Expectations of Light Ahead
This painting by Swedish painter Carl Larsson, dated 1904, depicts a Christmas Eve gathering. Family members present are not giddy but quietly enjoying the prospect of the feast they will share, set out before them. Snow falls outside in the growing dark as candle and fire light fills the space within. The picture is illuminated as well by the serving girl’s soft smile – she and what she bears, created by human hands, are as important and warming as the light within the room.
Tonight in my household we are making Swedish cookies from a recipe left to us by a departed family member. We laugh over happy memories we shared with them, and now make new memories over this messy communion flavored with cinnamon, sugar, and too much butter. The fun and memories are as important as the cookies themselves; they create the foundation for decades of holidays yet to come.
I hope you are also someplace warm and happy tonight, enjoying pleasant memories and making more. Do something joyful, whether for yourself or others, even if you are alone. Embrace the expectation of increasing light in the days ahead.
And I wish Marcy and Mr. Wheel, Jim, bmaz, Ed, their families, and all the rest of the Emptywheel crew and community a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
The cookies in question: Kanelbullar. Direct translation is Cinnamon Buns; the name also applies to yeast rolls as well as these cookies. My MIL made them every year for FIL; the recipe was originally from her SIL. Here’s the recipe; allow time for chilling dough—overnight for best results. (I skip the frosting; it’s gilding the lily as far as I’m concerned.)
Cookie dough:
1 lb. small curd cottage cheese
1 lb. margarine
4 cups sifted flour
Mix and form into 6 or 7 balls.
Chill overnight.
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Filling:
1-1/2 cup brown sugar
1-1/2 t. cinnamon
3/4 cup chopped nuts
Divide each ball into 1/3, roll out into circles.
Spread with filling, cut into wedges.
Roll up from large end.
Bake 20 min. at 375 degrees
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Frosting:
4 T. sugar
4 T. water
Bring to boil, then boil for 1 minute. Cool.
Add:
1 stick margarine
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 pkg. powdered sugar*
Beat (until smooth). Cool until just warm. Spread a dollop over each cookie.
Note: use filling generously.
* believed to be 1 lb. pkg.
Thank you for setting the scene; the best to you and yours also.
And for a touch of religion, one could hardly do better than John Rutter’s ‘Candlelight Carol’. A gentle treasure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMKYbSCXh8c
How do you capture the wind on the water?
How do you count all the stars in the sky?
How do you measure the love of a mother
Or how can you write down a baby’s first cry?
(Refrain)
Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Silent night, holy night, all is calm and all is bright
Angels are singing; the Christ child is born
Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore him
Seraphim round him their vigil will keep
Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Saviour
But Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep
(Refrain)
Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger
Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay
Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation
A child with his mother that first Christmas Day
(Refrain)
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Thanks, Rayne.
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Warm holiday wishes to all who hang out here.
God Jul, Rayne, and Merry Christmas to you all!
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Rayne, with a recipe and story like the one above, I have to ask: growing up, did you ever wear the garland and candles of Santa Lucia?
Thanks, bloopie2 and Peterr. Wish you and yours a happy holiday season.
I completely forgot that 24-DEC was the last night of Hanukah, too. Hope it was festive and light.
For those who need a little less saccharine-sweetness, do check Furtherfield’s alternative Christmas playlist, including DEVO, Tom Waits, and Frank Zappa.
Hey bmaz, it’s 55 degrees in Newtown, CT ! So there!
And a latenight/earlymorning link to a nicely written article (in Slate, even!) on why Protest is so right, today. Elegantly sums up our year.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/12/police_brutality_protesters_history_of_civil_rights_women_s_suffrage_child.html
My dear Ms Rayne, two things:
1.) Merry Solstice or whatever you celebrate (me, I’ll celebrate about anything) eg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR2ugHjuscI
2.) There is no such thing as too much butter!
Greetings to you and to Ms Marcy, Mr Jim and BMAZ and all the Wheelhouse denizens.
HotFlash! Lovely to see you, hope you’re having a pleasant holiday! There’s rarely too much butter, but there is when a family member has heart disease. Just means more for the youngsters, I guess; the teen boy will happily snarf up more than his share.