For me, Christmas is all about this:
Yes, it's a plate of very tasty looking Christmas cookies. But the meaning of Christmas is in the story behind the cookies.
I have three close friends that I went to elementary school through college with. We've had countless sleepovers, produced far too many cheesy videos for school projects, been in each others' weddings, and have supported each other through some very happy and very sad times. Every year, in spite of hectic work schedules, events with our extended families and in-laws, and blizzard advisories, we get together and have a Christmas cookie exchange. This year, we met up in Duluth for an afternoon of Christmas cookies and Thai food. My friend H made lovely gingerbread cookies, some even in the shape of Minnesota; M made decadent peppermint-chocolate chunk cookies; and K (who may have the more patience than the rest of us put together) made rosettes and pizelles. The tins of Christmas cookies I brought home were festive and delicious, but what was more important to me was spending time with people I love who I don't get to see very often. And that's what Christmas is all about.
My contributions to the Christmas cookie exchange this year were chocolate covered pretzels, jam thumbprint cookies, and my grandmother's no-bake cookies.
Ingredients:
- 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Combine cocoa powder, sugar, milk, and butter in a medium saucepan and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in oatmeal, vanilla, and marshmallows.
Allow mixture to cool for several minutes until lukewarm. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of the mixture onto wax paper and allow to set.
Serve with love, and have a happy holiday season.