Explorations Into Liminality
“and there came an arm and a hand above the water and met it and caught it, and so shook it thrice and brandished it, and then vanished away the hand with the sword in the water.”

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Hansel and Gretel Would Be Pagans











The off-beat creative bug had me itching to make something unusual for our annual pilgrimage to the Aunties’ house for Xmas this year. In addition to my usual concoctions of macaroni and cheese and homemade bread rolls shaped in a wreath, I was bent on making masses of sweeties. I was hearing my great Aunt whispering in my ear, coaxing me to make spritz cookies like she did all her life. So I added some real orange extract, sprinkled a variety of sanding sugar colors including black, and voila- delicate and delicious bouquet of flowers. I moved on to toffee, and peanut brittle, pretzels dipped in chocolate and rolled in peanuts, and creamsicle blondies, which I am still craving. Then came the gingerbread cookies. I found a fabulous recipe, wherein the cookies actually taste good and are not for calcifying on your tree. Sorting through the abundance of cutting shapes, I was drawn to my Halloween forms and knew I had to bring on the Yule-ness to the table at this get together. I grabbed the skulls, the owls, the brooms. And of course the witch hats. I did toss in a few trees, swans, doves, stars and moons, some trains and candy canes for the kids. My oldest son figured out how to make a pentacle, and he was delighted with his creation.









I decided Day of the Dead decorations on the skulls would be perfect, and the gingerbread lasses would have to be witches. Out came the neon variety of food coloring, which has the best tints, and royal icing became a wild palette of utterly non-traditional hues. We were up for hours decorating after the baking was finally done. I was cackling at the irreverence of it all, at the delightful mix of weirdness. Certainly a season to remember for us at home. However, not one person at the gathering on the 25th said one single word about the unusual offerings, except that they actually tasted good. Were they whispering behind me back? Don’t know. Don’t care. We have a new tradition :D


11 comments:

Laume said...

You are soooooo a girl after my own heart. Hugs!

Athena's Armoury said...

Haw absolutely fabulous!!! The cookies are amazing and the non-comments are hysterical. Good for you, chica. ;)

Rainey J. Dillon said...

outside the realms is where I want to be & WHO may I ask will be htere- YOU! Your bikkies are scrumptiously wicked which/witch ehem is the way they should be. Am I right or am I right? & sure weren't witches originally part of wintertime festivities? My Mermaiden Hat is out on display until donned ALL year through. You are The Wicked Hatress of Wintertime Summertime Autumnaltime Springtimedingalingalingtime Alltime I realise I'm beginning to waffle again so I'll stop.

Rainey
x

Carapace said...

Awwww, no fair that those cookies and goodies all got spent on unappreciative peoples!

That settles it! You and me, we are finding a way to get together in 2010. And we can make cookies and kitchen witchery and party out. Don't make me insult Wicked to get you down here, Witchypoo.;)

Plumrose Lane said...

Oh these are darling, I love the 'flavor' you added to the festivities (no pun intended). ;-)
Strange no one mentioned anything though, I would be hard pressed not to say how adorable they were!
♥Sharon

Rue said...

LOL - I love this! My family would definitely say something to my face, so you got off easy! Glad they went over so well - they sure do look yummy!

stregata said...

How strange that no one would comment on these lovely, but unusual Yuletide offerings. I hope you don't have a reputation of turning people into frogs...
Can't wait to see this tradition go on next year!!

Becky Hill/Soul Chaser Becky said...

WOW You definitly brewed up a magical storm last christmas in the kitchen didn't you! You should definitly do it again this Halloween and make spiders, cobwebs, cauldrons, wands, brooms, skulls and any other wicked creation you can think of. They look delicious as they do magical. Bravo to you!

Rainey J. Dillon said...

so sorry my golden mermaiden -it seems I had omitted the writings to my last post. Perplexed is ok though yes? All better now

x

Live, Love, Laugh, Write! said...

That's awesome!

Lisa Bommarito said...

Twas' the cookies who whispered, without a doubt. Thank you for your lovely post, and even more, your fascinating blog and gift of words. I adore new traditions.
~lis