When I close my eyes to imagine the wonderful holiday season, I think of the smell of warm almond ‘thumbprint’ cookies – my grandma’s famous recipe. When I was a kid, I wanted to help make cookies, but there wasn’t much I could do. So, my grandma rolled out balls of almond cookie dough and had me press my small thumbs in the center, which we then filled with jam.
Food isn’t just a full belly. It’s a chance to sit and talk with people you love. It’s a way to connect with others and create lasting memories. My mom’s annual cookie baking party is a two-day celebration of chaotic sugary goodness. Afterwards, we go for a walk to our neighbor’s houses and give them tins of cookies. It is a very special part of Christmastime for me, and whether it’s hot cocoa, roast beef, latkes, or sweet potato pie, food means a lot.
But another reason everyone loves the holidays? It’s a time that nobody can judge the insane amount of food you consume. When you’re surrounded by everyone you love, you can stuff your face with as much turkey and cookies your poor stomach can handle. And when the new year rolls around, you get to start working on your resolutions because all your clothes will feel too small.
Dylan Skiby, the foods teacher at Highland, has a special Christmas custom. He makes a traditional Dutch breakfast called ebelskivers — fluffy, meringue pancakes dusted with powdered sugar.
“A lot of people would just call them pancakes, but they’re so much more than that,” Skiby said.
To him, the dish means that the holidays have arrived! For many, the season is marked by food, particularly special family recipes.
Ruby Gygi’s family also has wonderful Christmas traditions. On Christmas Eve, they go skiing and try to find Santa to take a photo with him. Then, they go home and watch A Christmas Story, and enjoy steak and fondue for dinner. Everyone has their own holiday traditions, and many are centered around good food.
Traditions are so important because they are a constant in an ever-changing world. When holiday stress kicks in, I can calm down by remembering our annual Grinch-movie-marathon by the fire with snowball cookies in hand.
