Dakota Beacon

When the baking starts you know Christmas is right around the corner. What a grand entry to a wonderful season.

Home baked goodies abound making this one of the favorite times of the year. Nothing compares to a home filled with delicious aromas of baking mixed with sounds of Handel’s “Messiah” and carols sung by the Vienna Boys Choir. Only at Christmas!

All baked treats at this time of the year are “seasonal goodies.” These sweets come especially for celebrating Christmas and the Holiday Season. Only at this time of the year will you find these exceptional cakes, cookies and candies prepared with special care as gifts and treats.

Krumkake, Julekake, rosettes, fudge, Mexican Wedding Cakes and other trifles aplenty fill plates, tins and boxes ready to adorn the festive table dazzling the eye and stimulating the taste buds.

Of course, if I loiter in the kitchen there is always the chance I might be permitted to sample a goodie or two. I might even find employment. As my wife approaches with a large bowl of cookie dough she requests, “Open the fridge, please.” For that I might get a reward. Barring that, I’m only too happy for the exercise. Anything to help burn off a few calories before the holidays really set in.

In our home the simple sugar cookie cut into holiday shapes and colored with seasonal hues are a favorite. They’re a delicious labor of love made by the dozen. With all the kids gone from home now, it’s left to me to lick the beaters. Not without a few curt comments from my missus, though.

If I cannot lick the beaters there is always a reward for decorating cookies. That is worth a couple of cookies and a spoonful of icing.

A little enticement is worth its weight in cookies. “I’ll wash dishes for a cookie,” I offer. Naturally, my offer must be handled discreetly lest it be seen for what it is -- a bribe. Sometimes it works, sometime it doesn’t. I say “sometimes” because generally I feel I’m not welcome in the kitchen during baking season. This I judge by the hustle and bustle and the no-nonsense atmosphere. I can take a hint.

Julekake is another specialty reserved only for the holiday season. Through the year cardamom is not used much in our home for seasoning. But, at Christmas, cardamom makes Julekake the special, unique, delicious treat that it is.

Spiced pecans are another favorite seasonal goodie. What a superb treat. These, too, are easy to make requiring only sugar, cinnamon, egg whites and, of course, pecans. Though easy to make, they are reserved strictly for the Christmas season. I know. I found out the hard way.

Several years ago, one mild day in June, I had a yearning for some spiced pecans. Without giving it a second thought, I idly suggested such a treat might be nice.

Have you ever experience a rude awakening for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time? I did that summer’s day. I don’t recall the conversation exactly, but the response I received to my suggestion for spiced pecans brought a chill to that June day equal to any day in December. Obviously, I had said the wrong thing. Spiced pecans were for Christmas -- period. Lesson learned.

Finally, I must pay tribute to the ” the “black sheep,” the “outcast,” the “orphan” of seasonal goodies -- the fruitcake. Personally, I like fruitcake although it’s the one thing we don’t make in our home. Nevertheless, the fruitcake deserves its rightful honor as a holiday sweet. Too often this loaf is treated like zucchini. It’s given away because a) it’s so prolific and easy to buy, and b) even so, nobody wants it. In the spirit of Christmas I suggest we show some gratitude for this humble, calorie-laden brick with this plea: “Send me your tired, your poor, your -- fruitcake!”

Let the baking begin!

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).