Let's Talk About... Christmas Cookies

Ok. The holidays are almost over but can we just review one small aspect? I know every family has its traditions. And one of those is often the making of Christmas cookies. You know, the ones where you use cute cookie cutters on sugar cookies, decorate them and then give them to all your friends on a pretty plate with a red bow?

It means, although I happily exchange cookies, I have discovered:

I fail at making Christmas cookies.

Let me explain. I have a friend who makes the kind of angels, snowmen, Christmas trees and reindeer you might find at a fine bakery. You know, icing in all the primary colors. Piped on contrasting appropriate colors to outline the details of said angel, snowman, Christmas tree and Rudolph.

Perfect wings, orange carrot nose and red scarf, individual ornaments, star on the top of the tree and of course, the complete harness and red nose. You don't even want to eat them. They are perfect. How does she do that?

Mine, in contrast, are made in a virtual typhoon of frenzy in my kitchen. It starts with my daughter insisting we make them, followed by the disappearance of my sons. I corral the whole family in the kitchen - since it's a tradition and all.

So, we pull out our mangled stained recipe from the box my husband made, get out last year's sprinkles, start the mixer mixing and the rolling pin rolling. Soon everyone is covered in flour and the table and floor are a sticky mess. Icing? Forgot it again. Who needs it?

And my sons disappear again after tossing some sprinkles in the cookie sheet's general direction. "Hey, I can see you guys! Get back here!" Crickets.

Naturally, I have tripled the recipe because, well, it's just what I do. So, by the time the assembly line is assembled, everyone is busy watching "The Santa Clause" and I am left to finish the decorating.

Now I do not claim to be an artist. And it shows. This is especially true as the fervor wanes at about the third batch.

The angels are covered in a heap of red sprinkles, the trees are yellow, and Rudolph's head fell off. Oh, and I forgot the snowman altogether.

They are a mess.

But they taste pretty good.

So, I swallow my pride, wrap some up for my baker friend, add a bow and realize, it's a great tradition.

And here's the red bow to this story: Appearance aside, nothing tastes better than a good cookie and nothing feels better than family.