For eight years, I wanted nothing more than a full time job so I could live like a normal human and not worry 24 hours a day.
Now I have a full-time job and I’d really like to blog and bake cookies, but I’m so pooped by the time I get home, get something to eat and clean up, I don’t have time or the energy. I also want to finish decorating the tree, buy people gifts and send lovely packages – we’ll see how much of that gets done.
I’m planning a huge intake of caffeine this week so I can whip through the decorating, cookies and packages and collapse in a lump on the couch with a hot toddy maybe by the 24th. So far, I got the house decorating done, the tree is up, but still in need of ornaments and I have bought 1.5 gifts.
When you’re a kid, all you can think about at Christmas is the presents. When you’re a female adult, all you can think about is what you probably won’t get done in time.
I’ve been itching to bake one of my favorites, Thumbprint Cookies. I learned to make them in seventh grade. Wilma Heiberger was my partner in Home Economics and we had a great time dropping the balls of dough from as high as we could reach so they made a big splash into the cups of egg white to coat them before we rolled them in nuts. This did not please our Home Ec teacher, Miss Hartley. Do kids even have Home Ec classes anymore? Probably not.
I also love baking this time of year because it reminds me of the hours I spent at our dining room table baking with my mother. The clear plastic cover over the tablecloth was dusted in flour every December, as I helped Mom bake and get ready for Christmas. Man, what I would give to have one more evening of baking with her.
One year we were baking her favorite, Banana Cookies. They’re a filled cookie that’s very time intensive. You make the dough, the filling, fill them, roll, bake, and ice them. We’d already made several dozen and Mom was tired that night. There was a fist sized mound of dough left and a good cup of filling left, which would have made at least another dozen more cookies.
I’d walked away from the table to take the cookies out of the oven and came back to my mother laughing so hard, the table was shaking. She looked up at me repentantly and showed me the gigantic cookie she’d made with the rest of the dough and filling. Tears rolling out of her eyes with laughter, she said, “Don’d a worry Frenzy, your fodder (father) will eat it.”
Before she passed away she told me about a book she got from Hershey’s loaded with recipes for chocolate cookies and cakes in it. She wanted to bake them with me. I wish I’d been able to do that, but we never got the chance.
So, if you’re lucky enough to still have your mom, or grandma, or aunt or anyone who wants to bake with you, do it! You never know how much time you have left.
This year, in honor of mom, I’m trying a twist on the original Thumbprint recipe, making mine dipped in toasted hazelnuts with a dollop of chocolate hazelnut Nutella in the center. I think Mom would approve. (The originals have walnuts on the outside and either icing or jam in the middle. I love them too.)
I also want to bake Mini Carrot Cakes and Mini Cheesecakes and Brownies with Chocolate Ganache, Seven Layer Cookies, Russian Teacakes, Almond Cookies, Peanut Squares, Lemon Ricotta Cookies, Lemon Cheesecake Bars, Hershey Kiss Cookies, and my mom’s favorites, Banana Cookies, which I may try next week…if the espresso holds out. Wish me luck.
Hazelnut Thumbprints
Cream the sugar and butter, then add the vanilla and egg yolks. Set aside.
Mix together the flour and salt. Combine the flour with the butter mixture until it forms a dough.
Roll the dough into small balls. Dip them into the slightly beaten egg whites, then roll them in the hazelnuts. Place them on a baking sheet and press the centers to form an indentation.
Bake at 350 for eight minutes, remove from heat, reset indentation and bake for five more minutes. Remove from heat and once they're cooled, drop Nutella into the indentation. You can sprinkle them lightly with powdered sugar when they're done also.
Ingredients
Directions
Cream the sugar and butter, then add the vanilla and egg yolks. Set aside.
Mix together the flour and salt. Combine the flour with the butter mixture until it forms a dough.
Roll the dough into small balls. Dip them into the slightly beaten egg whites, then roll them in the hazelnuts. Place them on a baking sheet and press the centers to form an indentation.
Bake at 350 for eight minutes, remove from heat, reset indentation and bake for five more minutes. Remove from heat and once they're cooled, drop Nutella into the indentation. You can sprinkle them lightly with powdered sugar when they're done also.
25 Comments
Nicole
December 28, 2016 at 5:11 amI love this!!! Your blogs always make me smile…xo
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 9:11 amAnd you always make me smile. Coffee soon!!! Yes, and thumbprints!
Chas Madonio
December 15, 2016 at 10:28 amI’m coming to your house for Christmas! The cookies sound wonderful. And I’ll be satisfied with the .5 gift.
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 9:10 amChas, I wish you could have come to my house, I would have loved to host you and Nancy with whatever cookies I have! Hope your Christmas was wonderful. xo
JoAnn Jones
December 13, 2016 at 1:58 pmYour cookies sound yummy ! I wish I would have baked more with mom. Have beautiful memories of mom & grandma baking all kind of great cookies before Christmas. That was a quieter, easy going time. Mom was a homemaker, cooking, baking & cleaning. No serving on various committees or running around doing other things. It was a kinder gentler time. No emails, the internet, you connected with people at home by telephone. Would love to go back just for awhile . Merry Christmas, to you Fran & family
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 9:09 amWell, JoAnn, if you ever want to bake, you know I’m always available. My mom used to love your mom’s recipe for Horns. I’m not sure what they are, but if you know and have the recipe, please send it. Hope your Christmas was great! xox
lafriday
December 13, 2016 at 11:29 amBTW: How do you buy 1.5 gifts?
lafriday
December 13, 2016 at 11:28 amDearest Fran, as you are whirring like a Christmas elf, try to slow down and remember that you are SO loved. As much as we all love your baked goods and sweet words, we love you more and want you to survive Christmas. If fall else fails, take a lesson from your mom and bake one big cookie. ENJOY the season. Love you!
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 9:08 amYes, the 1.5 was challenging, but I managed to do it. It was part of a gift I wanted to send. I did slow down as you’ll read in the next blog I posted and it was absolutely refreshing to stop and just enjoy the tree and zone out with a movie. Hope your Christmas was great!
Kimberly Swan
December 13, 2016 at 8:26 amDearest Frannie – you always make the very best cookies each year! Love you, dear friend!
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 9:06 amMiss you Kimmers. Hope all is well and your Christmas was wonderful in your new home! xoxo
Nicol
December 13, 2016 at 8:18 amThumbprint cookies are the cookies my mom and I used to bake when I was a little girl! We made the jam-filled ones. I think we’re going to have to make a batch the next time I go home to see her 🙂
Love you, Fran!
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 9:06 amIf you don’t get to her soon enough, come to my house next week and we’ll make some! That sounds like a wonderful evening! xoxo Hope your Christmas was great!
Denice
December 13, 2016 at 7:49 amAll I want is cookies now! Thank you for starting my morning off so Sweetly!
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 9:05 amYou are very welcome Denice, you are adorable. Hope your Christmas was wonderful.
Monica
December 13, 2016 at 7:27 amYou still manage to write a funny and touching blog, so if you can’t bake your entire repertoire of Christmas cookies, you are still doing something constructive- keeping us entertained! Happy holidays to you and the family.
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 9:04 amThank you Monica, that honestly touches me so much. Got your card and am sending New Year’s cards since Christmas has come and gone! Thanks so much for the sweet words and for always reading my blogs. Yours make me want to drink – a lot! which I plan to do more of in the coming year!
Denise F.
December 13, 2016 at 6:51 amSo…..no coffee at Rocco’s with you before Christmas?! Merry Christmas, my friend.
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 8:59 amAwww Neecey, wish I could have but I was whirling like a top before Christmas and now have a small wedding to cater on New Year’s Eve, so after first week of Jan we should meet up!
skullwoman
December 13, 2016 at 6:47 amFran, this post actually made me tear up. I would give quite a bit to have one more baking season with my mom and Nana. Every year I make Stollen and Pfeffernusse and wish that they women who taught me to make them were here with me in the kitchen.
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 8:58 amOh Skullwoman, I so understand and am right there with you. But they live on in the traditions you continue and their spirits are, no doubt, happy about that! So, now it’s your job to show someone else how to make them. Maybe you can send me a recipe???
Suzette Calleja
December 13, 2016 at 5:56 amFran do you need help? I can fly over to help you. 🙂
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 8:56 amOh Suzette, I could have really used you!!!! I need an elf, or a wife!
Bob Erbeck
December 13, 2016 at 1:06 amMy mouth is watering, Fran. They sound so good! Good luck. I wish a very merry Christmas to you and your family.
Fran Tunno
December 28, 2016 at 8:56 amThanks Bob for the Merry Christmas wishes. Same to you and your family!