Family traditions are so important... and one of the things that makes each family unique and special. This is the time of year for traditions! Your Family Faith Formation team will be sharing their family traditions with you over the next few weeks. We would also love to hear from you! Email familyfaithformation@thecasa.org to share your traditions with us.
BISCOCHITOS
The family tradition that I would like to share with you is one that I married into! In fact, I am going to go ahead and hope that I am not breaking any family code of honor by also sharing with you the recipe for this tradition that I married into!
When I married my husband eighteen years ago I did so with wide eyes open that I was also marrying his very loud and boisterous Spanish family - and all of their traditions! This was especially apparent at Christmastime. While this was a bit of a culture shock to me - not only was I a brand new Catholic, but I was also brand new at celebrating Christmas having come from a non-Christian faith upbringing - I embraced it all as much as they embraced me.
One of my favorite inherited traditions is biscochitos! At first glance you might mistake these little magic biscuits for regular old sugar cookies. Do not be fooled! They are much much more... and if you have never had one, you are really in for a treat! Biscochitos are a New Mexican tradition that came over from Spain. My husbands family have been making them for generations at Christmastime. They are traditionally part of Las Posadas, a nine day celebration which begins each year on December 16. For Las Posadas, guests reenact the biblical story of Joseph’s asking for shelter for himself and the pregnant Mary. The last day, December 25 is celebrated with a party - complete with traditional Spanish foods and of course, biscochitos!
For our family, these little cookies can be counted on to cover my mother in laws counter-top the week before Christmas. While they are traditionally topped with cinnamon & sugar, my mother in law always tops hers with a simple butter icing colored red and green... Perfection!
Donna Kinzie
Family Catechesis Coordinator
Infant Baptism Coordinator
BISCOCHITOS RECIPE yield: 5 dozen
6 c. sifted flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 lb lard (yep, lard!!)
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/4 c. kosher wine
Pre-heat oven to 350. Sift flour w/ baking powder & salt.
Cream lard w/ sugar on medium speed. Add eggs until blended. Add flour and wine slowly until you have a stiff dough.
Kneed slightly & roll to 1/2” thick & cut into desired shapes.
Place cookies on non-stick cookie sheet & bake 10-12 mins until lightly browned. Once cool top with icing.