A family holiday tradition that I’d like to take some credit for starting, or at least popularizing, is baking my favorite cookies of all time—Peanut Butter Blossoms. These are the peanut butter cookies with the chocolate kiss pressed into the middle. Ahhh… peanut butter and chocolate… a match truly made in heaven.
Although I’ve been making these cookies for the Christmas holiday for as long as I can remember, perhaps the greatest joy I receive now from Peanut Butter Blossoms is seeing my own children pick up the tradition. What follows is a pictorial view of last night’s baking session.
It all begins with the dough, rolled into a small ball.
The dough gets rolled in sugar before being placed on a cookie sheet. A daughter for every step in the assembly line. Perhaps having 3 kids was all part of the plan. 
Perhaps a little lumpy in places but isn’t everything made by children perfect?
The girls couldn’t wait to dig into the bag of chocolate kisses and start unwrapping them.
Finally, the cookies are out of the oven and are ready to receive their crown. They’re best when warm. The chocolate melts ever so slightly.
There you have it. We now have our cookies for Santa.
So what are your family baking traditions?
The monthly online ritual that is Wine Blogging Wednesday is turning 40 today. Although I haven’t been a consistent player in WBW events, I couldn’t pass up on this month’s theme: Petite Sirah.
Petite Sirah has always been one of my favorite varieties. In fact, I am eagerly awaiting the first harvest from the six Petite Sirah plants in my own micro-vineyard. Historically Petite Sirah has been used mostly as a blending grape in other wines. The stout tannins, deep color, and bold blackberry and spice flavors of this grape contribute structure and ageability to their blending partners.
Fortunately bottlings of Petite Sirah have become much more common lately. I was attracted to the wine I chose this month by the name given to a previous vintage by a local wine merchant. In one of his regular email newsletters, Eric Stumpf at The Wine Consultant, described the 2004 Mount Aukum Petite Sirah as follows.
If it’s all about bigger is better! If size matters? This is the Black Hummer of red wines! Think of plump juicy wild blackberries! Add a dose of minerality from decomposed granite. A hint of “Good & Plenty” licorice candy. Smooth riding but with full throttle, muscular tannins. I don’t care if you only drink Cabs (you’ll swoon over this one)! Bring on the brontosaurus rack of ribs! Drink now for full guts, glory and because there’s a lot of wine in this bottle that needs to get out!
A wine described as a “Black Hummer”!? Awesome! Who wouldn’t want to go for a ride with a wine like that? I actually tasted the 2005 model of the Black Hummer for this post but rest assured it still muscles its way to the line.
The color of this wine was an alluring deep, dark, inky, purple; the windows are definitely tinted! On the nose this monster is in your grill with waves of blackberries, blueberries, and a very distinctive black pepper aroma. The super-duty tannins in the interior of this wine keep you moving down the fastlane in style, riding high above the wimpy hybrid wines in your mirror. Show up to the next party with this beast and you’ll be sure to impress your friends.
2005 Mount Aukum Winery Petite Sirah
Appellation: Fair Play
Price: $29
ABV: 15%