My wife has been baking gingerbread cookies for her family for more than 40 years. She personalizes the boys and girls. She also bakes Ginger Creams, Snickerdoodles, Monsters, and others, and makes old-fashioned, chocolate fudge (she adds peanut butter to it). She tells me this fudge recipe was once on the Hershey’s Cocoa can and she has been making it since she was 14 years-old. The aroma in the house at Christmastime is wonderful. One of her sons and two grandchildren live in the Northwest and she always sends a big box full of these delectable sweets. This year, she thought about sending the recipes to her daughter-in-law here, the one in Vancouver, Washington, and giving up the majority of the annual baking. As much as she enjoys personalizing all of the gingerbread boys and girls, maybe it was time to pass the tradition on to the younger generation.
Not only does she have to mix a very stiff batter, it has to be chilled and then rolled out to about one-half inch. She then cuts out the gingerbread boys and girls, bakes them, and when they come out of the oven and cool they have to be decorated. It requires a great deal of time. And, of course, there are the other cookies and the candy.
Several days before the baking was to begin, the shooting at the Clackamas Town Center shopping mall in Oregon occurred. My wife’s granddaughter, Michaela, lives no more than 20 minutes from there, so she picked up the phone and called her. She was relieved to hear Michaela’s voice. (No one in the family had been at the shopping center where two people had been killed.) And, as fate might have it, during the course of the conversation Michaela asked when the cookie box was being sent. She mentioned to her grandmother how much she enjoys the cookies, especially the Ginger Creams … which are also her dad’s favorites. My wife laughed and told her they should be there by Thursday, December 20th, or Friday, December 21st.
The next day, our Northwest daughter-in-law sent my wife an email regarding some of the presents that were to be opened early. At the end of the email was a question: “When is the cookie box coming?” Once again, the reply was, “Probably next Thursday or Friday.” Also, my wife’s eldest son and his wife live in the area and whenever Christmas cookies are mentioned, they always look at her and utter, “Yum, can’t wait.”
This year, in addition to the eyes, nose, mouth and other trim, the person’s first initial was written on each gingerbread boy or girl (she used to write full, first names). Then, a scarf was added around the neck. They look so cute and taste so good, but they are a lot of work! After the icing sets, each cookie is wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a quart-size bag. When that is done, she frosts a double batch of Ginger Creams with cream cheese icing and dusts them with cinnamon and sugar. They are delicious! Meanwhile, Snickerdoodles and Monsters have been baked and placed in tins. And, lest I forget, the chocolate-peanut butter fudge, one of my favorite things, is cut into squares and put into a Christmas tin. (The fudge is also grandson Alex’s favorite.) After days of baking and cooking, everything is packed into a box and readied for shipping.
I must admit I, too, enjoy and appreciate all the baking, cooking and, of course, the partaking of holiday goodies.
Granddaughter Michaela called Christmas day to thank us for the gifts we sent and told my wife she was eating her gingerbread girl cookie. The tradition continues…
Ronn Mott, a longtime radio personality in Terre Haute, writes commentaries for the Tribune-Star. His pieces are published online Tuesday and Thursday on Tribstar.com, and in the print and online editions on Saturday.
Opinion
Related Photos
-
Ronn Mott
Discussion
RONN MOTT: The cookie box
- Opinion
-
-
RONN MOTT: Rabid Republicans
The so-called news people at Fox News can hardly sit still long enough to report on the latest gossip or untruth about our sitting President. They can hardly contain themselves.
-
READERS’ FORUM: May 21, 2013
• Great response to annual golf outing
• Doing your part on climate change
-
LIZ CIANCONE: Smell of fresh air gave way to dryers
Remember when clean clothes smelled like fresh air and sunshine rather than fabric softener and dryer sheets?
-
READERS' FORUM: May 20, 2013
The dangers of a little knowledge
Students enjoyed Rose study trip
-
Mark Bennett: High-profile mural connects historical dots from city to river
At 96 feet wide and 2 stories tall, the power, impact and value of the Wabash will be evident.
-
EDITORIAL: Waging the ‘readiness’ campaign
Almost every Hoosier who starts college intends to finish. Unfortunately, those who arrive on campus unprepared in key academic areas are far less likely to fulfill that aspiration.
-
READERS' FORUM: May 19, 2013
• Flawed reasoning on gun checks
• A hint of things yet to come?
• Are the ‘makers’ doing the ‘taking’?
• The ‘Obamination’ is finally revealed
• Pondering effects of Obamacare
• Fantasizing on the ‘Apocalypse’
• Another view of Hinduism
• Great experience for HCMS students
-
FLASHPOINT: A legislative session of missed opportunities
Given the nature of politicians, grand claims of accomplishments and overblown rhetoric about “historic” efforts are to be expected at the close of any legislative session.
-
RONN MOTT: Mushrooms = Hoosier happiness
Someone wrote or said a few years ago a statement that would define the word “Hoosier.” According to this urban legend, a Hoosier is somebody dribbling a basketball around the Indy 500 while eating a fried, morel mushroom. It did not define me, at the time.
-
EDITORIAL: Insult to an independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
-
READERS' FORUM: May 17, 2013
Hinduism doesn’t deserve ridicule — Shefali Purohit, Terre Haute
-
RONN MOTT: Israel’s Air Force
Recently the Israeli Air Force bombed and rocketed a convoy leaving Syria going to Lebanon with rockets that were going to be used to attack Israel. It did not get there. It was destroyed.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: Dashing finish for the Sycamores
It’s always thrilling to see Indiana State University’s athletic teams do well in high-level competition, and two specific teams rose to impressive heights last weekend in the Missouri Valley Conference outdoor track and field championships.
-
Readers' Forum: May 16, 2013
Moving Deming folks sounds ‘nuts’
-
Readers' Forum: May 15, 2013
Participants rise to the challenge: I would like to write a letter congratulating all the Wabash Valley Roadrunners that competed in the One America Indianapolis Mini Marathon.
-
RONN MOTT: Media merry-go-round
Round and round it goes, where it stops nobody knows. That isn’t a unique phrase to this writer or to this era in time. But, when it comes to the musical chairs of broadcasting, it certainly applies.
-
LIZ CIANCONE: Courts see a different appearance than cops
Have you ever noticed the transformation between the arrest of an accused lawbreaker and the first appearance in court?
-
READERS' FORUM: May 14, 2013
ISTEP failure exposes flaws
Community hasn’t changed its spirit
Egregious threat to nation’s defense
-
READERS' FORUM: May 13, 2013
• Women’s group criticizes Bucshon
• Let’s hope this doesn’t come true
• Many get thanks for fest success
-
MARK BENNETT: Life at face value: Mom’s simple advice still presents a valuable daily challenge
Most moms don’t base their advice on scientific research.
(Unless, of course, your mother is a scientific researcher. If so, carry a No. 2 pencil and take good notes.) -
EDITORIAL: Better monitoring needed to prevent local environmental messes
The nasty, hazardous messes lurking in the community raise a bottom-line, red-flag question. Could these environmental problems have been monitored and, thus, prevented?
-
GUEST COLUMN: Nursing more than medicine and bandages
Being a nurse … Like most nurses, I chose this profession because I had a strong desire to help others and no other career would allow me the opportunity to touch lives the way I have been able to through nursing.
-
READERS' FORUM: May 12, 2013
Vigo Youth Football, entering 45th year, seeks new support
Media ignoring important case on abortions
Proud to be old-fashioned
Guns in school? What’s next?
Promoting hate not a ‘brave’ act
-
FLASHPOINT: Again in 2013 General Assembly, middle class generally ignored
Last year, the people of Indiana entrusted the Republican Party with some of their most precious possessions.
-
RONN MOTT: ‘Raccoons II’
In the Algonquin Indian language, raccoon means “working with hands.” They are really cute little fellows until they injure a child, or a pet, or leave feces around where you certainly do not want it.
-
Readers’ Forum: May 11, 2013
I just wanted to express my disappointment at the lack of response shown by President Obama after the Boston Marathon bombings.
-
Readers' Forum: May 10, 2013
CANDLES event plants new seed: On April 26, CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center hosted an event called “Sowing Seeds of Peace: A Celebration of Spring” at the Apple House. Our purpose was to introduce people to our concept of forgiveness as a seed for peace.
-
RONN MOTT: ‘NRA Convention’
At the recent NRA Convention in Houston, Texas, where the right-wing political hot air almost lifted the convention's building off its foundation, the NRA trotted out the forever yours political dame of the right wing, Sarah Palin. Sarah did not disappoint.
-
EDITORIAL: Memo to U.S.A.: You can ‘SPPRAK’ just as we do in Vigo County
Our kids, truly, are ‘Making a Difference’
-
Some words in praise of boring government — Indiana’s
A conservative Republican governor has super majorities in both branches of the legislature. One might suspect such one-party government leads to major changes in public policy. This did not happen in 2013 in Indiana.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Aerials Show Path of Oklahoma Destruction
Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla.
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Active Search for Utah Missing Mom Ends
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life
Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod
Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom
The all-new Xbox One
RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma
Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial
VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City
Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique
Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir
Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you
Reporter Cries Over Devastation
Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye
Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download
IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado
RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school
Robert Pattinson Moves Out
