I've started baking Christmas cookies

[spinbaby]

It’s been snowing, so it seemed the time to get started. First out of the gate are the spice cookies that are best aged at least a couple of weeks before consuming. Many of the recipes include nuts, but we have nut allergies in the family, so they get left out. I’ve made lebkuchen from King Arthur Flour, which includes bits of crystallized ginger. Then pfeffernusse from Rose Levy Beranbaum—a mild version without molasses, but with plenty of candied lemon rind. Finally I made springerle, which are now drying out before baking in the morning. I have some traditional wooden molds to shape the springerle. One of the molds depicts what I think is a baby riding a stork. I bought the mold at a Christmas market, but I’ll be darned if I can figure out which Christmas tradition features a baby riding a stork.

[Backseat Driver]

1. I found one that may explain that mold:

http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-stories/legend-of-stork.html

[Grasswire2]

2. mmm mmm Rose Levy Beranbaum

I remember going to her restaurant in Portland long, long ago.

I had her baking book. I don't know what happened to it! I'll have to find one used somewhere.

[Grasswire2]

3. My Aunt Dorothy was a huge baker at Christmas.

In her pantry, behind the swinging door to the kitchen, were stacks of pretty tins filled with cookies.

My favorites were kiflings, also known now as Russian tea cakes, I think. She would give me a whole tin for myself.

She also made thumbprints, of course, and Coconut Islands (chocolate frosting) and so many others.

I have been a prolific baker over the years, but my family is spread out now. And shipping costs are staggering. I made a sherry cake to mail to a family member in New Mexico and it was going to cost $40 for postage!

[SWBTATTReg]

4. My favorite time of the year, for the most part. I enjoying making chocolate chip cookies,

the Toll House recipe, it's been a family tradition running over 30 years or so. Nothing beats a good cookie like those made at home, IMHO.