Well that was nice. Thanksgiving I mean. Turkey and cranberries and wine and family and five pies do leave me with a warm glow of contentment that may even leave me cheerful enough to forgive my visiting father in law the sin of finishing ALL of the leftover stuffing. Or dressing, as my father insists on calling it, even though it was, in fact, cooked inside a turkey. Anyway, the point is Thanksgiving was lovely, but it is over, and moreover, it is now December 1, which means that even the grinchiest of grinches cannot deny that it is now more than appropriate to talk about Christmas.
I love Christmas — the deck the halls, the ho ho hos, the kisses under the mistletoe, the presents under the tree. I even love malls at Christmastime — sure they’re crowded, but they’re beautifully decorated and they’re playing Christmas music. But I really love Christmas food. It’s a time for gathering and gifting, when food plays a central role not just in the one day, but in the whole season. It’s a time for pies and cakes, hors d’oeuvres, soups and roasts, but nothing says Christmas quite like the Christmas cookie.
