Holiday Fun and Cheer: Cookies

This is an entry into Anna Banana Kruchten CRS CRB, Phoenix Broker 's Holiday Fun and Cheer Challenge. Specifically, this is a post about the evolution of Christmas traditions, in this case - Christmas "bon bon" cookies.

At some point during my growing up years, my mom started making something she called bon-bon cookies. I don't remember how often she made them, or what the circumstances were, but during the Christmas holiday at some point, a plate of these delicious treats would show up.

I also am not positive that I learned how to make them at that time. I don't remember that part of the equation. But I do know that when I was in my early 20s, I was given a copy of that recipe. And I started my own bon-bon tradition, making sure those cookies were part of our annual holiday ritual.

When my children were growing up, they'd help me make the cookies. What a hoot. There's a certain way to make these so they are firm and well rounded. You can get about 20 out of one batch of dough. My boys would sometimes wind up with only five. Big huge balls of doughy cookies. The fun fact is that each one holds a treat inside. Walnuts. Chocolate Kisses. Marachino Cherries. Whatever, the choices were all delicious. And you can bet my sons would eat way more kisses and cherries than would ever make it into the cookies. When they were teenagers, they even invited their friends over to help. Who would have thought a bunch of teenage boys would have any interest in cookie making? They all loved it!

Those memories are priceless.

When I became a real estate professional, I thought it would be fun one year to give some of these cookies to my clients. So I made them and drove around to my few clients at the time and distributed them. Well, this became an ongoing thing, and I even had new clients mention how they wanted to close in a particular year so they could get cookies. Haha. The last year I did this, I carried jingle bells, wore my special Kat hat, and delivered the cookies. Anyone who wasn't home then got a short video of me leaving the cookies at their door and wishing them a wonderful day. It truly made the holiday so special.

And now? This past year was spent getting my business off the ground in a new state, and therefore, I won't be delivering any cookies in 2020. BUT, the other day the cookie spirit grabbed me, and I made a few batches and sent each of my sons a box full. They should arrive tomorrow, and I can't wait to hear from them when they open their box and see what is in there. Perhaps they will start their own bon-bon traditions at some point. That would be such a wonderful treat to carry on through generations. And they certainly do know how to make them!

There are only a few cookies left from that batch as shown here. I'm sure they will be gone today as my husband has some friends coming to help him put tresses up on his workshop. Cookies and homemade banana bread might make a wonderful food for a break.

And that is my story of the bon-bon cookies. Whatever your traditions are, hang on to them. They make your holidays yours, no matter where your life might take you...