My generation grew up on food that came from boxes and drinks that came from packets. They were great for convenience but short on flavor and nutrition. They were short on richness and aroma, too, but we didn’t know any better back then. I was in my twenties before I had ever had real, old-fashioned, homemade hot chocolate. I didn’t even know you could make it from scratch. Not that I could blame my mom for raising me that way. She and the other first-generation working moms had their hands full with careers in the day and families at night. They did the best they could with the information they had. But we know better now, and with that knowledge comes a plethora of choices. To make those choices wisely, it is important to have information and to know your options. It is fun to play around in the kitchen and tweak recipes, so my obsession with creating homemade classics serves me well. It is healthier and more fun than simply opening a package and adding water, and it’s a great social outlet when you invite others into the kitchen to cook with you. While it may take a bit more time initially to create scratch food and beverages, the results give you more servings for your efforts. They also show the friends and family you share them with that you care enough to give them the best, and they’ll appreciate you the more for it. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen preparing for the holidays this year. I went in with a sense of adventure and the ultimate goal of creating healthier versions of winter classics. What I came out with are recipes we will use again and again for years to come, two of which I’ve included here. Use the recipes yourselves and tweak them however you like. The all-natural mulled apple cider will warm you through and through. The cookie bars are just a bonus splurge, from my kitchen to yours.
Graham Cracker Shortbread Cookies 1 1/3 cup butter 1/3 teaspoon salt 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs 1 cup plus 1 ½ tablespoons AP flour 3 tablespoons cornstarch ¾ cup sugar 1 cup cornmeal Zest of 1 orange (optional)
Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9” x 13” baking pan and set aside. Beat butter and salt in mixer until fluffy. Add rest of ingredients and mix until just combined. Put the cookie dough into the pan and spread evenly. Bake until cookies are completely set and slightly golden around the edges, approx. 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and let set for 5 minutes. Cut into squares and allow to cool completely. Remove cookie squares from pan and serve with a delicious hot drink.