Cookie Baking Weekend

Sugar Cookies and more for the 20th Day of Advent

Photo: Jolene

The final weekend before Christmas is here, and a lot of people I know are baking cookies over the next few days with family and friends.

For young children excitedly awaiting Santa’s arrival, the cookie plate and glass of milk they will leave for him are an essential part of Christmas Eve.

I’d never really thought about the origins of this sweet practice, so I decided to take a look.

Leaving cookies and milk for Santa—and perhaps a few carrots for his reindeer—took off as an American holiday tradition in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. In that time of great economic hardship, many parents tried to teach their children that it was important to give to others and to show gratitude for the gifts they were lucky enough to receive on Christmas. — HISTORY.com

As with so many of our modern traditions, they are connected to mythology or celebrations of the winter solstice:

The original roots of this holiday food tradition go back even further—all the way to ancient Norse mythology.

For more on the beginnings of this beloved holiday ritual, click: HERE

My Favorite Sugar Cookie

The wonderful

Anne Byrn

of

Anne Byrn: Between the Layers

created a sugar cookie named for her daughter, Kathleen, and it is crisp, buttery and ready for decorating — or great right out of the oven, unadorned. The recipe is from Anne’s Book, American Cookie.

Also, Anne’s new book, Baking in the American South , is outstanding — I’ve had my copy since it came out and I’ve gifted it to others who are also loving it.

Here’s the recipe for Kathleen’s Sugar Cookies, you will love them!

As I was writing this post…

I got a text from my niece Maggie that the annual Christmas cookie bake was happening on Long Island. Shortly after, Cathy, my sister-in-law, FaceTimed me and I was able to join in the fun with everyone in NY for a bit. It was really so sweet. They just sent me this photo of their finished cookies and they are adorable. ❤️

The First Night of Hanukkah is December 25th

There will be a lot of celebrating going on December 25th, with both Christmas and Hanukkah falling on the same day —and

Ruth Stroud

did a fantastic post recently with recipes for cookies, latkes and more. You can visit the link here:

Ready, Set, Hanukkah!🕎

New Book Alert

I’ve just ordered this book and I know I’ll be writing more about it in the New Year.

Extra! Extra! Eat All About It: Recipes and Culinary Curiosities from Wisconsin Newspapers, by Jane Conway and Randi Julia Ramsden, recreates 50 recipes from the pages of Wisconsin newspapers first published in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Each recipe is accompanied by an historical essay that highlights the food trends of the time. This sounds great. Published by the Wisconsin Historical Society. ✨

Part 4 — Writers Comments on Holiday Traditions

Kirthana Ramisetti

I have two different Christmas playlists: an upbeat one that includes Mariah, Wham's "Last Christmas" and The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping," and a melancholy/reflective playlist that includes Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Christmastime is Here." Plus, thick, fuzzy socks, annual family White Elephant exchange and a lot of hot cocoa.✨

Tobias Carroll

For the last few years, my tradition has involved listening to the 25-hour holiday music marathon on WPRB. (Which, full disclosure, l've also contributed a few short stories to.)✨

My Other Advent Calendar

My friend

@AmyRazeghi

of

Constellations In Her Bones

refers to my Advent calendar as my “Advent-ture” calendar. Accurate! I’ve been keeping track of/planning out the posts with my tools of choice: my giant calendar and post-it notes that I’ve been able to change around as needed as the days of Advent unfolded. Just five days left till Christmas and Hanukkah. ✨

Day 20 of “The Little Town” Advent Calendar

See you tomorrow! 🍪 Jolene