Archive - December 2017

My mother has been called the Walter White of Christmas cookies.  She’s been known to bake them 3-figure numbers without breaking a sweat, and some of her creations have been declared utterly (and legally) addictive.  The decadence goes international with Norwegian Kringla, German-influenced Peparkakor and Leibkuchen, and Scottish shortbread.  But it’s the traditional, down-home, cut-out sugar cookie that no one can get enough of.  I am merely her protege, her Jesse Pinkman, who uses her recipes and is constantly trying to perfect the techniques and skill of a true pro.  I wish I had the time to hand paint (yes,…

Sometimes wakefulness at 4 am can produce something other than frustration.  Yes, my brain was marching through a parade of thoughts and worries faster than a screenager’s brain on gaming:  the Christmas party we are hosting, the puppy arriving the day after, did my son really just leave his ski jacket at school, or did he lose it?  You know how it can be, especially during this crazy, joyful, where-is-the-snow-already (!), time of year.  But in the middle of the brain train, I had one, just one, really good idea.  I’m jumping on the caboose of the veritable iron horse others like Maria…