Love Letter To Santa

My Darling Santa Claus,

I hope that this letter finds you in good health.  For good health is the best thing that anyone can ask for this Christmas.  As you know these are difficult and scary times.  So Santa, I am reaching out to you because I would like you to grant me a Christmas wish.  

Strangely enough, I realize that I have never written to you before now.  It wasn't because I didn't love you.  I still find your red faux fur-lined suit and black biker boots incredibly sexy.  Although the beard is a bit too much for me, I would snuggle with you on a cold and snowy night.  I guess I have been too busy through the years and haven't had much time or energy to connect outside of my small circle of support.  I never have much of anything on my wish list for Christmas.  This is no exception.  I can wait on getting the hot tub and that smart refrigerator that I stop to admire every time I'm in Costco. Just a little window shopping fantasy.  

Dearest Saint Nick, I am writing to ask you to please bring joy this Christmas?  So many of us have forgotten how to smile at one another underneath our mask.  We also need to laugh again and enjoy life, even if we are alone this year. 

Please help us to give lots of love to one another.  Love that translates to kindness to the people we meet as we go about our daily lives.  Whether it's the person in line at the grocery store or the stranger waiting to share an elevator ride.  We need to remember that we are fellow humans.  As planetary brothers and sisters, we are equally tasked with promoting peace and harmony to ensure a brighter tomorrow for the children.

Finally, I ask for resolve, for this nation.  Collectively, we, the American people have suffered a great loss this year.  Our shared grief has been quite unexpected and particularly heavy.  We need to remember who we are.  We are one nation, largely of immigrants.  Whatever our differences, we always prevail and we grow stronger.  As we seek solutions to our problems and differences, let us stand firm that no dispute or situation will keep us in contention for long.

Santa, I hope that you are first in line for the vaccine because you are definitely an essential worker.  Don't forget your mask.

Sincerely Yours,

Lisa Nellie Pinckney

Christmas Cutout Cookies

INGREDIENTS

Cookies:

• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup cornstarch

• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1 large egg

• 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Icing:

• 1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar

• 4 teaspoons powdered egg whites (not reconstituted), such as Just Whites, or meringue powder (see Cooks' notes)

• 1/3 cup water

• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Make cookies:

1. Melt butter in a 1- to 2-quart heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, then cook over low heat, swirling pan occasionally, until butter has a nutty aroma and is a rich brown color, and bottom of pan is speckled with browned bits of the milk solids, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, including browned milk solids on bottom, and chill until almost firm, about 30 minutes.

2. Whisk together flour and cornstarch in a bowl. Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, then beat in egg, salt, and vanilla. Add flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined well.

3. Form dough into 2 balls and flatten each into a 6-inch disk. Chill disks, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firmer, but not hard, 15 to 30 minutes.

4. Heat oven to 350°F with rack in middle position. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

5. Roll out 1 disk of dough (keep remaining dough chilled) between 2 large sheets of wax paper 1/8 inch thick (this is when the rolling pin rings are really helpful). Freeze or chill dough on a baking sheet or tray until firm, 5 to 15 minutes, then cut out as many cookies as possible from dough. Transfer cookies to lined baking sheet, arranging cookies about 1 inch apart. If the cookies become too warm to transfer, freeze or chill until firm

6. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until edges are golden, 8 to 10 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

7. Meanwhile, gather scraps of dough and repeat cookie process above. Parchment can be reused, but make sure baking sheet cools between batches. Make more cookies with remaining dough.

1. Make icing:

   1. Beat together all ingredients in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until just combined, about 1 minute.

   2. Increase speed to high and continue to beat until icing holds stiff peaks, about 3 minutes in a stand mixer or 10 minutes with a handheld. If not using icing immediately, cover surface with a dampened paper towel, then cover bowl with plastic wrap.

   3. Transfer icing to a heavy-duty resealable bag and press out excess air. Snip a 1/8-inch opening in bottom corner of bag, then twist bag firmly just above icing and decoratively pipe icing onto cookies. If desired, sprinkle with sanding sugars or colorful sea salts while icing is still wet.

   4. Let icing dry completely (about 1 hour) before storing cookies.