Making Christmas Cookies with Grandma

One of my favorite family traditions from the holidays when I young was making Christmas cookies. Every year, Mum used the same recipe and the same cookie press. I loved all the different shapes you could make by using different plates in the press, and then I loved to carefully decorate each one. So, it was a special treat for me to watch Jordi & Caroline experience this same tradition during our visit to Grandma Henri's house. They both seemed to have as much fun as I remember having!

Henri was very good about making sure each girl felt involved at her own level. Here they are, all mixing the cookie dough. Everyone has a part!

Now, on to the pressing. Jordi wanted to unscrew the press (because it was easier to turn that way, of course!), and Grandma had to keep reminding her to turn it the hard way!

First batch, ready for the oven!

We're getting ready to press out some more cookies on our empty cookie sheet in this picture. By now, we're midway through our second batch of the day, and what's noteworthy in this picture is Caroline's face. If you look closely, you'll see evidence that probably just as much decoration made into her mouth as onto the cookies! That's another thing that's so great about baking with Grandma: unlike Mommy, she doesn't mind how many times you sample the goods!