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Tasty tradition spreads holiday cheer in Burr Ridge
Mary Drzik, coordinator of the annual cookie sale at United Church of Christ in Burr Ridge, prepares a tray of kolaches from her mother's recipe. | Jon Langham~for Sun-Times Media
Sweet Deal
What: Cookie Sale
Where: Burr Ridge United Church of Christ, County Line and Plainfield roads, Burr Ridge
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16
Price: $8 per pound
Article Extras
Updated: February 11, 2013 1:58AM
BURR RIDGE — Mary Drzik searched for years for the right church. She finally found it eight years ago, at the corner of County Line and Plainfield roads in Burr Ridge. She is now is not only organizer of the annual Christmas cookie sale at Burr Ridge United Church of Christ, she also is chairwoman of the women’s fellowship and of the church’s board of stewards. It takes a lot of money to keep the tiny church operating, and the annual cookie sale not only raises money, it spreads the holiday spirit in a very tasty way.
Q. What types of cookies will you have at the sale?
A. We have about a dozen different kinds of homemade cookies. What I ask from them is their family’s favorite Christmas cookie. One woman makes spritz, all different shapes and colors. We have homemade fudge, with nuts and without nuts. I have one lady who makes diabetic cookies, and we always have ginger cookies.
Q. What will you bake for the sale?
A. I usually make berry and apricot kolacky, because that’s what people seem to like the most. I always make Swedish butter cookies and pecan fingers.
Q. How did you get your start as a baker?
A. It was just a natural kind of thing because my mother always cooked. The recipes are all from my mom.
Q. What’s your best baking secret?
A. It’s the dough. For my kolacky cookies I use a two-part dough. One part has two pounds of butter and a cup of flour. The other has a pound of butter.
Q. Why do cookies and Christmas go together?
A. Everybody wants to leave cookies for Santa, and they remind everybody of their moms and dads and their families.
Q. Who comes to the cookie sale?
A. Everyone is welcome. I hire a real Santa, with a beard. He’s there for the first hour or so and has a gift for every child. Families can bring their cameras along for photos.
Q. Why are projects like this important to you?
A. I should be able to share some of what I have with other people. When I was younger, I didn’t have the time. Now, I have a chance to help other people.
