Christmas

that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved…Augusta E. Rundel

…The black stove, stoked with coal and firewood, glows like a lighted pumpkin. Eggbeaters whirl, spoons spin round in bowls of butter and sugar, vanilla sweetens the air, ginger spices it; melting, nose-tingling odors saturate the kitchen, suffuse the house, drift out to the world on puffs of chimney smoke... Truman Capote, A Christmas Memory

Mary and I still make these luscious cookies that Mommy made every year at Christmas. Coincidentally, we both happened to be making them yesterday…we thought you might like to try them, too.

PECAN PUFFS

1 stick butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. flour, sifted

2 tbsp. sugar

1 c. ground pecans

Beat butter until soft, add and blend until creamy sugar and vanilla. Sift flour before measuring. Measure and then grind the pecans. Stir them and the flour into butter mixture. Mix well. Roll into small balls and place on baking sheet. Bake in slow oven, 300 degrees for 30 minutes. Roll the puffs while HOT in confectioners' sugar and again when COLD. Makes about 50 pecan puffs. (From The Joy of Cooking)