Christmas Memories, Cookies, Candies, and Desserts.

CookingWithCarlo.com ^ | Nov. 26 2005 | Carlo3b, Dad, Chef, Author

[carlo3b]

 
Christmas Memories, Cookies, Candies, and Desserts

For me, it was the official start of the Christmas season, seeing the matriarchs gather in coffee klatches and recipes exchanges. As a little tike, anything that signaled the approach of Christmas was enough to cause excitement around our home. Watching my great-grandmother summon the elderly women of our family and neighborhood, was a sure sign that big things were heating up in our little kitchen. These beautiful women were dignified and almost aristocratic in their black mourning dresses, with clouded stockings, and clumpy shoes. I can still recall the gentle scent of lavender and rose perfumes as they shuffled to their places around our modest kitchen table. Those mixtures of colognes and coffee were far from the only wonderful smells that began to fill our home and hearts at this glorious time of the year. Fabulous homemade Italian pastries were a right of passage for these gatherings. Baking for the clan was a near sacred honor that my great-grandmother cherished..

We were a typical nuclear family for those times. A working man, my great-uncle, a stay at home wife, my-great aunt, my retired great-grandmother, and great-grandfather, and of course yours truly. Our familial arrangement was not unique, most households had extended family members, and everyone had a place on the clan hierarchy. Women generally ruled the roost, and menfolk earned the bacon. Grandmothers, at least in my family, routinely prepared the meals. Wives raised the offspring and kept the house, meaning the housework and shopping, and those lucky enough to have grandpas, had the benefit of wisdom and history that could only come from invaluable, accumulated life experiences, and vivid recollections..

Our homes were mostly small walk-up apartments, located in the bowels of the inner city of Chicago. They were called, "cold water flats", meaning each apartment had to make their own hot water with a silver colored water heater tanks, located in a convenient corner of the kitchen. If you wanted hot water you had to turn it on and cautiously feel the sides of the tank to see how close it was becoming hot. It was surely crude, but efficient enough to accomplish the job so nobody complained.  However, you had to be mindful, not to forget to turn the tank off when the task was complete, the explosive consequences were all too frightening and frequent..

If you were lucky, as we were, you had heat furnished by a landlord in the form of cast iron coiled radiators. The heat was generated by coal fired furnaces, located in dark damp cellars. These subterranean dungeons were also called "the basement", which also housed whatever passed for a clothes washers in those days. I mostly remember those radiators, because they clanged from expanding heat filled pipes on cold winter mornings as we waited for the heat to raise to a reasonable warmth to venture out from under our heavy blankets. The radiators were sparsely placed, usually in the busiest areas of the home. We often warmed and dried clothes on this solitary heat source on frigid winter mornings. More than once I left my chilled trousers on too long, and burned myself on an overheated zipper. Chicago winters were especially cold, and flimsy windows were typically drafty. What was a blessing in the stifling summer heat, a window or skylight, was truly a detriment on cold winter nights.

A single low wattage light bulb hung conspicuously over the center of the white porcelain topped kitchen table. The light cord had a protruding plug for connecting a clothes iron. The light had an on-off string which dangled down low enough so the shortest member of the family could reach it. Every home had an icebox, with a small refrigerated compartment, and a square slot that held a cube of solid ice. The ice block needed to be replenished at least once a week by a gentleman who was aptly named, "the iceman". He carried the heavy block of ice 3 flights of stairs from his waterlogged horse drawn wagon. The gas cooking stove was a 4 burner antique, with an unregulated double oven that could only be lit with a stick match. The kitchen sink was one compartment with a long drain board. It had a single cold water faucet and a sturdy garden hose that connected it to the hot water tank. All of this was crude and simple by today's standards, but it was all that was needed to prepare at least two meals a day, a hardy breakfast, and a scrumptious 4 course, made-from-scratch dinner.

The homemade meals, complete with fresh bread were prepared with meticulous care each and every day, rain or shine. Needless to say, from this dim, sparsely equipped kitchen that made cooking and baking for our large family gatherings all that more remarkable. I learned to cook standing on a kitchen chair at that humble stove, under the watchful eye of my loving great-grandmother. She stood under 5 feet, but she was a giant to all that knew her. I think of her every day when I shamefully complain as the time comes to prepare my family meals at my fully equipped gourmet kitchen..

Our bathroom was small and simple. It had a top tank, gravity flushing toilet that sported a pull chain with a ivory handle. The lavatory was a tiny cold water basin that had circular chips from some unknown historic calamity, and a claw footed bathtub that was enormous, with a rubber plug on a chain.. The hot water had to be bucketed in from the kitchen sink, which was unfortunately located at the far end of the adjoining room. The bucket brigade took 2 people, 3 loads each. There was a small gas heater that furnished plenty of heat on the floor, but the small whitewashed window above the tub had a constant whistling from frigid air that seemed to be unobstructed and unending. It made standing for towel drying an olympic speed event..

The apartment had 2 small bedrooms, each only large enough to hold a double bed, and squatty art deco styled dresser. Each dresser was equipped with a mirror and on it's polished top lay assorted decorative perfume bottles and each had a matching sterling silver brush set, which was dutifully arranged at all times. The front room of the home was in reality, our living room, although we hardly ever lived there. The long narrow room held a large sofa, which doubled as my bed, a matching side chair, a huge floor model radio, and a mufti-bulb lamp with a oversized shade with dangling decorative fringe. An imposing chandelier hung prominently in the center of the vaulted ceiling. The floors were all buffed wood, and covered with assorted throw rugs that forever gathered under foot traffic. Our kitchen floor was covered with a patterned linoleum that had long ago began to show a well worn path. The bathroom was a beautifully tiled mosaic, in alternating black and white octagon shapes. At strategic locations were yellowed photographs of unknown origins in various shaped ornate frames, and on every flat surface aside from the kitchen were dozens of tiny knickknacks, and candles..

We lived in 4 simple rooms, but I never thought of it in those terms. In my mind it was a mansion, filled with love and devotion to one another. We were near penniless but rich with respectability and honor. We had all that we needed and enough left over to share with others. Everyone I knew loved me, and I loved and respected each of them. The family expected the best from me and I did my best to fulfill my duty to my good name, in their well deserved honor..

Just recalling these golden, olden days is a treasure in itself, because it brings me back to an era that laid the foundation of my life and that of my own family. It reminds me of the importance we placed and the respect we had for the generational roots and traditions that were instilled at an early age.  Those roots were planted deep and would ultimately shape my character. Cooking and baking wasn't just food in our home, it was our women's only gift to give. These recipe choosing assemblages were not called just to pick the heirloom cookies that were going to dominate their lives for the month leading up to Christmas. This was a time-honored task and was the solemn obligation our women placed in making their modest but treasured gifts so very special. Those dear aged women demonstrated their devotion to the family not by buying our presents, but by caring for us, the giving of themselves with their own loving hands..

The men of our family proudly gave up their youth, much too early in life and they did it voluntarily. They fought for their country on distant battlefields they couldn't even pronounce. They risked their lives to insure a freedom for a future they couldn't be sure they would live to enjoy. When they returned, they worked tirelessly to support a fine family of their own. These hardy men gave us an honorable name and a high bar in which to strive. They each raised respectable children that proved what they were made of.  Our forefathers scratched an indelible place in our history and in our hearts. They earned our love, our gratitude, and our everlasting respect..

The stalwarts of our family, our beautiful women, have given us our sense of worth, our humanity, the true meaning of love for family. Their selfless sacrifice, placed a high value on sharing, fairness, and a soft simple abiding love. Their talent was devotion, their legacy was in the future of the family traditions passed on in perpetuity.. It is in their name I pass many of my family recipes on to you, for you to share with your family, and hopefully with others far and wide.. Enjoy.. Carlo

MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND GOD BLESS YOU,
GOD BLESS AMERICA.

[carlo3b]

WINK.. :)

[carlo3b]

Thank you my Dear FRiend.. GOD BLESS YOU, and MERRY CHRISTMAS

[carlo3b]

Happy Thanksgiving! Got Leftovers???
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/797671/posts?q=1&&page=101

[carlo3b]

Another Great RECIPE for CHRISTMAS

 

The Clinton Legacy Cookbook
SIGNED

Be one of the FIRST to own this great gift, our own creation. Produced by, for, and with Freepers!

Another Great RECIPE for CHRISTMAS

 

The Clinton Legacy Cookbook
SIGNED

Be one of the FIRST to own this great gift, our own creation. Produced by, for, and with Freepers!

[reformedliberal]

You are so wise, Carlo! Several years ago, my son, now passing 40, told me that his best memories were of cooking together. I remember him standing on a chair to help add things to a pot.

And you made me remember living with my grandparents and Papa Louis (my great-grandfather)during the war years when my father was overseas. Then, 10 years later, going to my grandmother's after school and watching her make strudel. She would put all the leaves in her kitchen table, which could seat 10, cover it with newspaper, and place the roll of strudel dough at one end. Then, she would start lifting and pulling and eventually, it not only covered the table, but you could read the newspaper through it. She's been gone for 47 years and I still miss her.

She made a cookie she called Kumish Bread. It was flaky and rich and filled with ground nuts and sugar and various fruit fillings. It was flat on the bottom and rounded on top and baked whole, then sliced. I have found various recipes with various spellings of *Kumish*, but none of them have the richness of the dough. Any ideas?

Baking is one area where I have the least confidence in myself. My best friend is an ace baker and I have gotten in the habit of having her bring the breads, cakes and cookies to parties. Growing up, no one even tried to compete with Grandma Betty.

Thanks for the thread and the memories!

[reformedliberal]

It was terrific over cheescake and chocolate pasta, w/some barely sweetened whipped cream!

Of course we had to wait until 9pm to have the room to eat it!

Today I discovered it was great straight out of the jar! Surprise, eh?

Hope Carlo can come up w/a recipe!

[carlo3b]

She made a cookie she called Kumish Bread. It was flaky and rich and filled with ground nuts and sugar and various fruit fillings

I think this might capture the flavor.. It's a great Passover favorite, and I have friends that say this is a winner.. Remember when you think RICH your are saying BUTTER or OIL. When you say FLAKY you are saying BUTTER and OIL, and EGGS.. Try this.. and you owe my more of those great memories.. :)

 
KAMISH BREAD

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup oil
• 2 1/2 cups cake meal
• 3 tablespoons potato starch
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 pinch salt


Mix all ingredients by hand (actually use your hands to mix). Put in fridge for 15 minutes to chill. form into 2 loaves on baking sheet. Top with cinnamon/sugar. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes, slice & lay each piece on it`s side & top again with cinnamon/ sugar about 5-10 minutes each side.

[carlo3b]

HAPPY CHANUKAH (HANUKKAH)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/586737/posts
HAPPY HANUKKAH (Chanukah) 2004
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1296874/posts

[reformedliberal]

Carlo: it is dark chocolate fudge and you can taste the Merlot. It is very rich.

There was no ice like that clear ice from the iceman and I recall thinking the ragman's blonde horse was was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! LOL, probably a broken-down old nag, but to a 5-yr-old, it was a palomino!!

Now if we could have those years again AND still have Free Republic.....

[reformedliberal]

Thanks, I'll try it...I remember cake meal as a staple!

[TheMom]

My favorite Christmas food memories are of my great grandmother and mother making divinity a few days prior to Christmas day. The day before Christmas my great grandmother would have all of us kids in the kitchen helping her make cookies for Santa. Our Christmas desert would always include Buttermilk Pie ~ ~ my great grandmother, grandmother and mother would each bake two and every one of them would be gone by the end of the day.

My two favorite Christmas morning memories are (1) one of the presents Santa left my older brother was one of those make jewelry out of rock things. After all the presents were opened, Dad suggested all of us kids go look in garage for rocks for this contraption (our garage had a dirt floor). Since there were not lights in the garage, Dad used his car lights to light the garage. When we open the door, ready to look for rocks, there were four shiny new bicycles! And, (2) once again after all the presents were open Dad swore he heard/saw something outside. When we looked outside we saw what we deduced was a horse. After killing each other to get out the door, we found a trampoline.

Dad always made Christmas a wonderful and exciting time, something I have tried to pass on to my children.

[carlo3b]

I worked on a vegetable wagon for a short time as a little kid.. Folks would call down from windows what they wanted off the cart, and I would fill their order and bring it upstairs..

I loved putting the horse up at night, and putting on his food bag and brushing him while he ate.. I stood on the stool and hugged him and warmed up before going home on the streetcar. Once during the winter, around Christmas, the owner gave me a full create of lettuce as a Christmas gift.. I was thrilled to get so much food to bring home..

The streetcar conductor wouldn't allow me to bring it on the streetcar, so I dragged it about 6 miles through the snow.. It was frozen and nearly completely spoiled by the time I got home but my aunt was really proud.. We ate lettuce for almost a week.. Did you know that you can make great(almost great) Lettuce Soup.. :)

[carlo3b]

great grandmother, grandmother and mother.. making pies
When we open the door, ready to look for rocks, there were four shiny new bicycles!

Dad swore he heard/saw something outside.

Dad always made Christmas a wonderful and exciting time, something I have tried to pass on to my children.

Bless you heart.. nothing could/would, never/ever replace those wonderful memories.. make someone's memory today or tomorrow, maybe next week.. Just do it.. :)

[reformedliberal]

Every Spring, all my neighbors have so many heads of leaf lettuce and assorted early greens, that they are begging people to take it!

I braise the greens, puree them with chicken broth and add cream until it is the consistency of a bisque. You can top it w/a little smoked meat of any sort or stir in a hot sauce with a knife to preserve both colors. I also like to add a dollop of sour cream just at serving, to thicken it.

DH is not fond of this, so it ends up frozen in small amounts and used as a base for creamed spinach or broccoli. Or I will have some for lunch, alone or with a girlfriend.

One of the foundations for creativity is learning to make do with what you have. My grandmother's cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting and gardening skills all came from her youth in a rural Ukrainian village where you had to make most things yourself or trade for what you couldn't do with what you could. My son never knew her, but I see signs that what I have been able to pass down has taken root in his freezer full of frozen seasonal items and his love of experimenting with making everything from laundry detergent to moisturizer, rather than buying it.

We were so blessed with our families. Many in mine were eager to forget the *hard years*, but I cherish them and have no inclination to deny that they happened.

[Cindy]

The blessings of CHRISTmas to you and your family, Carlo.

http://www.truthusa.com/CHRISTmas.html

[carlo3b]

Thank you Cindy, that is a wonderful website.. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and a Healthy and Happy New Year.. :)

[Auntie Mame]

Carlo, what kind of sesame seeds would work best in your opinion? Toasted or raw?

[Cindy]

I sure will Carlo, thank you.

First though, I have to eat some of these Christmas cookies!

[carlo3b]

what kind of sesame seeds would work best in your opinion? Toasted or raw?

That is a matter of personal opinion.. You can slightly roast them on an ungreased cookie sheet, and then roll the cookies.. Those will have crunchy seeds, preferred by many.. the alternative is a chewier seed that are rolled raw.. I favor the raw most of the time, but I really enjoy the flavor of toasted seeds.. LOLOL

[Watery Tart]

Thanks for yet ANOTHER great thread. Expect my husband's Ebay account to get a little exercise!