Saturday, December 01, 2007

WELCOME DECEMBER Is there not a more perfect way to welcome the Christmas season than to make the very first batch of holiday cookies?? I had the most wonderful plan for the boys and I this morning. Gingerbread men!! But as you can see I don't have a gingerbread man cookie cutter. I really thought I did, but my collection of cookie cutters came up dry this morning. That's ok, right? My plan of the perfect, warm, cozy morning with my little boys was still possible. I turned on Christmas music and began. I have a thing about Christmas cookies: they have to be BEAUTIFUL! I was so excited to find a few tips in my newest cook book, "America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook". I followed the tried, tested, and true recipe and method knowing that our cookies would indeed be beautiful...not so much! The dough was WAY too sticky and we could not get them up without our snowmen becoming headless or looking a little like that scary "Scream" mask. I also was having trouble with my boys gouging the perfectly rolled out dough with their fat little fingers trying to eat it. After all, they really did not care what the cookies looked like. All they knew was that we were making cookies and that means dough...as much as they can and as quickly as they can - shove it into their mouths before mommy stops them. As soon as I would get a "nearly" perfect cookie, Luke would grab the closest cookie cutter and chop off my angel's wing or head. I soon realized that my warm and cozy feeling was getting a little chilly. After a couple of deep breaths, I sat back and watched them, knowing that THEY were enjoying our morning. I smooched all the cookies together, kneaded in a BUNCH of flour, and put our dough balls back into the fridge determined to start afresh. How did it all turn out??? Perfect. Crooked trees, headless angles, and frightening snowmen...we had a wonderful morning together, and I did manage to get a few "perfect" cookies out of it.



3 comments:

Nate, Kris, Adrianna and Natalie said...

That is so cute, Carissa. You're such a good mom to even try such an ordeal with your little boys - what good memories. :-) I see baby Kate wasn't invited to the festivities? Maybe next year. Can you send me your new home address? I don't think I have it.
birkholz3@sbcglobal.net

jeileenbaylor said...

What a fun time with the boys! You will all remember and treasure those times together!
I love the pic of the boys licking the spatulas -- how cute!

Carrie said...

how fun! we made our first batch of "christmas" cookies (they'll be done by next week I'm sure! - but its a start) last night (oatmeal butterscotch) and rice krispy treats.