Welcome to Sunday Sobremesa, a twice-monthly thread to discuss food and culture while sipping on an oat milk latte (or an hinojo1 if that’s more your style!).
Homemade oat milk latte, in one of my favorite mugs from Salvador Bachiller. It’s hard to tell in the picture, but it’s a light mint green, my favorite color.
Thanksgiving may not be a holiday in Spain, but that doesn’t stop us from celebrating it. For a few years now (not counting the years of the pandemic), we’ve hosted a huge Friendsgiving celebration in our house the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The main foods are strictly US T-giving fare: a huge oven-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and macaroni and cheese (among other sides). The appetizers steer more Spanish: olives, Manchego cheese, various cured meats such as fuet, and a special purée that we rotate every year (this year it was an updated version of our favorite zucchini cream).
This year we were expecting lots of little kids and decided to find a fun activity to keep them entertained. I was inspired by Time Travel Kitchen’s recent post that included a sugar cookie recipe, so while in the US I bought some fall-shaped cutters in anticipation of some cookie decorating fun. The plan was a hit—the kids loved decorating turkeys and pumpkins, the parents were grateful for having an organized activity for the peques2, and the cookies were delicious (thanks again for sharing it, Jolene!).
With more holiday plans with family and friends coming up, I’d love to hear from you: What are some of your favorite fun cooking/baking activities for kids? It can be a memory of something that you did yourself as a child, an activity you’ve organized as an adult, or even a cool idea you’ve seen/read about.
My mom always made poppy seed bread (that’s what she called it but it’s really more of a cake than bread). My sister has taken over that tradition and makes tons of it (big and “mini” loaves) every Christmas. It has a lovely citrus glaze that goes on top.
At our house, the girls help me do some cookie baking, decorating, and usually a gingerbread house (store bought)!
So they're not edible, but one of my favorite childhood Christmas memories was my mom rolling out clay and us making tree ornaments with cookie cutters. We cut "cookies" out of the dough, baked them, and painted them after. It was super fun, and then we used them on our tree for years!
I always thinking decorating cupcakes can be quite fun, sometimes I see these pre-made box ones where they include all the dye needed and the ingredients for the cake, you just need to whip up the frosting. It can get - very - messy, but I used to try to make a Santa on the top of the cupcake...he was always lopsided but he tasted delicious every time!
Thank you for sharing the recipe in the first place! I have another that I’d used in years past, but the one you shared is much more streamlined and the dough is so easy to work with! It’s going to be my go-to sugar cookie recipe from now on ☺️
We have an annual cookie day with my parents and my brothers and their families! I remember when my niece was four or so, she helped me make cookies and it was so fun. I got both her and my nephew booking subscription boxes that year for Christmas.
My mom always made poppy seed bread (that’s what she called it but it’s really more of a cake than bread). My sister has taken over that tradition and makes tons of it (big and “mini” loaves) every Christmas. It has a lovely citrus glaze that goes on top.
At our house, the girls help me do some cookie baking, decorating, and usually a gingerbread house (store bought)!
That poppy seed bread sounds delicious, and I love that it’s something your mom made that will be carried on as a tradition 💕
I don’t think I’ve ever made a gingerbread house!! I’ll have to put that on my holiday bucket list for this year 🤔
So they're not edible, but one of my favorite childhood Christmas memories was my mom rolling out clay and us making tree ornaments with cookie cutters. We cut "cookies" out of the dough, baked them, and painted them after. It was super fun, and then we used them on our tree for years!
I always wanted to do this when I was younger but for some reason never did! I could see this being a hit!
I always thinking decorating cupcakes can be quite fun, sometimes I see these pre-made box ones where they include all the dye needed and the ingredients for the cake, you just need to whip up the frosting. It can get - very - messy, but I used to try to make a Santa on the top of the cupcake...he was always lopsided but he tasted delicious every time!
Cupcakes are a great idea! I really want to see a picture of your lopsided Santa now 😆 Did you make it out of frosting??
Ooh, I’m so glad, Kiki! Thanks for letting me know and for the shout-out! Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁 ❤️
Thank you for sharing the recipe in the first place! I have another that I’d used in years past, but the one you shared is much more streamlined and the dough is so easy to work with! It’s going to be my go-to sugar cookie recipe from now on ☺️
We have an annual cookie day with my parents and my brothers and their families! I remember when my niece was four or so, she helped me make cookies and it was so fun. I got both her and my nephew booking subscription boxes that year for Christmas.
*COOKING subscription boxes 😂
I didn’t know that cooking subscription boxes for kids existed! Now I’m off to Google them and see if they have them in Spain, too 😆
Good luck!! I can’t remember what the box is called otherwise I’d tell you 😂
Hahaha I was going to ask! But then I realized the US companies probably don’t ship to Spain anyway 🤷🏻♀️🤣