Please don’t shoot the messenger….. but Christmas is 48 days away. I know it is not what any of us wants to hear. No matter how much we love the season, there is an element of chaos and stress that needs to be put off for as long as possible. Although, putting off the inevitable for too long leads to even more of that chaos and stress.
After 13 years of marriage, my husband has finally resigned himself to the fact that living with me for the three weeks leading up to Christmas are….ummm…. trying (to say the least). I love Christmas and I am relatively organized when it comes to the shopping and wrapping. Gone are the days when I used to make my own gift tags and wrapping paper – I now slap a sticker on those boxes like it’s nobody’s business. See Doug, I am letting go…. a little.
But then there is the baking. Somehow for me, every person who I have come in contact within the past 365 days deserves baked goods from the L’Esperta Kitchen: the mailman, the garbage men, the pet sitter, the riding instructor, the barista at Starbucks. In this day and age of rushing and prepackaged everything, I love the process of baking. I turn on my Christmas music and spend the afternoon lost in my thoughts and mountains of sugar and butter. It’s not a bad way to spend a day.
This year however, as a gift to poor Doug (who is probably the only person not allowed to eat the cookies as they are destined for other houses – and by the time I am done with all the gift giving, I am lucky if I can come up with a few leftovers for Santa) I have a list and a plan. I know exactly to whom the cookies are going and have chosen 12 different kinds of cookies to grace the platters that I will deliver.
Would you like to join me? Then sign up below for the 12 Days of Italian Christmas Cookie Newsletter. Every day, beginning on December 1st I will deliver a traditional Italian cookie recipe to your inbox. Believe me, the lineup is great and there is something for everyone. From very traditional to classics with a twist, this is a great way to change up your repertoire. I will also provide hints and suggestions for presentation and packaging. It’s a fun and delicious way to celebrate the holidays AND cross some hard to shop for folks off your list.