Geneabloggers Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories.
Christmas baking is a tradition in our family. We not only made cookies but plum pudding and Christmas cake. I remember standing on a stool in the kitchen helping my mother do the baking; at least I thought I was helping.
One cookie that stands out is shortbread. Mum would make a big batch and put the dough in a 9×13 pan. She would score the top with the back of a fork for decoration and use a knife to put in the lines to cut the cookies when they came out of the oven. Then a dusting of sugar was put on top.
I remember stirring the Christmas pudding and making a wish. It was made early because it had to be put in the pantry and then ‘fed’ on a regular basis, the same with the Christmas cake.
About thirty years ago I took on the tradition of Christmas baking. The Christmas pudding and cakes are not made these days as people are eating relatively lighter fair. When I lived at home my Dad looked forward to the baking session as I always presented him with the cookies and chocolates that broke. He said he missed that when I moved out.
I have just finished my Christmas baking for this year and have made seven different kinds of cookies, four kinds of bars and twenty five dozen chocolate truffles of varying flavours.
Note: In 2011 it was two kinds of bars, 10 different kinds of cookies, fifteen dozen truffles, some fudge and chocolate bark.
This was originally published in December 2010
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