Christmas is such a wonderful holiday. Full of joy, love and peace. I love it when Christmas comes, happiness is in the air. Christmas songs come on the radio, making every car ride a happy one. Everyone is out with smiles on their faces, seeming brighter than they were even a month ago. There is always a wonderful feeling in the air. When I go out for a walk around our town Lake Oswego, the people I pass seem so much more friendly than usual. Everyone waves and greets each other as they pass, people will stop and pet your dog. I even feel much more chipper. It’s just wonderful.

Every year when Christmas comes around, my mom and I make our special lemon glazed Christmas cookies. I look forward to this every year. We spend the day in the kitchen together, laughing and joking around. Tasting the oh so yummy frosting (too many times, I must say) and eating the delicious dough. I love the days we spend together bonding over something we both share a passion for. While we baked the cookies and laughed about life each year, my older brothers helped us out by eating the cookies. And every year after we baked the cookies, we always delivered them to our neighbors, friends and family.

For the past 13 years we have made these cookies – mixed, rolled and baked with love. We started this tradition the year after my dad past away, which was on Christmas Eve. I believe my mom started this with me as a way to keep the holidays happy and to always have a positive, joy filled Christmas memory each year. Every year when Christmas rolls in, I always feel the loss of my dad stronger than ever before. I feel that emptiness inside me creep back in around Christmas, the longing for him to be here. I know my mom and brothers feel it as well. It has always been a special holiday for us. The day our lives fell apart, but also the day that made us stronger than ever. We all developed an impeccable bound with each other filled with so much deep love and care, no one can break it.

I love my family, and Christmas always makes me realize just how much I truly love them.

For this recipe, I won’t be writing it down. However it’s fairly simple. Make your basic sugar cookie recipe, during this step add a tablespoon of grated lemon zest. Roll the dough out and then cut out your shapes. We have always used hearts and stars. Bake for the required time, cool on a rack before glazing. The cookies need to be completely cooled before adding the glaze.

NOTE: For a quick and easy recipe, buy Pamela’s Gluten Free Sugar Cookie mix. I’m a big fan of Pamela’s products. If I don’t have the time to make something from scratch I’ll use one of Pamela’s mixes. They are all gluten free.  http://www.pamelasproducts.com/products/baking-mixes/sugar-cookie-mix/

For the glaze, its 3 ingredients. Powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Ratio these right to get a slightly running consistency. You don’t need much lemon juice. Add as much lemon zest to your liking. This is what makes the cookies absolutely delicious. Using a spoon, smooth the glaze over the tops of each cookie. Let the glaze harden a little. Then enjoy!

Here are some pictures of todays cookie baking. This year my moms cousin Kristen joined us!

My mom’s cousin Kristen and I

My adorable Mother

Cute Kristen, getting ready to cut some cookies!

And myself

Merry Christmas! Hope it’s filled with lots of love 🙂