For the Love of Christmas

by Margie Senechal

I have come to the conclusion that baking is my love language--which is why I was late getting this post to Liz in time to get it posted. Okay, back to me and baking. Just for the record, I'm not a happy cook and consider it my nemesis that I have to conquer a few times a week in order to feed my family.

 But, baking--

As the daughter of a professional cook and baker, you'd think I would've garnered many a tip. And you'd be wrong. My dad was an instinctual cook and if you asked him for a recipe, he couldn't give you one. When I was newlywed, I had to take notes when he made his meatloaf in order to have a working recipe. It never turned out as good as his, but at least my family doesn't protest.

In the Navy, where he learned his trade, he baked and decorated cakes for two Miss America's who boarded his ship in the 60's--when Miss America was a big deal. For my eighth birthday, he created a Dennis-the-Menace (my favorite comic) scene where Ruff has toppled the table with a birthday cake on it and Dennis yells, "Ruff! It's Margie's birthday."

I first learned to bake the summer I was eleven or twelve. My sister, Debbie, and our neighbor, Louise had returned to Louise's house to procure a small pan in which to cook a frog that we had accidentally killed (don't ask). Mrs. Hanson distracted us by enlisting our help to bake chocolate chip cookies.

I don't remember the specifics, but three things stand out to me about the experience. One, Mrs. Hanson told me you never need more than a cap of vanilla--this was before Costco. I've lived by that rule, and it's never done me wrong. Two, she told me I didn't need a new cup for a drink of water, to just use the measuring cup. Did I mention she was the mother of six? And three, I now knew how to bake! 

After proving to my parents that I could bake these cookies, I became the cookie baker of the family. I used to bake when family friends came to visit--particularly Karen and Bob, because Bob praised those cookies up and down. Karen wasn't known for her culinary expertise. By the time I reached high school, I had Nestle's Tollhouse recipe memorized.

As Christmas approaches each year, I set aside a block of time to bake. Since I left retail, I now take a week off in the middle of the month to bake for friends and family. My nephews get their favorites every Christmas and birthday (if I see them). 

I have some cookies that are must haves--Snickerdoodles, Chocolate Chip, Life-Like Sugar Cookies with frosting, PB Blossoms, and the original Fantasy Fudge. This year I added Bugga's Molasses cookies--some with a drizzle of white chocolate, and the Canadian specialty, Nanaimo Bars.

And I had to do another batch of PB blossoms after fumbling my tin and emptying the entire thing onto the floor. No five-second rule for giveaways :-)

I have already begun deliveries and have a few more going out before Christmas Eve. If you could see my teeny, tiny galley kitchen, you'd understand why I consider baking cookies a labor  of love.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah! 

Margie Senechal is a Pacific NW based writer who had a short story published in Once Upon a Book Club's 2020 Advent Calendar and writes a bi-weekly column for Great Thoughts, Great Readers on Facebook.

  I don't have anything to hock right now, but I'm hopeful that one day I will and I'll see you again in between the words.