Tradition and family have always been a big part of my life, especially around the Holidays. Growing up there were plenty of traditions that happened with the coming of the Winter months. The one I remember most and will always be one of my favorites was Aunt Selma’s Holiday cookie platter. They were our honorary Aunt and Uncle, Aunt Selma and Uncle Harry Swatzberg. Having met my Grandparents while my Dad and his sibling were just children, they adopted us into their family and lovingly celebrated every birthday, new baby, and special occasion with us. Being Jewish they observed Hanukah instead of Christmas but would always throw extravagant Holiday parties for us and our family that had grown from the family of 7 they had met to the family of 19 we had become.

It was tradition… every Holiday table at the Swatzberg’s was adorned with Aunt Selma’s famous cookie platter, even into her 80’s! As a child, I would stand next her in the kitchen with the dark wood and tudor tile, and watch her arrange them on the platter. I would ask if I could help, to which the answer always was, “No dear, but you can ABSOLUTELY help me eat them!” I noticed one year there was almost always 8 different types of cookies she would make. I was told that when she and Uncle Harry were first married, they didn’t have enough money to buy all their family members gifts for Hanukah, so Aunt Selma would bake cookie platters. 8 different types of cookies, one to be tried on each night of Hanukah. Learning this, I loved that platter even more.

Aunt Selma passed away when I was a teenager. Uncle Harry followed her a few years after. I have missed walking through that yellow door and seeing her and Uncle Harry standing there, waiting to take our coats; her in her apron and tan shoes, and Uncle Harry never without his vest and tucked in tie, with a dollar in his pocket for every grandchild who came through the door. After dinner was over, us grandkids would retire to the play room and fight over the life sized stuffed dog with the shaggy fur. Opening up the vintage game cabinet that held the objects we waited to play with every year. Causing trouble until we were called in for dessert. The much awaited cookie platter.

This year I have decided to add the Selma Platter to our Holiday menu! I’m so excited to share with my kids her memory and her culture. I will also be adding the Selma Platter to the Specialty Confections menu! 8 different types of cookies, always available as GF, vegan, and/or packed with protein and phytonutrients for a guilt-free healthy version.

Thank you for reading and allowing me to re-visit one of my favorite childhood places! As always, upon exiting the Swatzberg household, I leave you with this….

“Health is wealth, Knowledge is power, and Truth is Absolute”