If baking is any labor at all, it’s a labor of love. A love that gets passed from generation to generation. – Regina Brett
My mother Christmas baked for years and years. I couldn’t tell you how many. When I was young and I’m sure before I was born. Money was tight, although as a child I never knew that, but I remember her always throwing a few items in the weekly grocery cart in order to have everything for December.
She was especially known for her delicious Divinity Fudge. As a life long member of the United Church Women (UCW) at Park Royal United Church I remember her making copious bags of this fudge every year to be sold at their Christmas Tea/Fair; some plain, some with walnuts, and some with green and red cherries. They always sold out.
Christmas baking brings back so many memories.
After my dad died Mom spent almost every Christmas at my home. (Until her death five years ago.) So for over 35 years she’d Christmas bake for my family, always making sure to bake her grandchildren’s favorites plus more than I could count. She’d bring hampers full of homemade goodies. Plus she’d bake for my brother’s family, herself, and even once for my best friend. She’d make the tried and true recipes but always was keen to try some new ones each year. All year she’d find them in magazines, newspapers etc and lovingly cut them out to discuss with me their possibilities. After baking them she’d think some were good enough to be added for the next year but others, well, she’d just toss those recipes in the garbage as they didn’t meet her standards. Her baking was most certainly a labour of love. Memories.
The last few years before she died Mom couldn’t do the baking so my daughter and I took over. Mostly my daughter. She’s a fantastic baker. I’d go to her home for an overnighter and we’d bake. Well as I said she’d do most of the baking. I was the helper. Ok by me. We’d follow Mom’s formula, making the tried and true but always adding some new ones too. And yes I’m smiling right now with a tiny tear in my eye. Memories.
This year I’m baking on my own as my daughter is back in her Toronto home. Needless to say there will not be as many treats. And certainly not as much fun and laughter. Still going to follow the past and bake some favourites and definitely a couple of new recipes. But nowhere near what Mom used to bake.
So today it was Nuts and Bolts (a very old favourite), Uncooked Marshmallow Squares (another old fav), and Toffee Pretzel Bark, one batch with dark chocolate and the other with milk chocolate. (a new fav from last year).
Christmas Memories – Frank Sinatra
Take care and stay healthy.
As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.
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Debi's Junket Journal 