The holidays always remind me that I’m not Martha Stewart. My house does not become a festive winter wonderland ready to be captured on the cover of the some high-end products catalog as the McMansion of the month. I string lights around my mantle but the wires show, (which is very uncatalog-like) and my Christmuka tree is “realistic” but not real. Presents I wrap don’t have perfect edges or artistic bows and the invisible tape is not quite invisible.
But I can cook. So I do that, a lot of that, and I have to say, it makes me happy and fills me with a holiday spirit that is as real as my tree isn’t. And when you deliver a batch of cookies to someone, like I just did to the ladies in the office at my daughter’s school, it feels right and it defines the holidays for me in a way that all the picture perfect Christmas catalogs can’t get close to. Giving. Feeding. Nourishing. Sharing. Taking the time to surprise someone with a gift. Food gifts are one way to bundle all that into one tin, brown bag or box. Make something and give it away and you are not just giving food, but your time, your love, your energy, your planning, your thoughts and your effort.
Here is a simple recipe for a delicious, buttery cookie you don’t have to be a great cook to make well. Put some holiday music on in the kitchen…
Give these a try and then give them away!
Wishing you a happy, messy, unperfect and perfectly wonderful holiday season! xoxo Rachel
ingredients
Chocolate Ganache Thumbprint Cookies
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
¾ teaspoon baking powder (omit if making thumbprints, ball cookies, or spritz cookies)
½ teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
8 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ cup heavy cream
¾ cup crushed peppermints or walnuts (optional)