Christmas Cookies (and kitchen clean-up) 2025

I sent a message to Gina, Geriann and Maria that we could back Saturday the 20th, but first I needed help doing a complete kitchen take-down and clean-up. Gina and Geriann answered that they couldn't make either event.

Maria showed up on the 18th with Mary. Maria and I took everything apart and did a really good clean-up. The problem was really just a lot of 'dust?'  from all the pasta making the previous year. Maria is a real worker. I couldn't have done it without her. The kitchen looks and feels wonderful.

As far as Mary, I really didn't want her to do any of the rough work so I asked her to just sort and categorize all the cookie cutters. She did not do that! She spent all her time moving everything around. Measuring cups, spoons, spices falavorings etc were all re-organized according to Mary's specifics. I was really furious. 5 days later at this writing, I'm still looking for stuff and replacing it where I wanted it.

On Saturday, the3 20th, Jimmy showed up. He mentioned earlier in the week that he'd like to do cut-outs. That dough wasn't ready yet, so he formed, baked and sugared the butterballs. I wish I'd taken a picture because he was covered with confectioner's sugar. The cookies were just fine.

Maria worked on kipfuls. I did the cheese cookies and fig cookies.

Joan came in and worked on the cut-outs with Jimmy.

Geriann showed up unexpectedly with Mary. Then Gina also came over. Gina brought some of her cookies for us to sample. As long as they were here, Geriann and Gina did the cornstarch cookies. Gina makes them like Mom did (logs and then flattening with a fork.

I had done the neopolitans the day before and put the chocolate on them to finish them off.

Meanwhile, Mary moved things around AGAIN. She had to take a lot of guff from all of us but she continued her quest.

Georgia and Margot came over on the 21st. We did more cookies for them; sugar cookie cut-outs and chocolate chips with Joan.

Maria packaged up the finished cookies and took most of them for Mary's Christmas  brunch on Christmas Eve.