Visions of sugarplums

As we enter into the holiday season, our minds wander to those sweets and treats that inevitably come with the holidays. Chocolates, peppermint sticks, cookies in every shape size and color. In that famous poem, the children went to sleep with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads.

What the heck is a sugarplum? According to Wikipedia - A sugar plum is a piece of candy that is made of sugar and shaped in a small round or oval shape. Usually the center is a seed or fruit, with many recipes using dried cherries, raisins, figs, nuts or even coconut. But ironically - no plums! Well, unless you count prunes, which started as a plum. The finely chopped fruits are rolled into balls, then rolled in sugar. I suppose this tastes better than fruitcake to many.

Fruitcake by the way is good for more than a regift or a doorstop. But where did the fruitcake begin? Fruitcakes have been around since Roman times; in fact, I think I’ve actually eaten some that have been around since Roman times. Your classic Roman fruitcake featured raisins, pine nuts, pomegranate seeds and barley mash. Today's versions vary from dark to light, spiked or not, and contain all different fruits. If you are not a fan of fruitcake - it makes a great stuffing for pork chops. OK - stop making the face.....trust me - they are yummy! Here's the recipe:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pork-Chops-with-Fruitcake-Stuffing-10923

Eggnog - that rich thick concoction of milk or cream, eggs and winter spices. Perhaps spiked with brandy, sherry or rum....but originally only cognac was used in England, where it originated. This creamy treat was a luxury, as many people in medieval times could not afford milk. Now we can find it in the dairy case, as early as Halloween, in many flavors, fat contents and brands.

Gingerbread cookies came later. At first gingerbread began as gingerbread cakes in the form of religious symbols and saints made by monks. After soldiers fought the crusades in the Middle East, travelers from the West brought back many exotic spices including ginger. The upper class people started making gingerbread using their own forms -made out of wood to depict royalty, castles and flowers. It wasn't until the early 1800's that the actual Gingerbread men cookies were made. Balls of dough were rolled together and shaped into figures by women, children and royalty. They were decorated and enjoyed by everyone. Cookie cutters were created several years later, making the uniform shapes of gingerbread boys, pulled from the tale of Hansel and Gretel.

I love gingerbread cookies - the smell, the taste and of course the messy way I decorate is all part of my Christmas tradition....what is you favorite holiday treat?