So in light of all that, I have a confession to make.
We baked Christmas cookies this past week. It wasn't my fault. Munchkin saw an ad for Ziploc containers containing those cute little reindeer cookies with the pretzel antlers and would not be satisfied until we had rolled out the dough and poured on the sprinkles.
I think it will all work out because Christmas is at my parents' house this year, and Mom specifically expressed a desire to cut down on the sugar in our Christmas munchie tray. That's a laudable goal, but it also means that some things are going to be left out. If all of the Christmas foods that we look forward to, the foods without which the celebration seems incomplete, were included with all the new recipes that we just have to try, then the sugar intake is more likely to grow than diminish. In spite of the what the advertisers say, it's hard to be healthy without sacrificing some indulgence. (That should really be a no brainer, but application of good principles is rarely a no brainer.)
So maybe it would be a good idea to spread out the Christmas season, at least in terms of eatables. If we bake early and bake often, then we'll be getting in the cozy, jovial spirit of expectation that should go with Christmas. Moreover, we won't be out shopping. We'll eat our sugar cookies the first week of Advent and maybe peanut butter fudge the second week. Week three will feature Nana's apple cake. Week four can be peppermint bark. Then by the time we hit the big celebration in week 5, we won't be missing the foods that only come out once a year, and we might not feel the compulsion to stuff ourselves with good things since the good things have been here all along. But I'm not betting on it. Mom says my sister has discovered a new do-it-yourself truffle recipe.
