OHSue

I was doing my Christmas baking the past two nights. I was remembering doing this with my mom when I was young, and it wasn't really a good memory. My mom was known in our neighborhood and church as a great baker. She was always there with a cake or cookies if you had a shower or wedding. Later she started doing wedding cakes. She would make over 20 kinds of cookies, starting months ahead of time and storing them in a freezer. She made huge quantities, some things we mixed in dishwashing tubs. She made delicate pastries. But she also had two assistants (me and my sis) who did the work while she directed.

Those cookies were stored until December 24 and then they were put out on our dining room table, not to be eaten until Christmas Day. When we got older we would stay up until midnight just to attack the cookies. She would restock on Christmas in case of visitors, but after that the cookies stayed in the freezer, not to be eaten by we kids.

But if word got back to my mom that there was someone having a baby shower, wedding, funeral..... out came the cookies. Still only the broken ones went to the kids at home.

So tonight, while I was baking, and my son is hanging over me and burning his fingers trying to eat cookies off the pans.... I didn't scold him. And when my husband cut into the bars and ate a bunch of them..... I didn't scold him. When some fudge seemed to magically disappear (was it the cat? cause no one else is speaking up) I didn't complain. Because I don't have anybody more important to bake for. I don't think my mother ever caught onto that, and she really missed the chance to share something special with her family.

And if you are doing some special baking or cooking for the holidays, don't hold back, the neigbors will never be as grateful as your family.