Christmas Cookie Connoisseur

Since my move to the Keys, one of the holiday traditions that I miss the most is the annual cookie decorating with my sister, Mary Beth. We began taking over the cookie baking from our mom when I was in my late teens, and since Mary Beth is ten years younger, she was a child cookie maven! We usually produced five or six different types of cookies, and over the years, honed the variety to our favorites (in other words, those which we wanted to eat). We used to do a marathon one day event which often ended with some hysterical, laugh-till-we-cried comment out of our happy exhaustion. Later, to fit the cookies around families, and work, we divvied up the list and baked and exchanged but always, until the last couple of years, got together to decorate our favorite sour cream cookie. With Christmas carols playing (am I imagining remembering the Hallelujah chorus as we finished our last cookies) and Mary Beth's incredibly beautifully decorated house as the setting, the time together allowed a catching up period in our lives. My mood would lift and I would finally have the Christmas spirit.

The cookie recipe came from a neighbor in our childhood in Youngstown, Ohio name Dorothy Bevan. My mother had a set of cookie cutters which we treasured and are now in Mary Beth's kitchen. I have my own set which was given to me by a cousin, Teddy Grey, who is deceased after succumbing to complications of Juvenile diabetes. Teddy found them in his own mother's kitchen after she passed away and handed them to me one Christmas in an old Christmas card box. I treasure them and even the vintage box they live in! The cutters were originally made in 1948 and are called "Aunt Chick's cookie cutters." Cutters from the original molds are reproduced today but the original sets are collectibles. The history of the cookie cutters can be found at http://www.grammascutters.com/chick.asp . I remember proudly taking the Easter Bunny cookie to my class in elementary school for my birthday sharing treat. My mom wasn't very artistic, but those cookies were works of art in my eyes.

The recipe for the cookies even gave me a photo op in the Cleveland Plain Dealer back in 1977. I had sent the recipe in for some reason that I cannot remember, and the cookie was selected and a photographer sent to my house. I found the photo and article tucked away in some of my mom's things once. I guess it didn't matter after all that I didn't make National Honor Society because I was recognized for my cookie baking skills. Even more bizarre was the mention of same in my first husband's eulogy at his funeral. Doug had a fine appreciation for our cookies and was probably our biggest fan. I was not really all that thrilled about having his girlfriend at the time of his death sum me up as his blond, Swedish first wife who was an incredible cookie baker... What did she know. I am not even really blond.

The real cookie artist, though, is my sister, who never ceases to amaze me with her absolutely gorgeous creations. Over the years we have included other persons in the decorating process, and actually, Mary Beth's husband has shown a bit of a creative flare in the decorating arena. Our sons, Sam and Dan, who are six weeks apart in age, always had to decorate a few each year. Sometimes that caused a bit of a cringe from MB who is a self pronounced perfectionist, but I think she finally has that part of her nature tamed. After all, it is a bit hard to see a perfectly baked cookie turned into a Jackson Pollack wannabe. Sam's version of decorating consisted of how high he could pile icing and how many silver dragees and colored sprinkles he could fit on a two inch star. Even I had a bit of a problem putting those cookies on the platters we gave away! I think they may have ended up on my hips instead.

When I asked Mary Beth if she had a picture I could post in my blog, her response was "of course, who doesn't take pictures of their cookies?" So here it is. And, if you want the recipe, you have to read the blog and ask me! I only share with those who care.

Naughty or Nice?

It probably was a mistake for me to open my mouth a few minutes ago when leaving the grocery store. After watching my Browns lose to a team who had a ten game losing streak going before we handed them a win, I may have been a bit Grinchie. When I approached my car, I watched a middle aged couple push their empty shopping cart to the parking space next to them and start getting in their car. I had to do it. I said "you really shouldn't leave your cart there - it blocks others and may damage a car. You need to put it back." Begrudgingly, the man pushed the cart back to the store entrance. He was probably calling me endearments the whole time - that begin in B, end in H and have ITC in the middle. I think I have watched hundreds of people do this but for some reason, I couldn't keep my mouth shut today.

I have a list of pet peeves and I want to share a few. I would love to hear what bugs the heck out of other people.

Naughty:

1. Obviously, the cart issue.

2. The dog walkers in my neighborhood who lovingly place their bags of dog poop under the baggie dispenser in the neighborhood park. What do they think, that the Poop Fairy comes sometime between dusk and dawn, sprinkles fairy dust and makes them disappear with her magic wand? Its not like there are not numerous garbage cans in the park. And, if these pet owners are too lazy to walk the extra steps to use one, why can't they carry the little bag that is provided to them free of charge to their home and put it in their own trash. Do the rest of us enjoy looking at a beautiful landscape with white poop bags as accents?

3. The drivers who, after been let in to traffic by your kindness, patience and generosity, drive on by without a little wave or a smile or even a solemn nod of acknowledgement. It makes me feel they believe they deserve to cut in. It is their right and I am supposed to delay my journey for them. Bah.

4. Litter. Especially cigarette butts. I am shocked at the motel by how many butts I can pick up in a day. 'Nuf said.

5. Cell phone users who talk loudly in public places so that I can hear their conversations. Like the man in the grocery store last week who was saying "she hasn't found the pistol yet, but she is still looking." Did I need to worry about that? Harry is in this category of naughty. He cannot put the phone on mute, unless he is in the movies or a funeral. I give him the evil eye in restaurants when it rings.

Also, drivers who slow down to below the speed limit, and when you pass them, you see that they are cluelessly gabbing away, oblivious to their surroundings. Or even worse, are texting - looking down with the occasional glance up at the road ahead. I cannot say that I do not talk on my phone, so Santa, please don't bring me coal. I will try to do better.

Of course there are many more pet peeves. People who want to talk and not listen. People who speed up when you try to pass them. People who talk in movies. People who talk about getting old - like when you say how are you and they say "good, I woke up." The list can go on and on. And, on a Nice note, when I stopped at the post office after the shopping cart incident, a woman waited with the door held open for me. I thanked her so profusely because she elevated me out of my Scrooge mood, she may have thought I was high on something. Just on gratitude and with thoughtful people and Christmas carols on the radio, who can stay grumpy for long.

Marin County, USA

We just got back from visiting Doris (Harry's step mom) in her new digs. She lives in the hills in the picture to the left on the north side of the Golden Gate bridge in Marin County. I have been singing Scott McKenzie's inane song lyrics "if you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair" all week. I have been to the city before, but never spent much time north and WOW, I love this area of the country.

Doris moved to an apartment in a senior living facility in San Rafael a few months ago after living in L.A. for her adult life. It was a very big move for her but she decided that she needed to be near her "boys", Harvey and Ron now that her husband, Harry's dad, is gone.

After years of visiting in LA, this is new territory for us and really fun to explore somewhere new. Ron and Harvey (Harry's step-brothers) were incredible tour guides. Harvey took us into the Napa Valley and in the town of Napa we had a fantastic lunch at a restaurant in Napa named La Tra Vigne. The food and surroundings reminded me so much of my walking trip in Tuscany. We stopped at wineries and also did a wine tasting. I could even sort of taste some of the descriptions of wines, (dusty?) although there is a haughtiness that is somewhat amusing to me about the whole process. To me, if it tastes good, it is good. The valley is so picturesque, with rolling hills covered in grape vines and charming, rustic and Victorian architecture. I felt drawn to the area and could easily imagine being a farmer there in a former life.

Harry and I also visited Muir Woods National Park. Harry was so proud to use his senior pass that gets us in for free at all NP's. What an amazing and prehistoric-feeling environment. Chilly, damp, silent with thousand year old towering Redwoods (sequoia sempervirons) looming over us. And in other parts of California, there are the Giant Sequoia which are around 3000 years old! We got a bit lost getting there and the ride on a hairpin curved road with no guard rails was like my nightmare that accompanies the one I have of driving over bridges. I was almost in Harry's lap since I was on the cliff side.

Doris's other son, Ron, took us on the city tour. The view of the Golden Gate bridge was taken from the Presidio area and next to a Civil War fort. I have to look that up because I cannot understand why there would have been a fort there. Who would they have been defending against? I wanted to jump out of the car over and over in the city and explore, but unfortunately, Doris's bad knee is limiting her mobility so our activities are getting more and more limited, and we did most of that days sightseeing on our bums. I mean, the most activity we had was limited to non-stop restaurant decisions and eating. I think I will pack my tennis shoes next time and head to the gym every day as we did some serious eating. The words "organic", "artisanal", "fresh" are thrown about and they really do fit the cuisine. This area is for serious foodies.

Doris seems to be adjusting. It was disarming to see her apartment at first. A home dismantled and condensed to the basics in a small apartment. But all of it familiar to us, if not in a different setting. I think that for me, the realization of a life change, and Harry's dad gone, was the most disturbing. And, when we would go downstairs to leave the building, seeing all of the various types of walkers lined up outside of the dining room was a reality check. It is just selfish on my behalf. I don't want to see Doris age. She is our last parent to enjoy time with.

cHappy cHanukkah

I am so glad that I married someone who is Jewish and learned a little bit about the holidays and food. Latkes are one of the most delicious comfort types of food ever. I usually have them once during the eight days of Hanukkah, and serve them with applesauce and sour cream. I also usually have beef brisket and gravy with them. I never had cooked or even seen a cut of beef called brisket until I met Harry's mom, 28 years ago. Boy, could she cook!

I am posting the recipe and hope that some of you will try them and tell me how you like them. I never met anyone who didn't!

Latkes

2 1/2 # baking potatoes (6 good size)

1 medium onion

2 eggs

1/4 t. baking powder

2 T. flour

salt and pepper

Vegetable Oil and butter (OK, so I am not Kosher)

Grate potatoes and onion in food processor. Put in bowl. Drain or blot moisture in bottom of bowl. Add eggs, baking powder, flour and salt & pepper. Put about 1/8 inch of oil in bottom of skillet. Add a blob of butter (about 1 and 1/2 T.). Heat over medium to medium-hi heat. Spoon potato mixture (with slotted spoon) into pan, and flatten pancakes. Cook until golden brown on both sides.

Serve with sour cream and applesauce.