We actually hadn't devastated the Christmas stash, just sort of tested the quality. Exercising my cunning, I pointed out that our plunder of her baking treasure-trove was nothing more, nothing less than a compliment to our mother's nurturing expertise, her personal flour power, her, well, you get the idea. She would have none of this self-serving flattery and made us swear on the spot that we would refrain from tampering with the Christmas stash. Being as susceptible to flattery as the next woman, however, she did make a devil's pact with us. We were to leave the perfectly formed cookies for their gift-pack destination and only steal the shards that invariably occurred due to breakage.
Some traditions endure.
I can feel at home anywhere during the holidays, as long as the turkey is dry and the cookies are frozen. Marie Waters' Brown Sugar Brownies 1 egg 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1 tsp. Quickly stir in flour, soda and salt. Blend in walnuts, coarsely chopped. Spread in a greased 8 x 8 x 2-inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes.