Similar to many others, one of my favorite times of the year is this holiday season. Do you feel the same? Personally, these are the main reasons why: family, friends, baking, coma-inducing food, the smell of fresh pine needles, the sound of Christmas carols, ornaments, and gift-giving. I know these sound just like everyone else, but what is better than meticulously placing Christmas ornaments on the tree? This is one of my favorite Christmas rituals. I love rediscovering ornaments I made in grade school, or the ornaments chronicling the wonder years (births, wedding, and anniversaries). There are few things more nostalgic, for me, than the smell of pine needles. No matter what time of year, this smell will always take me back to a Christmas memory (whether last year, or 20 years ago). Yet, above all of these, what I love the most about this season is the togetherness. It is one of the few times that people carve time out to be together. Often times it defies religious boundaries, family feuds, or distanced friends.This feeling (or actuality) of togetherness is truly something that I cherish.
The online Merriam-Webster Dictionary defined “togetherness” as being: “in or into a unified or coherent structure or an integrated whole.”
This togetherness is not about receiving, but about giving and tradition. So, I thought I would share with you, how I incorporated giving and tradition into this holiday.
Giving
Often times I feel too overwhelmed to be able to find the time to give. I try my best, but I was determined that this year, it would be different. I frequently stay on top of grassroots campaigns such as (RED) and ONE. Both of these organizations help to fight the spread of AIDS, hunger, malnourishment, unclean water, and many more. Recently, both organizations collaborated to make a “World AIDS Day” quilt. This was a way for any and everyone to participate in creating a virtual quilt panel. You could make your mark in the fight to end AIDS. A donation would be helpful too. Did you know that to help fight the spreading of HIV in countries where people are less fortunate, it only costs 40 cents a day to help one person? 40 CENTS! When I found this out, I knew what my “giving” would be. Plus, I had the chance to make this awesome quilt panel:
Tradition
Most everyone has at least one holiday tradition, and I know that I look forward to mine. I know that these traditions mean something to me, but why? In the article “More Than Memories: The Importance of Traditions,” author Allison M. Woods says that it is not so much about the act of each tradition, but what it means to everyone who takes part in the tradition. Woods goes on to say that tradition provides stability, a sense of identity, and a feeling of continuity. This is why people religiously follow traditions… it creates the feeling of belonging. I have a few, most of which consist of delicately organizing ornaments on our Christmas tree (usually arts and crafts that I made when I was younger!), religiously watching Love Actually every year, listening to Little Drummer Boy, drinking hot spiced cider, baking apple pie, making a scrumptious Christmas meal, and spending time with family. Perhaps the tradition I love the most is the cookie baking. So, I decided to share my favorite cookie recipe with you:
Pumpkin Cookies from Joy of Baking Cookbook
- 2 cups (260 grams) all purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups (260 grams) light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) canola oil or corn oil (or other flavorless oil)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240 ml) pumpkin puree
For Pumpkin Cookies: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and place oven rack in the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and salt.
In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until light and smooth (about 2 minutes). Beat in the oil, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. Using 1/4 cup of batter (can use a small ice cream scoop or measuring cup) place small mounds of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches (5 cm) apart.
Bake for about 15 – 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cookie comes out clean. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Traditions and giving are only two aspects of the togetherness that the holidays bring about, but they make this season so much richer. So, let me ask you: what are some of your favorite holiday traditions? Any great opportunities to give? Do you have a favorite holiday recipe? I hope that you are surrounded by wonderful things to love at this time of year!
We all here at Slice wish you the best, fun-filled, full of love holiday season!
