Our Community
Sharin g Specia l Holida y Traditions
Written by Holly Stupak
This holiday season I think we are all looking forward to hosting or attending festive get-togethers again. After last year’s quiet holidays, this year’s celebrations with family and friends will seem even sweeter. So what should you bring to your next family get together or gathering with friends? We turned to some local bakers for some ideas. First, we head over to Margie Varallo’s kitchen. Margie’s family moved to Broomall when she was 15 and she’s lived in Marple ever since. She and her husband met when they were 16 and they’ve been married for more than 34 years. They have two wonderful sons who both brought amazing women into the family. Their greatest blessing right now is their two grandchildren who bring so much joy and craziness to their lives, but they love every minute of it! Margie said what she loves about the Marple community is the sense of unity and kindness towards one another. Whether it be a meal train, volunteering, or a fundraiser, if there is a need in the community, people step up. Margie learned this firsthand after she recently started her own soup business, Mima’s Kitchen (the name was inspired by her grandchildren who call her Mima). “When I first posted on social media about my soup business, the response was overwhelming,” Margie said. “Yes, some people just wanted to try my soups, but others said they ordered simply because they wanted to support a local business. The sense I get from people in the community is that if we’re all on this journey of life together… why not help each other out when we can!” When Margie’s sons were young, they enjoyed baking, decorating and especially eating Christmas cookies and she has continued this tradition with her grandkids. “They love to bake around the holidays and cover the cookies with excessive amounts of icing and sprinkles,” Margie said. So in that spirit, she chose her butter cookie recipe which is not only melt in your mouth delicious, but it’s the recipe she always uses for their decorating extravaganza.
30 Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together
Mima’s Butter Cookies (makes 6 dozen cookies)
Photo courtesy of Margie Varallo
INGREDIENTS •
1½ lbs. butter (6 sticks), softened
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2 cups sugar
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4 eggs
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5 cups flour
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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1 teaspoon salt
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS •
Using a mixer, combine cream butter and sugar.
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Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
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Chill dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
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Drop teaspoons of batter onto ungreased cookie sheets and decorate with colored sprinkles.
Bake at 350º for about 12 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.
Enjoy!
