Christmas Countdown C-8

Cookie Exchange

One of my favorite holiday traditions was baking cookies with my mother. Each year, we made dozens of cookies for relatives, neighbors, friends and co-workers. Once I had my own family, I worked to continue the tradition. Unfortunately, my time was limited. I found the stress of doing too much was robbing me of holiday joy.

Many of us have this same problem. The fantasy Christmas that plays in our head crashes into the reality of daily life and forces us to cut back on our activities. While most of us have accepted the fact that we can’t do everything during the holidays, it seems a pity to eliminate baking homemade Christmas cookies from our to-do list. Instead, invite 11 friends over for a cookie exchange. Each of you bake 12 dozen of your favorite Christmas cookies.

It is tempting to nibble your way through this event, sampling all the fabulous goodies everyone has brought to share. This is a very bad thing. Tasty but bad. Too often during the Holidays, we abandon good eating habits. We miss meals. We eat too much sugar. Well, you know what you (and I) are doing!

I think it is important to serve a simple, hearty and healthy meal during your cookie event. Soups, muffins, tea and hot cider are the perfect meal for a cold winter afternoon.