Must-Make Cookies, Part 346.

Sugar, spice, very many things nice.

I have a lot of thoughts about Christmas music. I was in choirs for much of my life and think I know songs from the sacred to the profane. I’m as big as fan of Britten’s brusque “Adam Lay Ibounden” as I am of Eartha Kitt’s purring “Santa Baby.” The season hasn’t started for me until I listen to the entire King’s College sing “Once in Royal David’s City.” In fact, if you need a little escape from everything, pop some headphones on, sit in a quiet place with your eyes closed and take that song in.

There are certain songs, however, that get right up my nose. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” tops the list. First of all, I’m never all decked out in a fab sequined little number quaffing spiked egg nog and tossing my head back in laughter when I hear it. Instead, I’m usually fourth in line to check out at the ShopRite, sweating because I stupidly wore my coat, hat and scarf into the store and have just realized that although I have a cart full of things, I forgot cat food and am weighing whether it’s worth going back to aisle 14 or if I should risk being murdered in my sleep by the cats. Or it’s churning out of the loudspeakers at the CVS as I pick up some sort of eczema cream, and the kids from the nearby middle school are pondering what to shoplift next and y’know, I’m really not feeling the season.

I’m not Scrooge, I promise you. But currently my house is in chaos. Don’t wait 20 years to get your house repaired and then get it done in December. Nothing is where it should be, least of all the holly and the ivy that my halls are meant to be decked with. I have many, many, many final exams to grade. My son, a senior in high school, is noodling over the “last” touches of college applications due January 1st. (You can interpret the quotes around “last” as you will.) My life is all good, mind you, I’ve truly no complaints, just a case of itchy brain, as I call it. My ADHD doesn’t know where to look first. So: COOKIES.

COOKIES. COOKIES. COOKIES.

Today, along with making peanut butter blossoms because Daugh is finally returned from college, I will make these family favorites:

St. Clement’s Cookies: These are the dreamiest of citrus cookies, cakey with a swirl of tart frosting.

My Daddio’s favorite biscotti: Do you have must-make cookies? These biscotti, along with vanilla kipferln, must be in the house during the holidays. They remind me the holidays with my parents. Beloved Husband(tm) also glorms them up.

Chocolate Linzer Tart Bars. I bake these for me. Me. Cinnamon, hazelnuts, chocolate and raspberry jam: all the good, cozy flavors in one place.

Victorian Gingerbread Cake will be made for really old time’s sake. I made it with author Charles Finch. It’s delicious.

And speaking of ginger: Double Ginger and Honey Chocolate Chip Cookies

But all of this is just a really long note to say, go to the grocery and stock up on sweetened condensed milk, because later today I’ll be sending out a recipe for caramel crumb bars. Do not be put off by the unassuming name. They will solve all your last-minute holiday gift problems, hostess gifts, and/or, they freeze beautifully and you deserve to make them just for you.

While you wait for the recipe, tell me: What is your favorite and least favorite song of the season…and if it can be put into words (polite or otherwise), why?

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