Sunday, December 8, 2013

Holiday Nostalgia

Ana reminisces about a past holiday tradition.





I lived with my grandparents for several years while my dad worked overseas. Christmas was a festive time. Lots of decorations, a huge tree in front of the fireplace, eggnog (spiked, of course).



I was a foodie from a very young age, so I have fond memories of special holiday treats. My grandmother's cook was from Lithuania.

Tillie loved to bake, and she loved that I loved to sample her treats. Here is her recipe for 'Coo-coons.' It's remarkably similar to recipes from other cultures, which reinforces my feeling that the holiday spirit is universal.

Tillie's Coo-coons
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
4 Tablespoons powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and 1 cup flour. Mix well.
Add remaining flour and nuts.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and arrange on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees F.
Bake cookie balls until lightly golden, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Immediately roll in powdered sugar, and then roll again, until balls are well covered with powdered sugar. Cool.
Store in a covered container.

7 comments:

  1. The holidays are such a great time to reminisce, aren't they?

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  2. I'm looking for new Christmas recipes and I've not seen this one, so thank you, Ana. ;-)

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  3. My Mum always used to make meringues at Christmas, but however hard I tried, I could never make them as well as she did. Hers were crisp and light; mine tended to be heavy and chewy!

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  4. Yes, Debra. For sure.
    Nancy, these are so easy to make and sooo good!
    Meringue is hard, Paula. Much depends on the humidity.

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  5. LOL, maybe I can blame it on the humidity then - and not my own incompetence!

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  6. It's more fun with a big family, so we're going to bake when my daughter and granddaughter come up before Christmas.

    You are excused, Paula!

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