Grandma's cookies

Growing up, my grandma was a wonderful cook. I remember enjoying her food SO much & looking forward to visiting. She also was an amazing baker. She would bake awesome birthday cakes for her grandchildren & took such joy in it. Christmastime was no different. She would slave away in her kitchen baking fudge (with & without nuts for her picky grandchildren....ahem....me), turtles, chocolate covered pretzels, divinity, cream cheese cookies, & my favorite (actually her fudge tied), frosted sugar cookies. She would make these elaborate Santa & Christmas tree cookies that were almost a shame to eat they were so pretty: raisins for eyes, white & red frosting, coconut for beard & eyebrows, & red food coloring applied with a toothpick for lips & rosy cheeks. She would then pack them up in between sheets of wax paper in aluminum tins & travel. I swear I would eat at LEAST 5 a DAY (awww the days of no weight gain!!) We miss her greatly....not only for her cookies, but for her loving, nurturing, & selfless nature. Eli would have loved getting to know her.

My sisters started reviving her tradition a few years ago by making her cookies. Being that they live in Iowa, I haven't taken part in this, but think I will try to do the same with my children. I am not the greatest cook, but it's the process is what it's about. So, we decided to give it a try this weekend. Saturday night I made the dough (Eli didn't really care about the dough making process) & frosting to chill overnight. Here is Eli enjoying licking the beaters:

This morning we rolled....

.....& cut out Christmas trees, candy canes, santa, reindeer, presents, & snowmen:

We then decorated with green icing (just one color this year) with red & green sugar sprinkles:

In future years, maybe we'll add different colors of frosting, raisins for eyes & coconut for hair. While the cookies will never really taste or look exactly like grandma's, hopefully the memories will.