The famous line from The Sound of Music rings in my ears these days: “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window.” I think it is good advice to contemplate as we close out another month in this pandemic.
Ah, retrospect. 2020 began relatively peacefully. Santa Barbara was a dream to live in in Winter. Days were bright and encouraging. Walks on the beach invigorating. Flowers bloomed everywhere. And, while I missed one good snowstorm, the ability to get out of the house sans coats, boots, gloves, hats and tingling fingers left that memory in the back of my mind.
As March came in I found myself looking for masks while still wondering if I would ever really need them. I scored 5 N-95 masks at the travel store in the Gelson’s shopping center on State Street. Before we knew it, we were extending our stay until the end of April. Life after that has been a long blur of at once hopefulness and swaying back and forth with the statistics. We spent 7 months at home in NJ mostly outside, and found a new way of entertaining ourselves. For me, I found my routines barely interrupted as I traveled, albeit cautiously, around to nurseries and gardens that were open, and did what I usually do: ogle daffodils, ranunculus, peonies, iris, hydrangea, roses, lilies, and on and on. I was thankful for my good fortune that I had plenty to occupy my time in my most rewarding of vocations, flower obsession with a side of pollinators. I even had a rare sighting of hummingbirds in our yard a few times.
Well, Summer came and went and Fall was pretty amazing. Dahlias came as did finally, my morning glories. I made quite a few arrangements and studied the results with jaded eye. Before I knew it the sun began dipping over the tree line before 4 o’clock and I began to feel my requisite dread. But, for as long as I could, I continued to visit my favorite venues near and far, and even took in a few Fall Iris blooms at the Presby Iris Garden.
As October, perhaps the most beautiful month of all in NJ, came to a close some talk turned to the holidays. More recently, guidelines have come forth for all to bunker in. I have kept this in the back of my mind as I continued to make early morning browses of my own garden in a fleece and closed toe shoes – and then, smack, it was the week before Thanksgiving already. I have kept myself busy in the downtimes binge watching The Great British Baking Show. I admit that it has gotten me into the holiday spirit a little earlier this year. Their series on Holiday baking is so fun to watch and I highly recommend it. I am dying to make so many of Mary, Paul and Prue’s recipes this season -which gets me around to the title of this post, “Parcel Post Holidays”.
Whatever will we do? Many of us are wondering what it will be like without the larger groups and gaiety that are particularly common between now and New Year’s. What, we can’t even get together and pass the turkey and the stuffing or share a single glass of champagne with friends? Might I suggest that we all defer to the conditions of our predicament, hoping that by next year we will all wipe our brows with a big Whew in retrospect, and bake away and send our greetings off by Parcel Post? You may find the term Parcel Post dated and more than a bit dusty, but I still like it. So, I propose that we buy ourselves some cellophane bags or small boxes, a roll or two of brightly colored ribbon and bake and gift away. Send your greetings to your friends and family who you won’t be seated next to this year in a smartly adorned parcel. They will be surprised and happy and, you will get the pleasure of giving a little gift of love in our absence.
These little parcels can be as simple or as ornate as you wish, sweet or savory or both. I suggest an array of shortbread cookies. They are so easy and variable. Decorating and flavoring them is as fun as is the variety. Use chocolates, nuts, sugars and other candies, colors, herbs, cheeses, liqueurs. Use your imagination and play around.
My favorite shortbread recipes are all variations of Leslie Mackie’s and one of my favorite versions is here: https://kitchen-inspirational.com/2016/03/28/quick-need-cookie-orange-almond-shortbread-cookies/
Here is another fun option: I love these: https://kitchen-inspirational.com/2016/12/06/day-6-gift-25-recipes-red-white-cookie-peppermint-gets-new-suit/.
Try anything and everything from the inimitable Zoë Bakes: https://zoebakes.com/2008/12/09/maple-brown-butter-shortbread-cookies/
Of course you can do savory treats as well. Ina Garten’s Stilton and Walnut Crackers and her Chipotle and Rosemary Roasted Nuts are huge hits and travel just as well as the cookies.
There are so many opportunities to explore this idea. No need to limit yourself to these few suggestions. Of course, biscotti and many cookies travel well. Plain old butter cookies are always a hit. Knock yourself out trying new recipes. This pandemic need not close down your opportunities for creativity. It need not turn us into neurotic messes. Bake, cook, arrange flowers, take a walk in nature. And always as we do, put on some favorite music and step into the kitchen. Resurrect old recipes or try some new ones. Make yourself a hot cider with cinnamon sticks and star anise. It will make it easier to forget the news and all the things you can’t do right now.
Here are a few of my favorite books for this time of year:
The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater
Winter in the Alps by Manuela Darling Gansser
Alpine Cooking by Meredith Erickson
The Great Scandinavian Baking Book by Beatrice Ojakangas
Music: Vivaldi 4 Seasons, Mozart Clarinet Quintet
Best gifts: a box of pastels and a pad
a beautiful pen and a notebook
Hang in. One day at a time.