Photo credits: Daytona Strong
On the other side of my family, sandbakkelse were a mandatory part of the Christmas season. Delicate cookies formed in little tins, sandbakkelse require each cookie to be shaped patiently by hand. They were a staple in Grandma Adeline’s kitchen as I was growing up, and now the 94-year-old woman bakes them at my home, teaching me the tricks to forming the thinnest shell possible. Though daunting at first, there’s a rhythm to the process. My grandmother, mom, and I sit at the table together, pinching off little bits of dough and rolling them into balls between our palms before pressing them into the bottom of the tins. Cradling the tins in our fingers, we rotate them around and around as our thumbs coax the dough across the interior surface. We talk and drink wine as we form the cookies, and before long the cookies are formed, just needing to be baked. The experience proves that the process isn’t really about the cookies. It’s about family, togetherness, and creating memories. As with all the traditions I love during the holidays—trimming the tree, going out shopping for presents, and decorating the house—the activities themselves are just an excuse to set aside time to share sharing special times with loved ones.
Nordic Design Christmas 2013 | 7