Choose High‑Leverage Traditions

For the holidays, we’re re-running some of our very favorite holiday-themed episodes! It's hard not to feel like we've got to be doing ALL the things at the holidays, especially when social media tells us we should be. Here are some tips for taking perspective at the holidays and operating in "high magic, low effort" mode. We discuss:

• pre-gaming with your (older) kids about the preferred responses to less-preferred gifts
• starting with what family members really do love most about the holidays (their answers will surprise you)
• why you don't have to go the Nutcracker, or lights at the zoo, or Aunt Martha's house, this year, let alone every year

Rosie Colosi for Today Parents: ⁠⁠Moms are challenging the idea that they are the sole keepers of holiday ‘magic’⁠⁠

SNL's "Christmas Morning" sketch: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOVCtUdaMCU⁠

⁠Read all of our listeners' great advice on the original Facebook thread⁠... and here, as promised, is Amy's recipe for the⁠ Italian pepper cookies⁠ that seem to be unique to northeast Pennsylvania...

Italian Pepper Cookies (makes about 72 cookies, more if they’re small)

• 1/2 cup Crisco 
• 2 cups of milk or water (or more if needed) If dough is really sticky you can add a little bit more of milk
• 1/2 lb. raisins 
• 1 cup cocoa
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 tbsp. baking powder
• 7 cups of flour (add more if needed)
• 1 1/2 tsps. cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsps. cloves (not whole)
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 tsps. black pepper (if you don't want them too spicy, you can cut back on the pepper, I never do though)
• Optional, you can add nuts or I've seen people add chocolate chips too. We aren't big nut eaters, so I've never made them with nuts.

• Preheat oven to 375
• Cream sugar and Crisco together in a bowl 
• In a different bowl, sift together all the dry ingredients. Add sifted dry ingredients to creamed sugar and Crisco alternately with milk.
• Mix well. It will be very sticky, it's easier to work with your hands. I usually coat my hands with some Pam to be able to work the dough. Add your raisins and mix it up more. 
• Using your hands, take enough dough to roll a small ball (my mom likes them big, I like them smaller) Place cookie balls on your cookie trays (I usually fit around 16 on a tray, all depends on the size of your cookie balls) 
• Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes.

Icing:

• 2 cups confectioner's sugar
• 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon butter
• splash vanilla

For icing: Mix together all ingredients, adding milk until achieving creamy consistency, not stiff.

When cookies are slightly cooled, top with icing.

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What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson.

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