As we all frantically scramble to get ready for what crooner Andy Williams told us is the “hap-happiest season of all,” we are reminded often that things are not all sugar and spice and everything nice both here at home and around the world.
However, I am not going to dwell on all those issues that we know too well and will instead rip a page out of the playbook of our regular Thursday columnist John Zakour and focus this “Pub Chat” on some of the positive, upbeat — and even quirky — things that are cooking as we barrel toward Christmas 2023.
First, I want to recognize that not everyone reading this necessarily believes in the Christian message of the holiday, and that’s OK. My hope is that even if you don’t, you can observe it secularly and take a break, slow down and enjoy time with loved ones.
And maybe bake some cookies, which is where I will start. I hope you caught Susan Clark Porter’s story about the 13th annual Finger Lakes Times Cookie Contest, and Terry DeCola’s first-place Cranberry-Pistachio Shortbread Cookies. I often try the winning recipes myself, and though I haven’t had the chance yet to bake Terry’s, I can’t wait to. (Debbie Yurek’s second-place Orange Drop Cookies and Pat Certo’s third-place Scotcha-rookies don’t sound bad, either).
Christmas also is a season of not only heartwarming and familiar movies — as John touched on in his........