Christmas and Cooking

In Lalbagh Garden, in Bangalore, I found this plaque establishing the link between Christmas (tree) and the Cook (pine):

"Christian community treat this tree as sacred one & worship during Christmas."

Note the Muslim women having a photo snapped, with "Christmas Trees" in the background.

In my house, many holiday rituals surround cooking. One of my most precious possessions is this copy of Stora Kokboken, which I haul out every December to help with my liver pâté, my award-winning Swedish coffeebread and whatever else sparks happy memories. I say hello to my mom's notations and feel her presence.

(Stora Kokboken, Edith Ekegårdh and Britta Hallman-Haggren, Wezäta Förlag, Göteborg, 1957)

Opposite the title page is this:

My parents were married in December of 1957; the cookbook was a Christmas present from my mom's father, stepmother and stepsister. The note says "En god jul önskar vi er!" which translates as "We wish you a Merry Christmas".

What they said.