After all the gifts are under the tree, we adjourn to the dining room where we have cookies and tea (Constant Comment, to be exact). I used to make a full meal on Christmas Eve, but at some point it dawned on me that we were ruining our cookie appetites with all that food, so now we always have a salad bar meal, just enough to take the edge off our hunger and leave plenty of room for the Main Event.
About five years ago, I wearied of always making the same cookies, year after year after year. I wiped the whole slate clean and made all new cookies. This year is still referred to as "The Year of Heresy" by my children. In spite of the fact that I've known these people all their lives, I somehow failed to foresee this reaction. And I'll admit that I missed the old favorites as well. In the end, I returned to the Sacred Cookie Selection, but always allow myself at least two new recipes to try each year. Happy ending!