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.
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