Time for Baking

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything under the sun.  Today is the time for baking!

I know that most families have traditions around the holidays.  We all tend to think that the other families' traditions are odd but that our are perfectly normal.  That being said, the longest running tradition that I am aware of in OUR family is Cookie Day.

For as long as I can remember, it has been our family tradition to gather the day after Thanksgiving and bake peppernuts.  Peppernuts are a traditional German cookie (there are 2 types, those with anise and those with cardamom - ours are the latter).  No matter where we are on Thanksgiving Day, we all gather back together on the Friday after.  It is not unusual to bake up to 3 batches of cookies at about 700 cookies per batch.  We warm up the leftover turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes and yams.  We mix the dough, roll out the cookies and have cooling racks set up all over the kitchen.

This year, for the first time, it is at our house.  Truly, there is nothing like being surrounded by 25-30 family members and baking cookies.  May you and your families have an amazing day as well.