Slow Holidays

Are you already in HOLIDAY OVERDRIVE?

I just read a blog post about the importance of holiday traditions; the headline was, Creating Memorable Moments. My immediate thought was, “Can we actually ‘create’ memorable moments?”

Being the creator of memorable holiday moments is a pretty daunting responsibility, don’t you think? Producing, or making the holidays ‘happen’ generally falls on the woman. Yes, we love it and yes it makes us crazier than the proverbial fruitcake.

We can ponder and plan and purchase, trim the tree-bake-decorate-wrap-craft our little hearts out but who knows whether there will be any memorable moments? I just want to sit by the fire with a cup of hot tea, enjoy my family and let the memorable moments happen all by themselves. I know for sure they don’t happen when I’m running around like a mad woman. 

This year my goal is simply to create some space in our crazy schedules for a memorable moment to occur.

There’s a Slow Food Movement, why can’t there be a Slow Holiday movement? The by laws could include a sustainable activity schedule, (and sustainable budget) locally handcrafted gifts, valuing community and traditions, reaching out to the poor and making time to celebrate the birth of Jesus with family and friends. That’s a movement I could support!

MOM’S FRUITCAKE COOKIES

I didn’t appreciate these colorful gems much as a kid, but now they’re a taste of home. Feel free to change up the fruit to your liking: raisins, currants, dried apricots, add coconut or a dash of bourbon or rum – yum!

• 4 cups sifted flour
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 1 tsp baking soda
  
• 1 cup unsalted butter
  
• 2 cups brown sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
  
• 1 cup chopped nuts
  
• 1 cup candied cherries, cut in 1/4’s
  
• 2 cup dates (cut up)
  
• 1 cup mixed candied fruit
  

Sift flour, measure, sift again with soda and salt. Cream butter then add sugar and eggs. Beat until light and fluffy. Add buttermilk and flour, then add remaining ingredients. 

Chill for several hours. Drop by heaping teaspoon about 2″ apart on greased cookie sheet. Top with cherry.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown

Makes 8 dozen

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