Friends and Neighbors: Mrs. Claus

Several weeks ago when I was arranging the Observer's Letters to Santa, the elf whom I'd been speaking with had to put me on hold while she found the contract to email me. As I was on hold, a sweet lady picked up and after a minute of confusion, I realized I was talking with Mrs. Claus. After my initial shock wore off and I was able to compose myself, I hurriedly asked if she would be willing to give me a short interview over the phone. The following is my once in a lifetime interview with the wife and lifelong love and companion of the big jolly ole man himself.

ALETA: Mrs. Claus, I'm so excited to have this interview with you today. Would you tell me, how often are you asked to do interviews with the press?

MRS. CLAUS: (giggles) Oh, not nearly as often as Santa, (more giggles) but I always enjoy the opportunity. Though I wish I were able to do them here at the North Pole as I just pulled a batch of Papa's favorite cookies out of the oven. I know you'd like them. Santa calls them, "soft chocolate pillows covered in peppermint snowflakes."

ALETA: Oh my, I'd love to share that recipe with our readers!

MRS. CLAUS: They are a snap to make. Just cream together a cup of soft butter, one and a half cups sugar until fluffy. Add two eggs, beating them with a mixer one at a time and then add your two teaspoons of vanilla, two cups flour, two-thirds cup cocoa, three-fourth teaspoon baking soda and a half teaspoon salt. Mix it well, cover and put in the refrigerator for at least an hour. After the dough has cooled and becomes like clay you can roll them into balls. Santa likes them a little bigger than normal so I make nice big balls about an inch and a quarter to half and place only about six on ungreased parchment paper. I like to slightly flatten them with a fork to create ridges so the peppermint stays on the cookie better. I then bake them at 350 degrees for 8 to 12 minutes.

While they are baking I will mix up the glaze which is three-fourths cup powdered sugar, one tablespoon milk, one tablespoon melted butter and an eighth teaspoon peppermint extract. I also take several peppermint candy canes, place them in a bag and roll my rolling pin over them to crush them up .

Once the cookies are cooled I drizzle them with glaze and quickly dust with the crushed candy canes. Easy as magic!

ALETA: I can't wait to make them, especially knowing the recipe is Santa's favorite.

MRS. CLAUS: Well, over the centuries, his tastes have changed. When he we were younger, he didn't even like cookies but preferred fruit cake. One of the first cookie recipes he ever asked me to repeat was an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie that I learned from my grandmother. After twenty or so years he finally asked me to make him something else. You've no idea how happy that made me as you know he is a big eater! (giggles) He's gone through a snickerdoodle phase, a peanut butter phase, sugar cookies with glaze, sugar cookies without glaze, and up until a few years ago he was really addicted to cranberry-orange shortbread. I've only been making these peppermint-chocolate cookies for him for a few years now and I expect I will continue for a few more before he changes again.

ALETA: I had no idea. Actually, I'd never considered that after Christmas he'd even want to see a cookie for another year.

MRS. CLAUS: (Giggles) Santa doesn't eat all of the cookies himself (more giggles), I bake them for all the elves in Santa's workshops too!

Although... he does have the biggest sweet tooth of anyone I know. For Papa, Christmas Eve truly is his favorite night of the year, not only because of his obvious love of children, giving and fulfilling wishes but because he really does love all of the children and the treats they leave him. He even enjoys the families who leave him healthier foods like fruits and nuts. Honestly, although he does appreciate the snacks left to him, he is never offended if a treat is not left for him. He is just as thrilled, if not more, with hand drawn pictures and letters. Those really melt his heart.

ALETA: I never thought of leaving him a picture or a drawing before.

MRS. CLAUS: Oh, yes, he just adores them. He covers the walls of his workroom with them.

Oh My! Look at the time! I've got a pan of cookies in the oven right now that I've got to get out before they burn.

ALETA: Mrs. Claus, I really want to thank you for this impromptu interview, I know our readers will be excited to have a quick glimpse into your life, especially this close to Christmas Eve.

MRS CLAUS: Of course, sweetie, it's a lot of work, but it's always been worth it! We love all the children of the world and we just want them to know it!