I come from a long line of excellent bakers. My great-aunts back in Wisconsin would start baking Christmas goodies in October and then freeze them until the holidays. They would make dozens of varieties of cookies, breads, candies and bars. My own mother did the same when I was a child. At Christmas, the entire kitchen table would be covered with plates of home-baked goodness. In fact, we had no traditional Christmas dinner. Just sweets!
A few years back, even before I decided to lose weight, I had to reevaluate my own Christmas baking frenzy. My husband is not that interested in cookies (more cookies for me!) and my children don't like nuts in anything. I ended up eating huge quantities of Christmas goodies by myself. (Yes, Virginia, cookies will make you fat.)
When my now 5-year old was a very clingy baby, I realized that we could celebrate Christmas even if I did not spend days in the kitchen baking and cooking. That year, people gave us plates of their homemade Christmas cookies and no one even noticed that I didn't personally bake anything.
Mix all these events and thoughts together and I have come up with a Christmas cookie plan that works for me.
I bake, but only a few special items that everyone loves.
I use my mother's recipe for cut-out cookies that uses real butter and powdered sugar and we make the most delicious stars with sprinkles. The kids get to help and the cookies are ten times better than any other cut-out cookies I've ever had.
When I was a girl, my mother also made some cookies called (oddly enough) Horseshoe Cookies. They have a yeast dough and a nut filling. Delicious! I love them and no one else bakes them. (I've never had another version of them anywhere.)
So, last year, I baked them. My kids don't like nuts and my husband is not interested in cookies much, so after I had one or two, I froze them. (I think I took a few to a Christmas party. I can't remember now.)
Over the course of the year, I've seen them in the big freezer in my laundry room and remembered that they are there. I think I've had one or two of them. But the cookies remain . . . and here it is, Christmas again.
This year, maybe I should just give away the ones I don't want to eat! I think it's really funny that I still have them in my freezer after all this time. I never would have believed I could use such self-restraint. The key is that freezer in the other room. Out of sight, out of mind!
So, this holiday season, here are my suggestions:
1. Make, bake and eat only special items that you truly love.
2. Stash treats and temptations out of sight.
3. Confine your indulgences to one day or one occasion.
Then, enjoy!
Oh Melodee! Perfect timing. I am new to your blog, and as a fellow struggler I am so able to relate to you! After having a great week of eating well, I am off to the annual neighborhood cookie exchange. I dread it every year (because I always have to try each of the 12 varieties when we come home, of course!) This year, I am recognizing that it is okay for me to try each of the different kinds of cookies...just one day at a time. My own little "12 Cookies of Christmas" you might say. Ooops! There's the oven timer... :-)
Posted by: Jenni | December 07, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Would it be wrong to post the recipe for those yummy sounding cut out cookies on a diet blog?
I'm needing a cut-out cookie recipe. :)
Posted by: Patricia | December 07, 2007 at 02:28 PM
I'm seconding the request for the cookie recipe. (Although I haven't had time to make Christmas cookies for several years!)
Posted by: Kristin | December 07, 2007 at 03:21 PM
The cookies sound wonderful, both of them. At least you know better than to get into a baking frenzy at Christmas. My daughter-in-law always complains about her weight at the holidays and I tell her it's because of all the baking she does. She makes fresh baskets for everyone, but someone has to test the cookies to make sure they are edible don't they? She makes miniature fruit cake and has to try one. Need I go on? She's young she can lose the weight quickly. Wait until she hits the big 50.
Posted by: Patti Justice | December 07, 2007 at 06:18 PM
I'm from Wisconsin. With German grandmas who are the best bakers. So I understand. :)
Your 'Horseshoe Cookies' sound an awful lot like my Grandma's 'Butterhorns'. So I understand that too.
Today is our cookie baking day. I get together with my two cousins, my sister, and my sister-in-law and we make only cutout cookies all day long. My recipe is real butter too and delish. Why else would you make them, right? It's a tradition to do it this way and then I have plenty to bring to parties and give to neighbors...and I only sneak a couple. LOL!
Posted by: angela marie | December 08, 2007 at 05:10 AM
I would also appreciate you posting that sugar cookie recipe - you mean no more rolling them out and cutting? :)
thanks for all of your posts, I'm still struggling and trying to get on the wagon.
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | December 08, 2007 at 09:53 AM
isn't that funny. i thought I'd be the first to ask for that sugar cookie recipe. really, it's such a waste to try even 5 star sugar cookie recipes from all recipes and the like because none are what I am looking for. if you dare share the family recipe, I'd love to try them.
thanks.
Posted by: janet | December 08, 2007 at 11:17 AM
You can alsp Make meringue cookies or if you're watching your sugar buy sugar free meringues
Posted by: iportion | December 08, 2007 at 03:08 PM
I am struggling with this very problem myself. I made my cutout cookies yesterday (my Grandma's recipe, also using real butter and powdered sugar) and now I have multiple dozens of cutout cookies in my house that I have to try to avoid eating tons of every day. Ugh!
They are sooo delicious though. I am going to indulge a little during the holidays and then go back to strict eating in January. It will be worth it.
Posted by: coraspartan | December 10, 2007 at 10:04 AM
I have been looking for a horseshoe cookie recipe ever since my Mother passed on in 1995. I don't know if your Mother's recipe is the same, but I really would appreciate having the recipe. Mom's cookies were filled with lekvar and walnuts (as I remember), and horseshoe-shaped. Maybe she even put a thin icing on top. But they sure were good. By now, you probably are nice and thin. Keep up the good work.
Connie
Posted by: Connie Ianne | September 28, 2008 at 11:19 AM
I have been looking for a horseshoe cookie recipe ever since my Mother passed on in 1995. I don't know if your Mother's recipe is the same, but I really would appreciate having the recipe. Mom's cookies were filled with lekvar and walnuts (as I remember), and horseshoe-shaped. Maybe she even put a thin icing on top. But they sure were good. By now, you probably are nice and thin. Keep up the good work.
Connie
Posted by: Connie Ianne | September 28, 2008 at 11:20 AM