Up With Linzer Schnitten, Down With Consumerism

No I didn't just swear in the title of this post.

In fact, Linzer Schnitten is a word that is spoken with respect and reverence in this home.

{in a spirited English accent - much like Oliver Twist} "Mum, may I have some more Linzer Schnitten? Please, dear mum, may I have even just a speck more of Linzer Schnitten?"

Starting in October, the advertisers of the world band together in their great and spacious buildings devoting mountains of money to the effort of channeling into the minds and wants of our little ones. Anyone out there in Christendom knows what a challenge it is to keep the focus on our Savior and not on the latest gizmo or gadget that will soon end up in the bottom of the toy box.  It really is a hard parental task.  Harder still when you, as the parent, get caught up in the excitement of what Christmas morning can bring.  

That's probably why Kennedy ended up with an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas when she was only 3 years old.

This year, I really wanted to try and shift our energies to our traditions and family time leading up to December 25.  By easing up on the self inflicted "must do's" on my rather frantic holiday list, I've allowed for more time to spend with Jeff and the kids.  For 2 years in a row, there will be no Christmas cards sent from this address.  Horrifying, I know. I'll admit that my heart thumps for a minute or two when I get a card in the mail.  I LOVE getting Christmas cards.  Then I second guess my choice of postal silence.  Eventually, I relax and realize that, once again, the world is still spinning on its axis and that the universe can and will go on without the Gregson family picture and yearly update circulating.

{I just hope the Postmaster General doesn't think that I'm breaking up with him.}

So, the traditions and family time have been bounteous this month. Concerts and nativities, music and movies, lights and Christmas books.  It's been a rather cold month so there have also been several stops for Maverik's Hot Chocolate (with French Vanilla creamer).  In the word's of Rachel Ray, "Yum-O!"

The first weekend of the month, I started a new tradition:  The Gregson Clan's Baking Marathon. In short, we measured and mixed and stirred and boiled and rolled and cut and blended and baked for hours.  I mean hours.  It was a two day affair, and at the end, we produced 6 different types of cookies (roughly 21 dozen), two types of fudge, and licorice caramels.

Can you guess how many pounds of butter we used?  

Here is the menu that is accompanying our simple brown craft boxes tied up with red and white baker's twine:

from the gregson kitchen

french buttons

simple, buttery cookies rolled in crystal sugar

reindeer oatmeal crispies

shortbread-oatmeal wheels dusted with powdered sugar

ebenezer's gingerbread cookies

these old fashioned babies definitely aren't stingy with the fresh ginger 

bavarian mint fudge

swirly, twirly minty goodness

belgium chocolate fudge

you're welcome

lump o' coal licorice caramels

you might want to be naughty just so Santa brings these

mini gourmet caramel kringles

these aren't your mom's rice krispie treats

linzer schnitten

jeff's favorite christmas cookie: a unique german recipe

lemon shortbread bites

delicate and lemony and hard to resist

The Christmas music was playing.  The mixers were humming. The flour was flying.  The kitchen windows were fogging.  It was a fun and exhausting 2 days. The kids were proud of their mass production of sweets and I was happy to have them in the kitchen with me.  The freezer is full and ready for company that stops by and the boxes are being assembled for teachers, colleagues, neighbors, family, and friends.

Another tradition has been added to our Christmas season.

***

{And it was 10.

As in 10 pounds of butter.}