Wow, what a year! I can’t say that many people are sad that it ended, and who isn’t looking forward to the new year? It just HAS to be better than the last, doesn’t it? For us here at Enid Monthly, there are a lot of exciting new developments for instance, you may have noticed the new name! With it will come some really amazing opportunities for us to provide more content and value for our readers and advertisers, such as a new website which will roll out in the coming weeks. We will also be providing the same great content you have come to expect from us here at Enid Monthly. Who knows where this year will take us, but we do know that we LOVE being a part of the Enid community and all that Enid has to offer.
p.s. We wish Curtis and Enid Buzz all the best on their new endeavors. They have been a great partner for our startup and we are also excited to see what they will be up to in the future!
Students knew that the 2020 school year would look very different to the Seniors as they navigated the COVID-19 Pandemic. How different they had no idea. For one Senior, she soon found that there would be many obstacles including quarantine and coaching changes, but that didn’t stop her from making the All-State Pom team.
After asking Chaney about her thoughts going into her Senior year she said “we knew it would not be anything close to normal but that we would be grateful for whatever opportunities we did get.”
The EHS Pom team would have one other obstacle, a coaching change. This would be the 4th coaching change in her career at EHS. For this change, Chaney said that “although change is difficult we had been through it before, as a group we stepped up and helped make the transition less stressful.”
EHS Pom Coach Abigail Necarsulmer said this about Chaney: “Chaney is adaptable to change and has kept a positive attitude throughout the Covid-19 environment. Making All-State affirms her expertise and commitment to her sport.”
Chaney Tucker has been a member of the Enid High Pom Team since middle school and has been dancing since she was little. This, along with an excellent work ethic, has made Chaney a very talented dancer. So good in fact, she was recognized this year by being named an Oklahoma All-State and All-Region West performer.
Chaney Tucker – EHS Pom
“Chaney Tucker has been a dedicated member of the Pom team since she joined in 7th grade. Chaney works hard in and out of practice and her skills display consistency and mastery of dance” said Coach Necarsulmer.
It is not surprising that Chaney will continue her Pom career at the next level. Her sister Piper is a member of the OU Pom Team. Chaney told me that she will definitely be pursuing a Pom or Dance position at the collegiate level. One thing is clear, Chaney has a great work ethic and is very talented, two traits that will serve her well as she continues on her path. We at EHS are excited for her future and can not wait to see what she accomplishes!
Enid Athletics Plainsmen/Pacer Pride of the Plains Brought to You by Slater Mechanical
Every family celebrates Christmas a bit differently. Traditions carried on from generation to generation, lend comfort, familiarity, and fun to the holidays.
For instance, some families of German descent in the US Midwest add to the holiday celebration with the Christmas Pickle. The pickle is a glass blown ornament and is typically the last one put on the tree. It is camouflaged among branches, but the first child to find it gets an extra gift and wins good luck for the next year.
Adopting an Elf on the Shelf has gained popularity in recent years as a way to encourage children to be on their best behavior during the days preceding Christmas. The Elf will report back to Santa every night to say whether the youngsters have been naughty or nice. After his nightly visit to the North Pole, he returns to a new spot every day. Oh, one more thing… if the kids touch the Elf, all of his Elf magic goes away! Parents get very creative, often posting their Elf’s antics on social media to add to the merriment.
This month we explore three distinctive cultures found in the Enid area and learn of the intriguing Christmas traditions they embrace.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day
The Hispanic community in Enid starts their annual holiday celebrations much earlier than December. On October 28 of each year, parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church begin the tradition of recognizing the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The story behind the celebration is one of miracles.
According to St. Francis parishioner, Octaviano Don Juan, on December 9th, 1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in Mexico as the pregnant Mother of God to Juan Diego, a recent Catholic convert. She asked him to go to the Bishop and request that a church be built on the hill of Tepeyac, which is now part of Mexico City. He did as she requested, but the Bishop would not believe him without seeing a “sign”.
Our Lady appeared to Diego again on December 10th and 12th. On the third meeting on Tepeyac Hill, she instructed Diego to go to the top of the barren hill and gather the roses growing there. Although he was confused, as roses were not known to grow on the rocky ground, he obeyed, wrapped them in his tilma (a cactus fiber cloak), and carried the roses back to the Bishop to again make Our Lady’s request. He opened his cloak to display the “sign”, and when the white roses tumbled out, the image of Our Lady had appeared on the fabric of the tilma. Immediately, the Bishop fell to his knees and believed. The church was later built as Our Lady of Guadalupe requested.
The survival of the tilma with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe remains a mystery.
The miraculous image is on permanent display at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. It is not a painting, as no pigments were used, and has been determined to be a true reflection of Our Lady. According to Don Juan, a duplicate image was created on similar tilma fabric, and within 15 years, the copy disintegrated, while the original image remained intact. He also tells of another miracle in 1921, when rebels in Mexico sought to abolish the Catholic faith and attempted to destroy the image of Our Lady by placing a bomb in front of it, hidden in an arrangement of roses. The huge explosion did not harm it, and the image of Christ was witnessed standing next to the image of Our Lady after the blast.
Because of the miracles that surrounded the legend of Our Lady of Guadalupe, over 9 million indigenous Indians in Mexico were converted to Catholicism in the next 9 years. Pope John Paul II established December 12th as the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
In the reflection of Our Lady, her blue mantle has 46 gold stars, so the annual celebration of the Feast Day begins 46 days before December 12th. For 46 consecutive days, homes in the Enid area are voluntarily opened so that people may gather and pray the rosary. Don Juan says the number is usually 50-60 people at a time. His wife, Claudia, notes that usually the rosary is dedicated to the healing of a sick family member, or for protection from harm.
Claudia and Octaviano Don Juan kneel as Julia Vega stands honoring the Our Lady of Guadalupe image.
On the 46th day, December 12th, the church is opened at 4:00 am for the final rosary to be prayed. A mariachi group is on hand to serenade Our Lady. Her image is on special display in the front of the sanctuary, decorated with Mexican serapes, twinkle lights, and masses of roses are arranged at her feet, according to Tillie Sewell, a Parish Council member and Eucharistic Minister at St. Francis Xavier. At 5:00 am, Mass is celebrated with the mariachi group serving as Cantor during the service. After the service, breakfast is held in the Parish Hall, featuring hot chocolate, bunuelos (a sweet treat), and tamales as a final celebration of the Feast Day.
Our Lady of Guadalupe came to offer faith, hope, and consolation to the oppressed natives of Mexico and to reconcile them with their Spanish rulers who conquered and evangelized them. She put an end to the human sacrifice of the Aztec Indians and converted them to the Catholic faith, bringing peace to Mexico. The annual holiday tradition of honoring her is indeed considered sacred to many.
Pacific Island Ministry Celebration
The Marshall Islands have experienced five centuries of colonization under Spain, Germany, Japan, and finally the United States. During the twentieth century, global wars and US military expansion led to the forcible displacement of much of the population. In World War II, the Marshallese people were forcibly evacuated from Kwajalein Island to make way for the Japanese, then later US military installations, and during the Cold War, many more Marshallese were forced to leave northern atolls (such as Bikini and Enewetak) in preparation of US nuclear testing. This testing made their islands uninhabitable and many migrated to the United States.
Over the years, Enid has become home for at least 5,000 Marshallese residents. Emmanuel Enid recognized a need for professional community planning assistance, and in 2017, Yohanes Arwakon was named Pastor to the Pacific Island Ministry. He heads the English as a Second Language Program and has been heavily involved in assisting area educators with the fast-growing population of Marshallese children.
Mark Anzelone (left), Yohanes and Yenni Arwakon (right) with the English as a Second Language group
Before our interview, Mark Anzalone, Lead Interpreter for the ministry, was speaking to his English class students in attendance about possible questions that may be asked of them. What is your name? How do you celebrate Christmas? were a few of the questions written on the chalkboard. Yohanes Arwakon and his wife, Yenni, were also present along with several members of Enid’s Marshallese community.
When questioned about their holiday traditions, many spoke of the holiday’s singing and dancing groups and then the topic turned to food. On Christmas Day, large containers of food are exchanged and the entire day may be spent watching various local groups, called Jeptas, perform original songs, dances and skits. This involves much prior preparation and the uniforms can range from casual attire to more formal clothing.
Mark Anzelone as Santa Claus and Yenni Arwakon, Santa’s Helper, distribute Christmas gifts. (Photo provided by Yohanes Arwakon)
As for the type of food that is exchanged, the group responded that it could be chicken, ribs, hot dogs, ham, or fish that is gifted. “Sometimes we eat turtle,” piped up one man, to a round of chuckles. It was agreed that there is enough food in each container for the recipient to “eat for days.”
When asked what was the best Christmas gift to receive, the answer was “anything.” One participant mentioned that her children were enrolled in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Project and always loved the gifts they received.
Anzalone shares his favorite ministry Christmas story. “A Santa Celebration was held at Emmanuel Enid for the Pacific Island Ministry in 2017, and I was asked to dress up as Santa (with a bit of padding)! In order to help the youngsters in attendance feel more comfortable about sitting on Santa’s lap, I called out Pastor Arwakon’s name first and pretended to be astonished when he wasn’t a 6-year-old boy.” Another special memory of his involves the 15-minute long Thank You song that is sung at the end of Marshallese performances. He also spoke of a handmade seashell necklace he was given. “I really treasure those things,” he says, wistfully.
The Pacific Island Ministries Choir in uniform. (Photo provided by Yohanes Arwakon)
Childhood Christmas Memories in Denmark
Jens Ruding has made his home in Enid for over 20 years, but his family roots are still deep in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. He had just returned from a family visit before our interview in his home.
Ruding spoke of the Christmas Calendar that he would receive on the first of December. Danish children typically count down the 24 days before Christmas with a colorful Advent Calendar. Each of the 24 days promised a chocolate bar or piece of candy, which was not an everyday childhood treat. “We were very sensible about sweets during the year,” he explains.
On December 13th, St. Lucia’s Day (Luciadag), children in Denmark are dressed in white clothes and visit schools, retirement homes, churches, and hospitals while holding candles in their hands. According to legend, Saint Lucia was a martyr who brought food to Christians that were hiding in the catacombs, and in order to light her way, she wore a candlelit wreath on her head. Usually, one older child is chosen to play the part of Saint Lucia complete with wearing the illuminated wreath.
The weekend before Christmas was always reserved for his family selecting a freshly cut tree at a local tree farm. But the real celebration was afterward when they gathered for Julefrokost (Christmas Lunch) at the Søllerød Kro, a local Inn. This meal could be as elaborate as Christmas Eve Dinner and is still a much-anticipated and well-attended Danish tradition. Julefrokost can be a family-get-together, or a gathering of office staff, club members, or friends. Most Danes look forward to being invited to Julefrokost…in fact, refusing to attend can be considered impolite!
As for the date of the main Christmas festivities, “The majority of Danes hold their big Christmas Eve celebration at night. The 25th was just for sleeping in, digesting, and playing with our new toys.”
On Christmas Eve, the whole family gathered at Ruding’s grandmother’s home for a delicious holiday dinner and gift exchange. The traditional menu consisted of roasted duck, potatoes with gravy, and red cabbage. The dessert dish would be risengrød (rice pudding), and the person finding the hidden blanched almond in the dessert won a mandelgave (almond present) in the form of a marzipan pig or another small gift. Ruding recalls his family members attempting to “fake out” others at the table and act like they had crunched into the almond first, just to keep things interesting!
Jens Ruding (in blue) holding hands with family and encircling the Christmas Tree, circa 1976. (Photo Provided by Jens Ruding)
Once everyone cleaned their plates, it was time for singing and dancing around the family Christmas Tree. The final trimming of the tree included the lighting of wax candles, so it was done immediately before the grand reveal. The tree was traditionally decorated with handmade ornaments, garlands of Danish flags, and red and white woven paper hearts (Jule-hjertes) that held candies or gingersnap cookies called peppernuts (pebernødder). The lighted candles were the beautiful crowning touch. The tree was situated in the center of the living room, which had been closed off from view during dinner.
After the excitement of seeing the tree in all its splendor, the entire family would hold hands, encircling the tree, and sing Christmas songs, carols, and hymns. “Nu Er Det Jul Igen” (“Now it is Christmas Again”) and “Dejlig Er Den Himmel Blå” (Lovely is the Blue Sky) were among the top choices for that special moment.
Ruding and his wife, Jill, still keep many of his childhood traditions alive even though living in Oklahoma. “Jens is fantastic in the kitchen,” according to Jill, and both enjoy cooking traditional Danish dinners for family and friends on special occasions. So much so, they regularly place orders from a Nordic store in Berkley, California, utilizing overnight shipping as many of the foods are extremely perishable.
Jill and Jens Ruding relax at their Enid home.
Danish pork roast (flæskesteg) is a special delicacy, as the skin is left intact to yield crispy “pork rinds” when prepared. Once, the couple traveled to Berkley and decided to bring the coveted meat home with them. They bought a 6-foot long pork loin, cut it in two, and packed it with dry ice in one of their suitcases. “When it arrived on the carousel at the OKC airport, it was sweating!” laughs Ruding.
The Rudings admit to “double-dipping” when it comes to Christmas celebrations in the States, meaning they celebrate both Christmas Eve and Day to accommodate everyone in their immediate family. They have also kept the tradition of the mandelgave, but have substituted a bottle of champagne, board game, or gift card as the almond present since their children are older.
Interwoven into all three of these cultural celebrations are the special bonds shared by the participants. Christmas marks one of the few times during the year where people can slow down from the hustle and bustle of the world they live in and gather together with friends and family to partake in time-honored traditions or possibly institute new ones…maybe donning matching pajamas for that cute family portrait or organizing a yummy cookie swap?
Have a Merry Christmas, no matter how it is celebrated!
Larger than the planet Mercury, huge moon Titan is seen here as it orbits Saturn. Below Titan are the shadows cast by Saturn's rings. NASA/JPL
If you ask yourself, “what’s the most pressing issue in the world of astronomy and astrophysics”, something I know all of you do, you’ll most likely come to two obvious solutions: “Where did the universe come from?” and “Is there life elsewhere in the universe?” While we currently have no knowledge of extraterrestrial species wielding lightsabers and manipulating inanimate objects through their blood-borne disease, we do have an understanding of locations in our solar system that could harbor microbial life. In this month’s The Cosmic Mariner, we’re traveling to the strange and downright mysterious world known as Titan.
Unlike Europa, Jupiter’s 2nd Galilean moon, and perhaps the most promising place in the solar system for extraterrestrial life to exist, Titan is often snubbed from Hollywood films due to its lack of space appeal. After all, Saturn’s 6th moon is quite bland with nothing more than a golden-brown haze covering the entirety of the planet. Like many worlds, Titan is an incredibly inhospitable place. Want to go for a hike on the dunes? Make sure you take a coat as it’s a bit chilly at negative 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s not the kind of place you’d want to spend your summer vacation…or your winter vacation…or actually, I don’t really recommend going there at all unless you breathe nitrogen and methane. Oh, and if you don’t enjoy the ear-crushing pressure of a swim at 49ft beneath the water’s surface, then I wouldn’t visit Titan since the air pressure is roughly the same.
Coincidentally, however, this pressure allows nitrogen and methane to split apart through their interactions with ultraviolet radiation in Saturn’s magnetic field. These molecular puzzle pieces then recombine to form organic hydrocarbons that rain onto the surface of Titan where they form the darkened dunes and lengthy riverbeds. Wait, riverbeds? One of the most important pieces of Titan’s habitability equation is the presence of liquid rivers and lakes littered across the surface. In fact, Titan is the only object in the solar system known to contain liquids on the surface. These liquid bodies, however, are not as swim-friendly as Earth’s. On Titan, these are composed of liquid methane and ethane. As far as we know, carbon-based life forms, every living thing we know of, requires the existence of liquid water to survive and carry out metabolic interactions. However, the idea that life on the surface of Titan would require liquid water is an earth bias. If we are to discover new life forms, perhaps we must look outside the cell wall and eliminate our earthly concepts. In 2005, Chris McKay and astrobiologists at the Ames Research Center published a paper that described how methanogens, or methane-based life forms, could survive. Essentially, the paper postulates that these methanogens could subside through the consumption of hydrogen, acetylene, and ethane, all while releasing the waste product methane. While Chris McKay holds reservations about the possibility of these methanogens existing, even though there is data backing the potential existence of these organisms through the observation of depleted numbers of hydrogen and acetylene on the surface of Titan, this concept is not completely out of this world.
While these organisms would be vastly different from our current understanding of life, they would present the potential existence of life on another world and effectively open Pandora’s box to an array of planetary bodies capable of hosting life throughout the cosmos. While Titan’s methane lakes and river systems remain a primary target for life unseen by humans, this mysterious moon does, in fact, possess water. That’s right, our favorite molecule, dihydrogen monoxide. Say that next time you order a glass and watch your waiter’s reaction. Unlike Earth, rocks on Titan are composed of frozen water. Take a look at the above photograph captured by the Huygens probe that landed on the surface in 2005. See those rocks? They are water! In addition, measurements taken by Cassini and Huygens seemed to confirm the existence of a subsurface ocean of liquid water. This means that Titan, like Europa and Enceladus, are potentially habitable worlds right within our solar system! And guess what. We are going there!
A view of the surface of Titan during the descent stage of the Huygens Probe. ESA/NASA
As is the mission of NASA, the United States is going to land a nuclear-powered quadcopter on the surface of Titan and fly it from destination to destination to better and more efficiently study this mysterious golden world. Launching in 2026 and arriving in 2034, the Dragonfly mission will “look for prebiotic chemical processes, common on both Titan and Earth. Dragonfly marks the first time NASA will fly a multi-rotor vehicle for science on another body. According to NASA, the spacecraft will have a 2.7-year baseline and research a variety of important environments such as riverbeds, dunes, and the presumed subsurface ocean. While the Dragonfly mission is still a decade away from its first flight on the golden world, we can only imagine what incredible insight this important mission will provide. While the rest of the world focuses on Europa (and the Coronavirus) due to its potential to harbor Earth-like organisms, why not focus our attention on the golden gem; Titan. A moon bigger than our innermost planet Mercury and, if life happens to be discovered on it, could rewrite how we view not only ourselves but also how we look for life and intelligence in the greater extent of the cosmos.
Dragonfly, NASA’s mini rotorcraft that will study the surface of Titan, is seen landing and flying into the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan. NASA
I have a lot of friends that start decorating for Christmas as soon as the Halloween decorations are put away, but I cannot seem to skip Thanksgiving and the browns and oranges of fall. However, in our family, we use the days after Thanksgiving to put up our beautiful Christmas decorations and make our house as festive as can be.
This year, however, will mean a little bit more to me than most. My life has changed much in the last couple of years, but my new focus on the true meaning of the season, the birth of Christ, makes it a little more special this year. While our beautiful tree, twinkling lights, and fun decorations make for a cozy home, it’s the spirit that fills our heart that means the most. Enid Buzz Monthly wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
When Cheri Ezzell moved to Enid in 1984 she expected it would be a short stay — a few years at most. Now, almost 35 years later, the executive director of Community Development Support Association (CDSA), is a well-recognized leader in Enid’s nonprofit sector and champion of causes benefiting those in need.
Ezzell has compiled an impressive resumé of achievements and contributions to the Enid community. Her work was instrumental in relocating CDSA in the old Newman’s Department Store which is now The Non-Profit Center, a collaborative space for nonprofits. She has also served on the board of Enid Beautiful and helped make Dillingham Memorial Garden a public space.
Other achievements include being a founding board member of Loaves & Fishes, a board member at Autry Technology Center, and a fundraising volunteer with 4RKids and Gaslight Theatre. She even served on the Enid City Commission from 1995 to 1997.
Although she has accumulated a lengthy list of accolades, Cheri has one she remains most proud of. That honor, she said, goes to the daily work of CDSA to serve those in need.
Whether you’re a small business owner, a corporate human resources manager, or a front-line supervisor, promoting physical activity on the job makes sense. More opportunities for physical activity at work leads to healthier employees, stronger job performance, and a boost to the business bottom line via decreased health care costs and improved productivity.
A Happier, Healthier Workforce
Physical activity is a natural mood elevator — studies show it relieves mild anxiety and depression, improves energy, and increases a general sense of well-being. It’s not a big stretch to suggest that the extent to which workers are physically active on and off the job affects company morale. And supporting worker exercise efforts sends a strong message of support to employees — which in turn can positively affect job satisfaction, retention, and recruitment. In addition, employees who exercise regularly have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, musculoskeletal problems, and some cancers — big health care cost drivers for most companies.
First Things First
According to health promotion experts, organization-level commitment to focus on employee health as a corporate goal is one the most influential and cost-effective changes to implement. When leaders regularly communicate the importance of employee health and well-being — and walk the talk — it becomes part of the corporate identity. Implementing a workplace physical activity policy drives home the value of this lifestyle behavior to the corporate mission — and outlines a framework describing how workplace physical activity will be promoted. Formalizing a policy also sets an expectation for management support — just like other business initiatives. Adopting a new habit of physical activity is hard work — but support from leadership can make it more practical and more likely.
To get started, review sample workplace physical activity policies available online and adapt them to your company’s needs and existing policy format. Invite input from stakeholders such as human resources, employee relations, safety, ergonomics, and employee health representatives.
Integration Is Key
Focusing on increasing the physical activity of your workforce is a good start — but successful corporate health promotion initiatives target a variety of health behaviors —like tobacco use, drug and alcohol abuse, nutrition habits, and becoming a savvy health care consumer. The impact of these interventions is optimized when health benefit providers get involved. A 24-hour nurse advice line or employee assistance program, for example, could help promote an onsite walking program when employees call in with health issues. Coordinating with vendors to send consistent messages is essential for increasing participation in any workplace health promotion offering — including physical activity.
12 Ways to Promote Physical Activity at Work
Even if your corporate culture isn’t quite ready for a workplace physical activity policy, you can get things moving in the right direction with these ideas:
Conduct a workplace walkability assessment to ensure a safe and pleasant environment for walking.
Offer secure bicycle storage and showers for employees who actively commute.
Implement flexible scheduling where feasible —making it easier for employees to carve out time for exercise while juggling work and home responsibilities.
Make stairwells more appealing with paint, artwork, and motivational signage.
Purchase a corporate membership with the Y; low-cost membership benefits are sometimes available through medical benefit vendors.
Encourage workers to take brief, 2-3-minute fitness breaks throughout the day for brisk walking, stretching, or stair climbing.
Offer free or reduced-cost pedometers to employees. Run a simple steps-per-week team competition to drum up peer support for increasing daily steps. No money? Invite your health benefit vendors or local businesses to sponsor this purchase in exchange for co-branding.
Sponsor or promote employee participation in community events like 5K or 10K runs, basketball leagues, or charity walk-a-thons.
Organize lunchtime walking, running, bicycling, or yoga groups.
Encourage walking 1:1 meetings.
Make standing or pacing vs. sitting at long meetings an acceptable option.
Encourage workers to be active at their workstations as much as possible — by stretching, standing while on the phone, or pumping out a few desk pushups while viewing a web conference.
A Smart Business Move
Employees spend a significant amount of time at work. Businesses already have a significant investment in each worker in terms of hiring, training, compensation, and benefits packages. Driving a culture of physical activity helps protect that investment — and maximize the returns in cost savings, cost avoidance, productivity, and human capital.
Hungry? It’s amazing how things can inspire one to bake. My most recent inspiration came from our surprise ice storm with its downed power lines and piles of limbs under the nearly 100-year old trees in our yard. All of those logs were so sad and no power to turn on the oven and bake up a batch of cookies to soothe my sadness and take the chill off. (Any excuse can inspire baking cookies in our house!) We are always hungry for cookies with one resident cookie monster and one eager cookie baker around.
If you live in an area out of town where fewer folks live, naturally you will be down the list for getting the power back on. After a week I was beyond thrilled to get back to baking and testing my ideas for making some cookies I thought about for a week: “Yule Logs.” Perhaps like the ones I had crafted for the holidays over the years with rich chocolate cake rolled around a coffee buttercream filling and coated with a bark of fudgy frosting.
Yule log cookies would be easy with refrigerated dough on hand. Certainly, if you have the time and inclination, use your own favorite slice and bake recipe, but any variety from your go-to grocery store will work. Draft some helpers to form the logs from the dough. (What little elf would not like a chance to play with cookie dough?)
Here’s the long and short of it: Make one long snake form about an inch thick and cut it into 3-inch segments. Or slice the cold dough into cookie-size segments and roll those portions into smaller logs. Chill the segments on the baking sheet before baking. Once chilled in place, I find that the tines of a fork raked or pressed into the dough will suffice as bark.
Decorating the long can be as simple as a sprinkle of powdered sugar snow, once the logs are cool, or get more elaborate with your favorite icing piped in long streams to resemble bark. Of course, you can go overboard if you like, or even make a family cookie making contest to see who makes the prettiest yule logs.
My favorite intensely chocolate cookie recipe is one I’ve adapted from Martha Stewart’s “Weddings” book. I cut back on the sugar and then form the dough into refrigerator rolls instead of doing the usual roll out and cutting into shapes.
The most important ingredient in the recipe is super dark Dutch Cacao. I found it at Jumbo Foods of course! It is expensive, but if you love chocolate like some people I know….it is a matter of priority. Each recipe requires a lot of it so don’t think one and a half cups of this deep dark stuff is a misprint!
Keep some dough (cookie dough that is) on hand in your freezer for satisfying those cookie cravings that are bound to happen, especially during the holidays. I have told people over the years that I’m a little like Will Rogers— I never met a cookie I didn’t like! ….so “Log ON!”
*I owe a big batch of cookies to the folks at OG&E, especially the lineman who put their lives on the line to work through freezing rain and all kinds of weather to keep our homes and businesses up and running!
Recipe
This is an adaptation of a Chocolate Heart Cookies recipe from Martha Stewart’s “Weddings” book. I recommend you make half a recipe to start with as this dark cocoa powder has a way of spreading chocolate dust like the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s if you aren’t careful!
I like to form the dough into rolls for slice and bake cookies or in this case roll it into coils or snakes and cut into log forms in the spirit of the Yuletide. If you have any helper elves in your kitchen, think of it as chocolate playdough!
Combine butter and sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well.
Sift dry ingredients together and stir into butter mixture by hand until well blended. Chill briefly and roll into slice and bake size logs. Dough may be stored in fridge for up to 3 days until ready to form into yule logs.
To make logs:
Divide prepared dough and roll into coils like snakes about 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Slice into logs approximately 3 inches long.
Place logs on baking sheet and chill for about 30 minutes. Mark logs with tines of a fork by dragging length of logs or press tines into the surface of each log to make bark.
Position oven rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 350-degrees.
Bake logs for 10 to 12 minutes.
When cool, dust with powdered sugar or decorate with your favorite chocolate icing.
Cooking notes: This dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and also freezes well in slice and bake rolls. (Best to thaw several hours or overnight in the fridge before using.)
Caution elves not to eat unbaked dough…and keep the dough and cookies away from all pets especially your favorite puppy dog.
