Sweet Holiday Memories
A photo of one of my mom's holiday cookie platters, featuring some of her favorites!
Kicking Off the Cookie Season
As long as I can remember, my mother, Santina baked her way through the holidays. She would play and sing Christmas music in her warm, bright little kitchen and make over a dozen varieties of cookies every year in the weeks leading up to the holiday.
Some of the cookies were from old family recipes like her mother's pink, anise-flavored Italian Wedding Cookies, Sicilian Pepper Cookies or her famous thin and buttery cut-out cookies. Others were newer recipes, like peanut butter cookie cups stuffed with a mini peanut butter cup inside. They were all stored snugly in holiday tins stacked high and frequently replenished so she could share them with visitors or deliver them to loved ones covered in cellophane cinched with a brightly colored ribbon.
Her cookie baking tradition was so special to me and always signaled the start of the holiday. We lost my mom very unexpectedly just days before Christmas nine years ago. As we all rushed to her home in disbelief, it was heartbreakingly beautiful to see the stacks of tins of her last batches of cookies piled high in anticipation of our arrival for a much different holiday.
Keeping Memories and Traditions Alive
As the years have passed, baking her and other family matriarchs' recipes is such a beautiful and meaningful connection to them. It fills my heart to continue those traditions.
This season, I am so excited to "open up the tins" and share some beloved holiday cookie recipes from both family and friends.
Wishing you a delicious holiday season filled with simple pleasures!
Fresh Out of the Oven!
Check out this new recipe for Pistachio Cherry Charmers just shared on Family Tree Foodie. Thanks for leaving a comment if you try them out!
Hi! Haven’t yet tried them but just read your latest blog post. Beautifully said, my dear old friend! Your mother was a treasure! 🩷🤍
Thanks so much for your kind note, Danielle! XOXO