A tin of cookies. That’s how this story started out. My dear sister dropped by my office with a special delivery. Inside the smiling snowman can was a sampling of each of her homemade Christmas cookies, complete with teabag.
In my quest to savor each kind, I decided not only to try and identify it, but describe it with the very first Christmas story in mind.
Here’s what I discovered…
1) Chocolate Chip.
Here is the classic, crisp, chocolate delight that I love. It’s my go to. The favorite. The popular. It’s the first that I chose and when I thought about its popularity, I remembered Mary and Joseph on that night, where popularity reigned in a tiny town. So much so, there was no room at the Inn.
2) Ginger Molasses.
This deep amber beauty has a distinct spice. Fragrant aroma. An exotic quality that reminded me of those that traveled from lands afar. The Magi.
3) Peanut Butter.
A mild sweetness rings through, but what strikes me about this cookie is its sand-like dunes of texture and pattern. The weave of the top design like a basket or straw. Reminiscent of a manger scene.
4) Chocolate Drop.
There was a comfort with this dense morsel and a surprise with its white dusting of powdered sugar. My mind flashed to shepherds in fields comforting nervous lambs and their deep, sudden surprise of a host of angels. Snowy against a dark sky.
5) Choco-Crumb Bar.
This small treat was a perfect square. A chocolate chip, caramel, oatmeal-blend square of a package. A gift filled with richness. Much like other gifts that night. Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh.
6) Sand Tart.
This thin cookie shaped into a tall tree decorated with deep green. Cedar trees of Lebanon came to mind. Tallest of the tall I was thinking and then remembered the star that night. Empire state tall. Suspended in the sky.
7) Chocolate Cherry.
Dark icing enveloped a jewel of a cherry inside. Sweetness nestled within sweetness. Much like the babe Mary cradled. Where holy was brought forth by human. Mary the Mother.
8) Oatmeal Raisin.
No flash. No sprinkles. No chocolate or exotic spice. A cookie of heartiness and substance. Like Joseph. Husband, carpenter, earthly father.
9) Sugar Cookie.
Bright sugar crystals covered this sweet light dough. Simple. Sugar and spice and everything nice. Still just a baby and a simple plan to save the world.
Thank you, sister -- for my sweet gift that offered sweet reflections during an Advent season.
