BY DECLAN FARRISEE

The holidays come once a year, and for many people, the food can be just as important as the gifts. I know that’s true for me. Christmas just wouldn’t feel quite right without the traditional Christmas Eve fondue dinner, or the large assortment of cookies my grandmother never fails to supply. Food brings everyone together. Here are some of my personal favorites.

Dad’s Perfect Fondue (serves 5-6)
Ever since I can remember, my family has spent the night before Christmas dipping chunks of bread into a hot pot of delicious cheese fondue, and over the years my dad has perfected his recipe.

Ingredients:
8 oz. aged Swiss cheese
8 oz. Gruyere cheese
2 ½ tbsp. flour
1 ½ cups dry white wine
1 large clove of garlic
Black pepper
2 to 4 tbsp. kirsch
Cubed French bread

Begin by grating the assortment of cheeses, then toss them with the flour.
Rub the fondue pot with garlic and leave the remainder in the pot.
Pour the wine in the fondue pot and set it to high.
Once the wine bubbles, lower the heat and stir, slowly adding the cheese.
The sauce should be ready in a few minutes.
Add pepper and kirsch to taste.
Serve immediately for best flavor.

Mom’s Magical Buckeyes (makes 3 dozen)
These have always been my favorite holiday treat. Nothing goes together as well as peanut butter and chocolate.

Ingredients:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup finely ground graham cracker crumbs
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp. paraffin

Combine the peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar in a bowl until smooth and then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Roll the peanut butter mixture into balls of about one teaspoon each, and refrigerate until ready to be dipped.
Melt the chocolate chips and paraffin together.
Use a toothpick to dip each ball into chocolate, leaving only the top exposed.
Refrigerate until chocolate is firm.
Enjoy!

Grandma’s Sugar Cookies
These classic cookies have been passed down through two generations in my family, and still taste great.

Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
½ tsp. lemon extract
1 ¾ cups flour
¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a couple baking sheets with butter spray.
Mix the butter and sugar.
Add the egg, lemon rind and lemon extract.
Add the dry ingredients and beat until smooth. If mixture is sticky,
add 2-3 tablespoons of flour.
Chill until firm, then place the dough on lightly floured surface and roll thin.
Sprinkle with red and green sugar.
Cut with Christmas cookie cutters.
Place on the pre-greased baking sheet.
Bake in oven for about 12 minutes.
Enjoy!